ART OF INFINITY- Reviews in english, german, spanish, french, italian and dutch language

It feels like a soundtrack to a widescreen otherworld movie and will appeal to anyone who likes the more trippy elements of Floyd, Marillion and Eloy whilst owing a debt to fellow countrymen pioneers, Tangerine Dream.

In a quick-fix, time-poor world, 'Endless Future' demands some investment from the listener. Thirty five years ago we'd have been listening to this sort of thing, recumbent on a bean-bag in the local Virgin store. As it is, you'll now need to plump up the cushions, ease off the slippers, and dim the lights for the full experience. You won't be disappointed.

Thorsten Sudler-Mainz and Thorsten Rentsch have fashioned a quite sumptuous album that maintains a contemporary and original feel and is not as insipid as much 'new age' material. Intriguing and quite addictive.

Reviewed by David Randall, getreadytoRock.com, United Kingdom, November 2009

ART OF INFINITY - Endless Future

“If the blandness of a lot of the modern ambient (or 'chill out' music to use modern parlance) leaves you somewhat cold but you still hanker for something relaxing to soothe the pressures of life, the universe and everything, German ‘music project’ Art Of Infinity may have the solution.” That was the conclusion by my colleague Mark Hughes when he reviewed the band’s first two albums Dimension Universe and New Horizon, almost five years ago. (As I couldn’t put it any better myself I thought a bit of recycling was in order!)

A new band for me, but based on Mark’s observations it would appear that with Endless Futures the two band masterminds Thorsten Sudler-Mainz and Thorsten Rentsch have taken another step towards making their cosmic ambient music - well - a little less ambient!

All eight tracks are highly atmospheric. A couple offer little more than soothing electronica. However elsewhere there is a strong focus on traditional song structures. A full cast of guest musicians includes three female vocalists and a 60-strong all-male choir features on The Flow Of Time. I particularly enjoy the sensual world music chants of Eva Wolf, while Mexican composer Alquimia brings an exotic vibe to the title track, the uplifting Warm Waterfalls and The Wide End. Throw into the mix some fantastic saxophone scores, a grand piano, cello, and even a didgeridoo on Utopia and you won't need me to tell you that there's plenty of detail to be discovered.

This is a beautiful, warm and rewarding album with an even spread of electronics, progressive and classical elements, very strong vocal rhythms and a hint of rock. Certainly a far more substantive take on ambient music than I’ve previously encountered on my admittedly limited visits to the genre. At the risk of invoking cries of plagiarism, I hear nothing to lead me to a different conclusion to my colleague last time around. As Mark put it: “The music is relaxing and washes over you in gentle waves, yet retaining the human element so often lacking in totally synthesised music ….. the group are very good at what they do.”

Exactly! I’ll just be a little more generous in the point score as: a) my wife really likes this album; b) the gatefold sleeve and booklet is one of the smartest I’ve seen, and c) I was looking for some late-night-with-a-bottle-of-Bordeaux music and this fits the bill perfectly.

Andy Read, Dutch Progressive Rock Page, UK/Netherlands October 2008 

ART OF INFINITY - Endless Future

Progressive Ambient

Nach Dimension Universe von 2004 geht das Ambient-Projekt endlich in die dritte Runde. Den Tracks hört man an, dass an ihnen immer und immer wieder bis zur letztendlichen Perfektion gefeilt wurde. Stellenweise kann man in die Musik regelrecht eintauchen wie in einen eigenen Raum.

Natürlich haben sich Art Of Infinity wieder eine Schar Gastmusiker hinzu geholt, die ihren spacigen Ambient-Klangwelten mal ethnische, mal poppige, mal progressive Anstriche verleihen. Das Raumschiff startet mit The Fourth Dimension, einem eruptiven Stück mit Gesang von Eva Wolf und Major Heuser (ex-Bap) an der Floyd-Gitarre durch. Das Titelstück mit der ätherischen Alquimia als Sängerin leidet etwas an der zu gefälligen Popmelodie, doch immer wenn Stefan Höllering ins Saxophon bläst, kommen Dark Side Of The Moon-Atmos auf.

The Flow Of Time überzeugt als verstecktes Titelstück mit kraftvollem Spacepop und Shine On You Crazy Diamond-Solosynthie. Der Longtrack Utopia stellt einen würdigen Nachfolger von Drift Upon The Sky dar und gibt sich stilistisch vielfältiger und zugleich progressiver. Warm Waterfalls verknüpft Us And Them-Schwingungen mit gehauchten Worten. Eine vorbildliche Ambient-Einspielung.

Walter Sehrer, Eclipsed Musikmagazin, Germany, November 2008

ART OF INFINITY - Endless Future

Thorsten Sudler-Mainz y Thorsten Rentsch vuelven a la carga con su proyecto musical conjunto Art Of Infinity. Cuatro años hemos tenido que esperar desde su trabajo previo, Dimension Universe, para ver publicado Endless Future, un trabajo en el que el dúo de alemanes continúa ofreciéndonos su música, atmosférica y perfectamente producida.

Para Endless Future, Sudler-Mainz y Rentsch se han dejado acompañar de una nutrida representación de artistas de alto nivel, haciendo un especial hincapié en las voces femeninas, como es el caso de la mexicana Alquimia o la alemana Eva Wolf. El álbum, como sus predecesores, vuelve a ofrecernos, en forma de música, paisajes por el cosmos o por lugares místicos, con estructuras cercanas al ambient, la electrónica o elementos progresivos, con la personal instrumentación de Art Of Infinity, siempre mezclando bases electrónicas con instrumentos acústicos como saxofón tenor y soprano o didgeridoo.

Jorge Sergio, articmist.org, Spain, September 2008

ART OF INFINITY - Endless Future

Titre: En avant toute

Ce troisième album du duo ART OF INFINITY, initié il y a quinze ans par Thorsten Sudler-Mainz et Thorsten Rentsch, devrait ravir les adeptes de space rock allemand pompant son oxygène chez les mentors KLAUS SCHULZE et TANGERINE DREAM. Mais depuis leur dernière production en date, « Dimension Universe », sorti en 2004, les deux compositeurs semblent s’être focalisés sur des morceaux aux structures plus classiques invitant d’abords à l’évasion.

Dans cette volonté de faire direct, est dorénavant convoquée l’ombre du MIKE OLDFIELD période chill-out, notamment sur le gros morceau « Utopia » qui trône du haut de ses 18 minutes avec ses passages psychédéliques, cinématiques fort d’un violoncelle dramatique, solo de guitare et petit passage de percussions tribales qui ajoute encore à l’ampleur des arrangements. Vocalement, le casting convoque trois chanteuses ainsi qu’une chorale et l’apparition de Eva Wolf, transfuge de la World Music, reste un moment assez magique.

Evidemment, il faut aimer ce déferlement atmosphérique, blindé de saxophone (« Endless Future ») qui rappellera le VANGELIS de Blade Runner (« The Wide End ») et où l’on dégotera également quelques attouchements de guitare classique sur fond romantique (« Warm Waterfall » très ALAN PARSONS PROJECT), des excursions plus sombrement industrielles, pas forcément enivrantes (« Ages of Changes »). Le résultat de ces expériences s’avère ultra référencé mais franchement réussi dans le genre.

Cyrille Delanlssays AmorokProg, France October 2008

ART OF INFINITY - Endless Future

Terzo, superbo album del duo tedesco

Conducendo il proprio sound ad un livello più avanzato, in termini di fusione e di incontro con diverse culture ed estrazioni compositive, gli Art Of Infinity arrivano al terzo disco con grande maturità. Il percorso intrapreso da Thorsten Sudler-Mainz e Thorsten Rentsch è di connessione tra diverse aree di influenza già dai precedenti lp, ma con questa quadratura del cerchio il progetto è definito e compiuto.

Molti ospiti, la voce soave di Eva Wolf, l'avvicinarsi ad un'ideale fusione tra ambient e sonorità moderne alla Portishead, gli agganci world music, drum & bass, psichedelici: tutto ciò rende "Endless future" un ottimo disco di moderna elettronica. L'impianto classicheggiante di "Fourth dimension", il sax maledettamente floydiano della title-track, le melodie arcane e fluttuanti di "Warm waterfalls", tanto per segnalare alcuni dei momenti chiave del cd.

Certo una matrice Tangerine Dream/Kraftwerk - anche per motivi geografici - è palese, ma i due musicisti ragionano molto per immagini e sensazioni, diventando comunque efficaci ed evocativi. Il disco non rifiuta episodi di pop-rock elettronico ("The flow of time") e li accosta a momenti di elettronica pura e visionaria ("Utopia", l'arcobaleno sonoro di "Age of changes"): il segreto è proprio qui, ma questo è anche il limite, benchè stavolta il lavoro di omogeneizzazione dei suoni sia più attento.

Un ottimo lp per il progetto tedesco, degno di attenzione e considerazione.

Donato Zoppo, movimentiprog, Italy, October 2008

ART OF INFINITY - Endless Future

Vier jaar na de release van hun internationale doorbraak album ‘Dimension Universe’ brengt het muziekproject Art Of Infinity haar fantastische Space Pop naar een nieuw artistiek hoogtepunt.

De twee masterminds achter Art Of Infinity Thorsten Sudler-Mainz en Thorsten Rentsch hebben hun complexe en hoog atmosferische composities een sterkere focus gegeven door klassieke songstructuren te gebruiken ( The Flow Of Time, Endless Future).

Door het uitnodigen van een illuster gezelschap artiesten en een 60 koppig mannenkoor voegen ze opmerkelijke nieuwe facetten toe aan de al verbazende rijkheid van hun muziek.

Zo worden de fans van Art Of Ininity verwend met de sensuele gezangen van Eva Wolf, en voor het eerst met de stem van de Mexicaanse componiste Alquimia, die aan de titeltrack ‘Endless Future’ een fris exotisch effect geeft.

Qua songteksten gaat dit album over onderwerpen uit de oudheid en de archaische dromen van de mensheid, cosmische reizen naar de toekomst en magisch mystieke plekken.

Het handelsmerk van Art Of Inifinity is de combinatie van electronica, progressieve elementen, klassieke muziek en rock.

Over deze muziek is eerst diep nagedacht. Dat staat vast. (Muziekdirect, NL 11-2008)

ART OF INFINITY “Dimension Universe“, Label: Prudence

Two Guys named Thorsten

Is it possible for two men, both named Thorsten, that play virtually the same instruments to meet up in the middle of Europe and form a band that plays Ambient Electronic Space music? Successfully? You bet.

Thorsten Sudler-Mainz and Thorsten Rentsch found themselves in the Netherlands in the mid-nineties and came up with their concept for Art Of Infinity. There, their album New Horizon was born and to follow it up they produced the 2004 release, Dimension Universe. The music is fresh and invigorating with the surprising element of polysyllabic tribal chant on many of the cuts (think Karl Jenkins’ Adiemus et al). Both Sudler-Mainz and Rentsch play keyboards and percussion as well as vocals and programming. There is some stirring added vocal work by Eva Wolf and Antje Schulz. Sudler-Mainz also provides his inventive style of “Spoken Words” in some of the songs.

Dimension Universe is Space Music, not so plain and not so simple. The voyage into to far off space begins with the thrilling track All Galaxies Sun, which has some interesting acoustic Dobro work. You feel yourself hitchhiking onto the tail of a comet as you are hurled into space.

Cosmic Rain with its medium tempo introduces you to the tribal chant vocals. They are not overpowering, that is to say, they are not used as the lead instruments as in Jenkins’ music. They add to the flow of the tune, invite your mind to connect with the travelers and take the trip into space.

Drift Upon the Sky, the longest cut on the album at 14:15, is a cowboy space opera in one act. Everything you need to visualize the action of the story is in the music. Our hero, traveling through space is pulled into another dimension. He or she is captured by unsavory characters and with the help of their fellow slaves make a valiant escape attempt. Sadly, all hands are lost. But only is this dimension. You can picture your own story, but the music is lush with synthesized samples and emotional saxophone riffs. It is just about the best cut on the CD. Except for…

…Trimelar Starlight , which is just as complex and just as exhilarating as Drift Upon the Sky. The chant is beguiling as you pulse though the galaxy in search of your next adventure. It makes you think that infinity is just around the corner in another dimension.

Somehow, these two electronic wizards have blended the ultra new and the traditional to form an exciting novel mix of music that takes you on a journey far out in space with only your thoughts and dreams for company. You may never want to return!

RJ Lannan in April 2004 for New Age Reporter, USA

ART OF INFINITY "Dimension Universe" (Prudence/BSC/Rough Trade)

Musik zwischen Tangerine Dream, Pink Floyd und Trance - Musik wie Sternenstaub, der beständig aus dem All auf die Erde rieselt und ein Leben auf unserem blauen Planeten erst ermöglicht hat. Zu einer spannenden kosmischen Sternenreise laden uns Art Of Infinity ein. Endlich erfährt dieses Album bei Prudence seine offizielle Veröffentlichung. Einzelne Titel herauszugreifen verbietet sich hier beinahe. Die ganze Reise zählt. Ob "Major" Heuser (Ex-Bap) ganz glänzend den David Gilmour gibt, ob engelshafte Feenstimmen erklingen, immer ist das hypnotisch und imaginativ. Einzig das 14 Minuten Stück "Drift Upon The Sky", in dem Mönchsgesänge und ein "Dark-Side-Of-The-Moon-Saxophon" erklingen sowie ein Piano durch ferne Welten segelt, ragt heraus und zeigt, wie fast rein instrumentale Pink Floyd pre-Wall heutzutage klingen könnten. Wahrhaft eine schöne Weltraumreise.

Reviewed by Walter Sehrer in June 2004 for Eclipsed Music Magazine, Germany

ART OF INFINITY "Dimension Universe" (BSC Music/Prudence)

BSC Music / Prudence Records nos deleita una vez más con el último trabajo del dúo alemán formado por Thorsten Sudler-Mainz y Thorsten Rentsch y que se hace llamar “Art Of Infinity”. El nombre del dúo es totalmente representativo, en mi opinión, del estilo de música que crean. Sin duda en su caso la música es todo un arte, y especialmente en este último trabajo, donde han sabido conjugar el trabajo electrónico de sintetizadores y programaciones con determinados instrumentos acústicos como piano, guitarras, dobro, saxo e incluso el digeridoo. Todo ello unido a acertadas capas de voces, a veces cantadas, otras veces recitando. La inclusión de algunas pistas de percusión grabadas con un batería “real” también dota de frescura al trabajo en su conjunto. Tal y como el artwork del disco nos muestra en cada uno de los 8 temas, Art Of Infinity nos invita a un relajante paseo por el universo.

Reviewed by Jorge Sergio in May 2004 for articmist, Spain

 

ART OF INFINITY "Dimension Universe" (BSC Music/Prudence)

Il ne faut pas se fier à All Galaxies Sun pour se faire une idée de la musique de Art of Infinity. Une guitare acoustique qui flotte dans l’espace, sur des accords pincés de ‘’Space Cowboys‘’. Les tablas mexicains animent un rythme fiévreux où les synthés sonorisent des pompes orchestrales, sur des solos d’une guitare électrique qui déchire l’embouchure d’une modulation multi directionnelle. La musique de Art of Infinity est sans frontières, et All Galaxies Sun reflète cette diversité des styles à elle seule. Cosmic Rain est une belle mélodie avec des chants tribaux sur un rythme des îles. Beaux arrangements, belles percussions, un titre éthéré avec de belles voix suaves. Tout le contraire de Supernova avec son rythme hésitant, voire atonique, sur de superbes solos et lamentations de guitares stridentes. Une belle pièce aux atmosphères denses sur une guitare flottante. Passing the Pulsar est une ode hypnotique avec une fine pulsation à effet croisé tic-tac, sur un synthé sifflotant aux notes carillonnées. Une belle douceur, avec des voix célestes, sur des modulations mélodieuses.

Drift Upon The Sky est une ballade spatiale qui oscille entre un country space cowboys, du jazz et du progressif moulant, entre les ballades des Strawbs et Mott The Hoople. L’effet est assez saisissant, puisque totalement imprévu sur un disque de MÉ. Est-ce bon? Je dirais que oui, dans la mesure où on comprend et accepte le caractère multi culturaliste de Art of Infinity. Puisque c’est la force de Dimension Universe. Ici il n’est pas question de séquences, ou à peine. La section rythmique est autonome des synthés, donc cela donne plus un impact de rock progressif symphonique que de la MÉ. Mais il y a de bonnes idées, de très bonnes idées qui donnent tout un flash, comme ce western galactique. Il est évident que Art Of Infinity est un groupe structuré avec de très bons compositeurs. Des titres comme Drift Upon The Sky, Trimelar Starflight et Passing the Pulsar sont des titres assez complexes qui demandent une bonne imagination et un bon sens de créativité.

Dimension Universe est à la croisée d’un New Age progressif et d’une MÉ mélodieuse, mais pas trop aventureuse. Pas trop loin ni trop près, juste à la bonne distance entre les deux opposés pour laisser filtrer une touche tribale et ethnique. Donc une multi culturalité qui charme et envoûte sur des intermèdes ambiants. En plein le genre d’album qui peut inciter à une témérité vers la découverte des sonorités électroniques.

Reviewed in 2007 by guts of darkness, Canada

 

ART OF INFINITY "Dimension Universe" (BSC Music/Prudence)

Un disco da riscoprire – e magari da regalare per le feste natalizie – questo secondo, piccolo capolavoro del duo Thorsten Sudler-Mainz/Thorsten Rentsch. Se il titolo del cd, così come in qualche modo lo stesso nome del progetto musicale, rimanda alle tematiche dello spazio e del cosmo, qui siamo di fronte a un album di space music del tutto inusuale. Intanto non è un lavoro esclusivamente realizzato ai computer e ai sintetizzatori, ma presenta musicisti ospiti impegnati a chitarre, batteria, percussioni e vocals, in una miscela perfetta di grande new age, di sensibilità world e di elettronica moderna.

Già il primo brano “All Galaxies Sun” propone una sei corde insinuante che genera un’atmosfera da praterie americane, dove i tamburi non fanno dimenticare la presenza dei nativi e dei loro rituali. Gli elementi world sono presenti anche in “Cosmic Rain”, che abbina voci femminili e fischi elettronici, tamburi vivaci e un sax orientaleggiante. Non mancano i brani più squisitamente ambient, come “Supernova”, in cui i drone elettronici inventati dai corrieri cosmici tedeschi sono smorzati da uno scintillante pianoforte e da una chitarra elettrica quasi urlante.

La track migliore è però “Drift Upon the Sky”, in cui un delicato humming e un piano meditativo creano un aura rilassante, una colonna sonora perfetta per un filmato di nuvole in movimento sopra un paesaggio sbalorditivo, cui gradualmente si aggiungono riff di chitarra e sax e cori intensi ed espansivi. Un disco di new age “totale”, tra space music, world, una spruzzata di smooth jazz fuse in maniera perfetta.

Reviewed in 2006 by auraweb.it, Italia

ART OF INFINITY "New Horizon" (ATM Records 2000)

Wenn die ersten Takte von "The Dragons Flight" erklingen, scheint man an "Wish You Were Here" von Pink Floyd erinnert. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass auf sphärischen Flächen der Sound eines Saxophons schwebt, und wenn, dann weil sich hier verwandte Stimmungen begegnen und nicht weil sich hier Art Of Infinity bei Pink Floyd bedienen. "Ocean In Space" "Writen In The Sand" und "Three Days Winter" bilden eine ansteigende Linie zu dem mit einundzwanzig Minuten langen Epos "Evolution".

Die einzelnen Stücke auf "New Horizon" erzählen Geschichten, die für sich genommen wie kleine Splitter wirken und sich im Zusammenhang mit den weiteren Tracks zu einem Gebilde von fast monumentaler Spannweite erstrecken.

Es scheint immer um den Soundtrack zu einer intergalaktischen Reise in die eigenen Empfindungen zu gehen. Um die Erfindung der eigenen Planetenkonstellationen, innerhalb derer sich die Raumkapsel der Ideen bewegt. Den Treibstoff dazu liefert jeweils die eigene Phantasie und Art Of Infinity sind nur das Medium, mit dem der Humanfantasybeam eingeleitet wird.

Carsten Bäumer, discover.de

ART OF INFINITY "New Horizon" (ATM Records 2000)

Progressive ambient new age music? Well, that is the best way to describe the Art of Infinity project from producer/musicians Thorsten Sudler and Thorsten Rentsch. Mixing a fusion of light ambient sounds, minus any harsh techno dance beats, but adding a world/ethnic atmosphere, as well as layers of synth pad orchestration, staying consistent throughout, providing an eased laid back vibe.

I know when most of you think of new age music, you probably think of that guy who married that soap opera actress and the guy who used to host Entertainment Tonight (trust me, their names aren’t even worthy of being mentioned by me), but before you freak out, New Horizon goes beyond all the tedious similarities of many yoga music acts.

The emphasis of the music itself, provided by space noises, midnight sax, soundscapes of female vocals, and the backdrop of guitar arpeggios, are discretely mixed within large amounts of reverb and technical panning, creating a spacious atmosphere. For the most part, this record stands out as a possible soundtrack to a sci-fi film or a documentary, in fact the final cut, “Evolution” was used in a documentary film, putting these guys on the right track. This music is not heavy and not all that avant-garde, all though there is an artsy feel to it.

This record would interest those who are into Rick Wright’s solo albums or the atmosphere of Pink Floyd’s later material (minus the whole songwriting structure) as well as Alan Parson’s instrumental material.. The record itself might interest audiophiles, due to the precise mixing and engineering of this record. New Horizon would probably fit in more with the whole “Windam Hill” crowd rather than the progressive rock crowd, but if you have any interest in new age music, and if you are a keyboardist, you might want to check this record out.

Tommy Hash, prog4you.com, USA

ART OF INFINITY "New Horizon" (ATM Records 2000)

La música de los dos alemanes llamados Throsten (Thorsten Sudler-Mainz y Thorsten Rentsch) me resultó impactante desde que escuché su trabajo Dimension Universe. Yo la calificaría como electrónica con la delicadeza sonora de lo que en su momento pretendió ser la New-Age. Dicho término se desvirtuó en parte cuando el concepto musical inicial se convirtió en un negocio al servicio de la cantidad de discos vendidos como máximo interés por parte de la industria musical. Sin embargo, tras el mencionado trabajo, New Horizon (que es el realidad el primer disco del grupo) me reafirmó en mi idea de que estaba ante músicos e ingenieros de sonido que, aparte de tener la electrónica ambiental como máxima a la hora de crear música, eran capaces de dotar a sus temas de sensibilidad (que no sensiblería). La colaboración de otros músicos germanos a las voces, saxo, teclados, guitarras y percusiones añaden gran calidad sonora a New Horizon.

The Dragons Flight inicia el disco. Un lento tema de poco más de un minuto. Colores difunidados en forma de largos acordes y sonidos de saxo. Ocean In Space da la réplica durante algo más de cuatro minutos. De nuevo musica ambiental y atmosférica, con coros femeninos sobre un tema que, de forma progresiva va añadiendo ritmos y percusiones. Written In The Sand comienza con una secuencia de acordes sobre una evocadora voz ("If we ever knew the meaning of life and I we ever knew if freedom will arrive "). Finalmente el saxo proporciona de nuevo un tono sensual, dando paso a Three Days Winter, un tema que comienza a medio tempo, luego se transforma en algo cercano a la experimentación sonora electrónica (una delicatessen de ruidos de sintetizador) con la adición de nuevo del saxo. Finalmente Evolution, un tema de más de 20 minutos utilizado en documentales de televisión es otro corte que pasa por diversas fases, algunas espaciales, otras rítmicas y con abundantes coros (a veces usados simplemente como texturas vocales que sirven de apoyo al resto de la música y otras como voces que recitan diversas frases evocadoras) así como ritmos groove o cercanos al dance o techno.

En cualquier caso, son los propios músicos los que nos invitan a escuchar su música para que cada uno la califique a su gusto y manera. Yo os invito a ello también.

Jorge Sergio, articmist.org, Spain