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Explore Deep Space with Cosmic Hoffmann

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For several years, Klaus Hoffmann-Hoock (aka Cosmic Hoffmann) has been producing electronic music that blends Eastern philosophies with a fascination for outer space. The reviews below illustrate the musician’s latter interest.

Note: these releases are collections of home-recorded material from the 70s and 80s, eras before computers dominated electronic equipment. As Hoffmann says in the liner notes: “It still was the ‘analogue’ pre-MIDI time before thousands and thousands of factory presets, computer plug-in and digital tools appeared.”

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COSMIC HOFFMANN: Space Gems (CD on Heart and Mind Music)

This release from 2007 offers 62 minutes of astral electronic music.

Hoffmann plays mellotron, various tape frames, mini Moog, ARP Odyssey, drum machines, organ, and Fender Rhodes piano. Joining him (on electronics on two tracks) is Horst Theis.

Diverse electronics produce celestial journeys of entrancing glory. This music falls into two classes: astral ambience and tracks of more lively substance.

The former embody textural flows to create interstellar territories of expansive temperament. Languid keyboards introduce dreamy sweeps that lend pleasant layers to the mix, elevating these pieces beyond the realm of conventional harmonic auralscapes. Melodic progressions are keynote here.

The more sprightly tracks employ bouncy keyboards to achieve their escape velocity, since percussion is sparsely used. The sounds themselves are very cosmic, engagingly unearthly. Nimble fingers produce shimmering riffs that cascade with streaming ebullience. Cycles are established and embellished, resulting in a simplicity that evolves into delightful structures of astral complexity.

Percussion is used sparingly, usually manifesting as simple rhythms that offer a mild propulsion to the tunes. In some pieces, the beats achieve a more strident presence and even heightened tempos.

Whether dreamy or spry, these compositions possess a glorious beauty dedicated to the wonders of realms beyond our own atmosphere. Mankind’s outward urge is captured and conveyed with emotional resolve. The moods are ones of exploration and thrilling awe at undiscovered mysteries.

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COSMIC HOFFMANN: Hypernova (CD on Heart and Mind Music)

This release from 2009 offers 61 minutes of spacey electronic music.

Hoffmann plays mellotron, various tape frames, mini Moog, ARP Odyssey, Roland M 100 modular system, drum machine, Italian organ, Korg PS 3100, and Gibson guitar. Joining him on this release are: Horst Theis (on ARP on two tracks), and Jochen Schäfer (on guitar on one track).

Ethereal electronics produce tuneage of a celestial character.

Lavish texturals establish an astral foundation for a variety of electronics, creating surging waves of cyclic pulsations embellished by more strident keyboards. Shrill pitches are sometimes employed in conjunction with airy tones to generate an engaging sonic balance.

The majority of tracks on this album express contemplative moods of shimmering definition, exploring pleasant regions of space.

Guitar contributes an auxiliary astral presence, usually confined to softer expressions of subdued luster. In some instances, the instrument provides languid strumming that creates a visionary scope. Other times, a smoldering wonder is accomplished.

E-perc is used in a few tracks, providing bouncy rhythms to enliven the interstellar voyages.

Harmonic flows unfurl with twinkling beauty, building in density until they achieve a euphoric intensity while maintaining a vaporous delicacy.

These compositions convey the listener to far-flung vistas of outer space, plunging through the roiling clouds of grand nebulas, visiting alien worlds of mesmerizing attributes. Dreamy pastiches are achieved as the cosmic void is filled with pensive atmospheric media. Entrancing life is bestowed to quantum phenomena with expansive melodies of captivating demeanor.

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To read a review of Cosmic Hoffmann’s Outerspace Gems CD, go here.

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