Liner notes

This is the final part in a four-part compilation series intended to give you a deeper insight into the philosophy behind FAX and its related labels and to look back on what has happened over the past 20 years. After we watched the plants grow during summer, watered and weeded them, there was a great harvest and after this one has to think about a new year. Using the experience from spring through autumn to improve the results for the next year and some new techniques in gardening.

In the small town of Traben-Trarbach one has to deal with neighbours and producing a lot of music means a great deal of work and a lot of “sound emissions“ that sometimes became a problem. On the other hand I wanted more space and more sunlight than can be found in the Mosel valley, so I moved uphill where I enjoy an uninterrupted view of the sunsets in the horizon from my favourite place in the studio. This feeling of expanse and space in the middle of nature with only a few houses around led to the idea of using surround technology for my music. Still there was a lot of work to do in finding the correct setup and how to sell music in a new format. Already the first releases were very well received, especially “Air V“ which was a successful way to begin the 2CD release which included stereo and DTS 5.1 versions of the same music. The more I worked with this new sound, the more I was convinced that it added a new dimension to the music. For the first time I had the feeling that our music had been given the “space“ that it needed.

The Move D · Namlook collaboration of Raumland, Wagons-Lits, Wired and Travelling the Silk Route became, until recently, a yearly project and evolved nicely. Performed live in David’s and my studio and edited later for the CD release, we had the feeling of working in the Krautrock tradition…we became “Sons of Kraut“. The energy inherent in the improvisational momentum created music of ever building and timeless quality.

Through my “Namlook“ project I released again the more innovative and experimental music like „Pearl“ and „Music for Urban Meditation“, I stopped playing live and enjoyed working more in the studio.
With Lorenzo Montanà I found a new „partner in crime“ to part the „classic“ FAX sound to the future and after 4 installments of this project that sold out very fast, I am convinced that this was not the final chapter of our collaboration.

2350 Broadway 4 was released and I was glad to work with Tetsu Inoue again. Now, in 2012 we all hope to hear from him again, as he did not yet answer any mails after the Fukushima catastrophe.
Working with Jochem Paap on pp · nmlk was a great experience. We are both into the future of music and we created an album which still seems to be ahead of its time.

Finally, I would like to use the opportunity to thank all of you, the fans of FAX music, for your support throughout the years. In times of uncertainty and change which came with the practice of illegal downloads and filesharing, it was you who helped the label survive and had confidence that I stand personally for quality in music and would always take the opportunity to surprise with new ideas and continuation of „classic“ projects.

Finally, I would like to use the opportunity to thank all of you, the fans of FAX music, for your support throughout the years. In times of uncertainty and change which came with the practice of illegal downloads and filesharing, it was you who helped the label survive and had confidence that I stand personally for quality in music and would always take the opportunity to surprise with new ideas and continuation of „classic“ projects.

In the season of „Winter“ I decided to sell CDs directly and as a result of this move I am even closer to the listeners of the music. A lot of you have followed our/my path for a long time and helped with your feedback.

Last but not least, I thank all the musicians I worked with in the past 35 years who shared my life of music, have been a great inspiration, and made a 20 year label anniversary possible.

Technical note:

The tracks have been gently remastered, but I wanted them to be authentic…creating adn producing musuc, as well as sowing and cultivating plants, is an ongoing learning process and I am glad that I have learned a lot between 1992 and today…;-)

Pete Namlook