Stephan Thelen & Markus Reuter - 2025 - Rothko Spaces, Volume 4

(51:46; Iapetus)






















Following rapidly on from ‘Promise of a Better World’, which was Markus & Stephan, here we have ‘Rothko Spaces Volume 4’ which is Stephan & Markus. As one can surmise from the title, this is the fourth in the ‘Rothko’ series, but only the second where Markus has been involved as the other two feature David Torn (Vol 1) and Jon Durant (Vol 3). Markus played his touch guitar in a large room with multiple tube amps and microphones where the amplifiers were set loud enough that feedback and distortion became part of the creative process. They had a few discussions ahead of time regarding  sounds, key centres, tempos and moods, but the pieces are freely and spontaneously improvised.

Stephan then took the parts he liked most which he felt he could work with, then digitally edited them, sometimes adding additional effects (in a similar manner to how Robin Taylor used to often work with TFU), and sometimes brought in additional instruments to enhance the overall sound, while at others he totally reworked what has taken place. 

What I find compelling about this album in that in many ways it has far less in common with their previous release together than with the latest Anchor & Burden album, ‘Sunken Fleet’. There Markus joined with Alexander Paul Dowerk, Bernhard Wöstheinrich and Asaf Sirkis to create something incredibly compelling and deeply evocative of the sounds and sights one may experience (or imagine) when at great depths. Here this is being taken to a different plane, as with the lack of percussion and not undertaking live composition Stephan has been able to sit back and fall deep inside the world Markus has created and has then been able to manipulate, add or edit what he was hearing to make something incredibly powerful. This is not music for the fainthearted, as it demands that it is played very loudly indeed (I recommend a good set of headphones) and for the listener to not only hear the music but feel what it is doing to the surroundings as this is meant to be immersive. This is music from the depths, unworldly and dramatic, and is undoubtedly a stunning and majestic piece of work.    

Kev Rowland, October 2025

Links:
https://www.stephanthelen.com/
https://www.markusreuter.com/
https://www.facebook.com/iapetusstore

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