Table of Contents
Ulrich Schnauss: The Master of Dreamy Electronica
If you are a fan of ambient, downtempo, or shoegaze music, chances are you have heard of Ulrich Schnauss. He is a German electronic musician and producer who has been creating mesmerizing soundscapes since the early 2000s. He is also known for being a member of the legendary band Tangerine Dream from 2014 to 2020.
Who is Ulrich Schnauss?
Ulrich Schnauss was born in 1977 in Kiel, a seaport city in northern Germany. He started playing piano when he was seven years old and developed an interest in various genres of music, such as My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Tangerine Dream, Chapterhouse, and early breakbeat tracks. He moved to Berlin in 1996 to pursue his musical career and began releasing music under different pseudonyms, such as View to the Future and Ethereal 77.
He caught the attention of Berlin-based label City Centre Offices (CCO), which signed him and released his first album under his own name, Far Away Trains Passing By, in 2001. The album received critical acclaim for its lush and atmospheric sound that blended electronic beats with melodic synths and guitar textures. It was followed by his second album, A Strangely Isolated Place, in 2003, which showed more influence from shoegaze bands like My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins. Schnauss said of this album: “This time I decided not to compromise on what I wanted to do, with what I thought people might want me to do.”
What makes his music so special?
Schnauss’ music is often described as dreamy, ethereal, nostalgic, and emotional. He uses a variety of synthesizers, keyboards, samplers, and effects to create rich and layered soundscapes that evoke different moods and feelings. His music is also influenced by his love for nature and science fiction, as he often incorporates sounds of trains, birds, rain, wind, and space into his compositions. He has said: “I have always loved music that has both elements: melancholy and sadness as a description of the current situation you are in but at the same time a hopeful, utopian element that reminds you of the possibility of a different life.”
One of the distinctive features of his music is his use of vocals. Instead of singing lyrics or using samples from other sources, he often creates his own vocal sounds using a vocoder or a microphone. He then processes them with various effects and filters to make them sound like instruments or ambient noises. He has explained: “I like the idea of using the human voice as an instrument rather than a conveyor of meaning or message.”
Another aspect that makes his music stand out is his remixing skills. He has remixed songs by many artists, such as Port-royal, Mojave 3, Airiel, A Shoreline Dream, Asobi Seksu, Televise, Longview,
Johannes Schmoelling, The Zephyrs, Lunz (Roedelius), and others. He often adds his own signature touch to the original songs by changing the tempo, adding new melodies or harmonies, or creating new atmospheres. He has said: “I try to respect the original song as much as possible but at the same time I try to add something new or different that maybe wasn’t there before.”
Here are some facts about Ulrich Schnauss that you may not know:
He plays keyboards for UK indie band Longview since 2003. Their singer Rob McVey was featured on Schnauss’ third album Goodbye (2007).
– He joined Tangerine Dream in 2014 after the death of founder Edgar Froese. He left the band in 2020 due to creative differences.
– He released a retrospective box set called Now Is A Timeless Present in 2020. It contains eight CDs with remastered versions of his albums and unreleased tracks.
Why do I love Ulrich Schnauss?
I have been listening to Ulrich Schnauss’ music for over a decade now and I can say that he is one of my favorite artists ever. His music has accompanied me through many moments of my life: joy, sadness,
loneliness, wonder, and inspiration. His music always transports me to another place where I can escape from reality and dream of a better world. His music also makes me feel connected to him as a person: I can sense his passion,
his vision, and his emotions through his sounds.
I love Ulrich Schnauss because he makes beautiful music that touches my soul and makes me happy.
Production Work and Collaborations
Ulrich Schnauss started his musical career in the late 90s, using various aliases such as Ethereal 77, Hexaquart, and The Extremist. He also joined the techno duo Beroshima and the indie rock band Longview as a keyboardist and producer. In 2001, he released his debut solo album under his own name, Far Away Trains Passing By, on the label City Centre Offices. The album was a critical success and established his signature style of lush and melodic electronic music.
Since then, he has released six more solo albums, each with a different theme and mood. He has also collaborated with other musicians such as Jonas Munk, Mark Peters, Tim Story, and Roedelius. He was also a member of the legendary German band Tangerine Dream from 2014 to 2020, contributing to their live performances and studio albums. He is currently working on new solo material and a collaboration with Mark Pet
Discography
– Far Away Trains Passing By (2001): This is his debut album and it showcases his talent for creating dreamy and nostalgic soundscapes that evoke the feeling of traveling by train. The album features tracks like “Knuddelmaus”, “Nobody’s Home” and “Between Us And Them”.
– A Strangely Isolated Place (2003): This is his second album and it explores the theme of isolation and loneliness in modern society. The album features tracks like “On My Own”, “Gone Forever” and “A Strangely Isolated Place”.
– Goodbye (2007): This is his third album and it deals with the topic of loss and farewell. The album features tracks like “Never Be The Same”, “Stars” and “Goodbye”.
– A Long Way To Fall – Rebound (2013): This is his fourth album and it marks a change in his musical direction, incorporating more rhythmic and percussive elements. The album features tracks like “A Long Way To Fall”, “Broken Homes” and “I Take Comfort In Your Ignorance”.
– No Further Ahead Than Tomorrow (2016): This is his fifth album and it revisits some of his earlier influences such as shoegaze and indie rock. The album features tracks like “Love Grows Out Of Thin Air”, “The Magic In You” and “No Further Ahead Than Tomorrow”.
– Now Is A Timeless Present – A Retrospective (2020): This is a compilation album that collects remastered versions of his best tracks from his previous albums, as well as some unreleased material. The album features tracks like “Blumenthal”, “Medusa” and “New Day Starts At Dawn”.
– Epic (2010) – Ulrich Schnauss & Jonas Munk: This is a collaboration album with Danish guitarist Jonas Munk, who is also known for his ambient project Manual. The album features tracks like “Chasing Rainbows”, “Sonnenblumenstrahl” and “Epic”.
– Underrated Silence (2012) – Ulrich Schnauss & Mark Peters: This is a collaboration album with British guitarist Mark Peters, who is also the leader of the band Engineers. The album features tracks like “The Messiah Is Falling”, “Yesterday Didn’t Exist” and “Underrated Silence”.
-Tomorrow Is Another Day (2013) – Ulrich Schnauss & Mark Peters : This is the second collaboration album with Mark Peters, which continues their exploration of ambient guitar music. The album features tracks like “Das Volk Hat Keine Seele”, “Tomorrow Is Another Day” and “Walking With My Eyes Closed”.
-Lunz 3 (2018) – Ulrich Schnauss & Roedelius: This is a collaboration album with German pioneer Hans-Joachim Roedelius, who is one of the founders of the bands Cluster and Harmonia. The album features tracks like “Lunz”, “Long Distance Call” and “Mint”.
equipment and instruments
One of the most distinctive elements of Schnauss’s music is his use of synthesizers. He has a large collection of vintage and modern synths, ranging from analog classics like the Roland Juno-60 and the Korg MS-20 to digital workstations like the Yamaha Motif and the Roland Fantom. He also uses software synths like Native Instruments Absynth and Spectrasonics Omnisphere, which allow him to create complex and evolving sounds.
Another important aspect of Schnauss’s music is his use of effects. He often processes his synths and other instruments with various pedals and rack units, such as delays, reverbs, choruses, flangers, phasers, distortions, and compressors. He likes to experiment with different combinations and settings of effects, creating lush and layered textures that fill the sonic space. Some of his favorite effects include the Eventide H3000 Harmonizer, the Strymon Timeline Delay, the Lexicon PCM 80 Reverb, and the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble.
Schnauss also uses other instruments besides synths, such as guitars, pianos, drums, and vocals. He sometimes plays these instruments himself or collaborates with other musicians who contribute their parts. He then samples and manipulates these sounds with samplers and software like Ableton Live and Logic Pro. He likes to blend organic and synthetic sounds together, creating a contrast between warm and cold tones.
Where to find Some music:
FAQ for Ulrich Schnauss
Q Who is Ulrich Schnauss?
A Ulrich Schnauss is a German electronic musician and producer based in London, England. He was born in 1977 in Kiel, a seaport city in northern Germany. He started making music in the mid-90s under various pseudonyms, such as View to the Future and Ethereal 77. He released his first album under his own name, Far Away Trains Passing By, in 2001.
Q What kind of music does he make?
A Ulrich Schnauss makes ambient, downtempo, IDM, and shoegaze music that blends synthesizers, guitars, drums, and vocals. His music is influenced by artists like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Tangerine Dream, and Cocteau Twins. His music is often described as melancholic, dreamy, atmospheric, and uplifting.
Q What are some of his best albums?
A Ulrich Schnauss has released four solo albums so far: Far Away Trains Passing By (2001), A Strangely Isolated Place (2003), Goodbye (2007), and A Long Way to Fall (2013). He also released a retrospective compilation called Now Is a Timeless Present in 2020, which features remastered versions of his previous albums and some unreleased tracks. Some of his most popular songs include “Monday – Paracetamol”, “Gone Forever”, “Stars”, “A Long Way to Fall”, and “I Take Comfort in Your Ignorance”.
Q What else has he done besides his solo work?
A Ulrich Schnauss is also a prolific remixer and collaborator. He has worked with artists like Port-royal, Mojave 3, Airiel, A Shoreline Dream, Asobi Seksu, Televise, Longview, Johannes Schmoelling, The Zephyrs, Lunz (Roedelius), and many others. He has also been a member of the legendary German electronic band Tangerine Dream from 2014 to 2020.
Q Where can I find more information about him and his music?
A You can visit his official website at http://www.ulrich-schnauss.com/, where you can find his discography, tour dates, news, and links to his social media accounts. You can also follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Spotify, Bandcamp, and SoundCloud. You can also read more about him on Wikipedia or Discogs.
