Kruder & Dorfmeister Album: “G-Stoned [EP]”

This disc has only 25 minutes of music on it, but if you like Kruder Dorfmeister, you'll love it. The tracks segue smoothly together, and are delightful listening for quiet afternoons at home or on headphones in the metro. It's less heavy-hitting than their reknowned K+D sessions. As with most of their stuff, this cd will hold your interest through repeated listenings.

The impetus for this first album by Viennese duo Kruder & Dorfmeister was their uncanny resemblance to Simon & Garfunkle and their desire to recreate this album cover (From S&G's classic, "Bookends") Luckily, their collaboration extended beyond this visual pun.

This album gives just a taste (with only four tracks included) of what K&D would eventually do and the influence they would have on down-tempo music, globally.

Highly recommended.

Judging by the cover, Kruder and Dorfmeister have returned as a shockingly faithful simulacrum of twee 60s popsters Simon and Garfunkel. Don't buy it for a moment: inside you'll find a short if accurate precis of K&D's tripsy rainy-afternoon groove. I'd go rather for the double-length *K&D Sessions*, tho' if you're a completist, you'll want this too.

The G-Stoned EP is one of the few albums that I would call perfect. I reserve that term for albums that are absolutely life-changing, that rise above the work of their genre, and inspire countless other artists. In only four short tracks, Kruder and Dorfmeister establish themselves as one of the leaders of downtempo, or trip hop, or the label du jour - whatever you want to call it, it's amazing music.

The songs are deceptively simple, but the genius is in the details. While many artists would be content to dip into their library of loops and breaks, K&D recruit fellow Viennese jazz musicians to realize their ideas. The result is obvious upon the first listen - real musicians making real music. While K&D do use some samples on the album, they're more like tasty embellishments. When they need something serious like a beat or some gentle electric piano comping, they get a live musician in the studio.

Dorfmeister's primitive flute on the opening definition is reminiscent of Florian Schneider on the early Kraftwerk albums in what is most definitely a nod to their German neighbors. Deep S***, the second track, has the rich warmth of a well-worn record, complete with the requisite fuzz, slightly wavering pitch, and smoothed out edges. It clearly showcases K&D's sampling prowess. They fit the pieces together as if the music was conceived as a whole right from the beginning.

High Noon is a little more energetic (although, for this style of record, it's all relative), and features an obscured sample of "Blue Moon." Finally, we reach the sensual Original Bedroom Rockers, a perfect end to a thoroughly chill album.

Although most fans are already aware of this, it's worth pointing out to new listeners that these are Kruder and Dorfmeister originals. They've composed a grand total of seven or eight works together. The vast majority of their output are remixes and, even though K&D tend to make tracks their own, the style is a bit different. This album is jazzy, but it's a much more subdued than most of the tracks on The K&D Sessions or the DJ Kicks album. You might be in for a surprise.

This album takes a long time to reveal its greatness. It repays careful listening. If you want something immediately catchy, you can always just turn on the radio. There is plenty of music that hooks you upon the very first listen, but those hooks are ephemeral. You'll be listening to the G-Stone EP long after you tire of the rest.

I recommend this to any fan of electronic music, and to most fans of music in general. Pop this in the player, turn out the lights, and enjoy.

Those of you in the know....realize that no one does it quite like K&D. G-Stoned is an early effort and standing here in the new millenium, hindsight being what it is, G-Stoned cannot match up to DJ KICKS and Sessions, or even any Tosca or Peace Symphony effort. In short it is the worst of the best but still better than 90 percent of what is out there. BUY IT!