- Following a few remixes, this heartrending single is Thomalla's first release proper, and the second on indietronica band Bodi Bill's Krakatau label. Although there's a lot of epic string-like synthwork, the sounds often have a minimal aesthetic, which sometimes feels a bit overly high-range and brittle. But that's, remarkably, the only immediate thing which could be improved on this excellent release.
The tunes are structured excellently and flow professionally. Sections build, then drop down into some other idea before becoming overbearing, with less volume but no loss in momentum. "Schmalspur" spends most of the time in subdued plaintiveness, only swelling near the end...but not too much; you almost wonder if the track actually happened. There's a lot of finesse in the programming and production generally: just listen to the attention to detail in the grains of rhythm in "Geiser," or the creative pitch sliding of the lead synth in "Gefilde."
But above all, the emotion in the melodies and harmonies he uses is simply gorgeous. Think the grandiose climaxes of Orchestra of Bubbles—beautiful, epic and sad, especially "Geiser". Despite being the highlight, it's probably the amount of sorrow that prevents this track from being on the A, and although fans of Traum or Border Community might find a place for one of these in a set, any of them would almost certainly be one of the more melancholy moments. They might find them too precious to share anyway.
Tracklist A Gefilde
B1 Geiser
B2 Schmalspur