Chemtrails—the MP3 album.

Preamble // Vorwort

As well as the cd album, the mp3 album of “Chemtrails”—current remix project by gran où lée—is a collection of reinterpretations, regarding the work “Which Chemicals Caused Jesus Christ?”, originated in the year 2000. Whilst in all tracks of the cd album samples from the original work were used without exception the mp3 album's contributions didn't underlie any restrictions.

Besides reinterpretations close to the concept of cover versions or pieces embedding fragments of the original into absolutely new environments, also remixes will be represented according to the strict approach—versions solely using the original's sound pool.

11 Tracks by a total of 9 musicians and sound artists were compiled for this album, published under a Creative Commons License.

About the Tracks

The album starts with “Bells Beside Whatever (Study #1)”, a reinterpretation that goes without external sound sources. It's main focus lies on the original's vocal parts.

The modified vocals appear to have lost there primary character: they equate animal sounds and inorganic, granular noises.

The following track “Endstation Nullrille” does also spend its time on the vocals but lets them intact and chooses the first four stanzas to add a completly independent instrumental (in terms of sound and style).

With “whichcrisiscausedjesustousechemicals” and “Tante Erika” two tracks follow, that totally set sampling from WCCJC? aside. Dirk HuelsTrunk's reinterpretation is based on his own voice. He grabs diverse moments of the original through acustic paraphrase in terms of sound and repetition of its lyrics.

“Tante Erika”—duo Appartment22's contribution and at the same time the first collaboration of M. Knapp and A. Usenbenz feels constrained with the vocal line in melodical terms. The vocals, sung by A. Usenbenz, were supplemented through a multiplicity of instruments. The intro places the listener directly beside the Christmassy table of presents.

In turn “Grillen im Schnee” by Andreas Usenbenz excludes external sound sources and explores the atonal cosmos of WCCJC?. A synthetic sound of chirping roams through the whole track that apparently self–regulatively rears up and eases again. A comparison to WCCJC?'s “What About Christmas?” is just the thing.

Project fubsan tries to give with “Cialis” a direct answer to “Which chemicals caused Jesus Christ?”. The answer's obvious absurdity is nothing short of the questions one. Cialis' dark ambiance acts as a pronounced opposite pole to the text.

Sonovo's “Chemicals” almost sounds like a track, not beeing geared to any remix guidelines, merely importing fragments of WCCJC?'s vocals. Actually it makes solely use of the original's sounds. The vocals come across as corroded foreign sound elements embedded in a melancholic prevailing mood.

“whichjesuschemicalscausedthissong”—Dirk HuelsTrunk's second contribution conjures up a contemplativeness in tilted position. So to speak HuelsTrunk attends to the original's text with contemplative subversion in subversive contemplativeness.

In “Without Milk” the two melodically related tracks “Deharmonized” and “Tomorrow the Gift is No More Surprise.” get closely interwoven and inconspicuously supplemented by synthesizer sounds—the result moves within the fields of experimental rock.

“MassacreCoreMix For Fallen Angels and Broken Heroes” concentrates again on the track WCCJC? and widely replaces the old vocabulary to patiently trace the title's answer while fragmentary reminding the original. Its collapse in the end leads equipment and listener to the borders of capacity and paves the way for “Chemical”. He Tears Consume's track destroys “Bells Beside the Christmas Tree” in terms of sound, while completely achieving the original in its structure and beeing geared to the cd production's restrictions. He Tears Consume's reinterpretation denies a perception in terms of enjoyment.

The Artist's Texts

Alike in case of the cd album, the artists were asked for a textual statement regarding their respective contributions involved in the mp3 album. Guidelines regarding amount and content were not given. Their words are accessible per playlist on this website.

To assure a minimum of consistent information on the remixes, details were preceded about date of origin, used sound sources and the case wether it was solely sampled directly from the EP or if single audio traces were in use.

The Tracks

Extensions

Adequate to the format's specifics the internet range will be extended (i.e. additional reinterpretations, graphics, videos, texts) beyond the date of the first publication. Referring to this we recommend a subscription to the Chemtrails Reminder.