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WHAT THE ARTIST SAID
'I'm deeply touched by the musical, intellectual, literary, poetic, archaeological, sensible, loveable and emotional qualities of your book. God bless you.' WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
'This beautifully produced book by Stephen Iliffe is the first in-depth analysis of the man and his work. An excellent overview of the electronic and ambient axis of Krautrock. A fascinating account of a rich life full of incident and how it shaped Roedelius' music. After reading this book you immediately want to search out the recordings. I think that is testament to the effectiveness of this book... Thoroughly recommended.'
'If you're a fan of contemporary electronica, but Roedelius is an unfamiliar name to you, then you're missing out on one of that genre's most important wellsprings. Picture the glimmerlight from a star called Cluster (Roedelius' group with partner Moebius) travelling down the years; it falls upon Kraftwerk, on the electropop of the 80s, on house, techno and the abstractions of electronica, ambient, etc. Very welcome and long overdue, Painting with Sound is an invaluable guidebook to the man's life and music.'
'Krautrock was an acquired taste until the late 1970s when it exuded an icily urban appeal by way of David Bowie's pivotal Low, whose console midwife, Brian Eno, has penned the preface to this worthy and enthusiastic biography. Roedelius' formation of the Cluster and then Harmonia ensembles were on a par with Amon Düül II, Can and Kraftwerk. With myriad illustrations and a well-argued discographical commentary, this is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what makes Roedelius tick.'
'Hans-Joachim Roedelius has packed a lot into his seventy years: a child actor in pre-war Berlin, teenage conscription into the post-war East German army, desertion, capture, a five year prison sentence with hard labour (he served two) followed by escape to the west just before the Berlin Wall went up. Once there he began to apply the principles of anarchy to music. Stephen Iliffe's gift is in detailing the minutiae of this remarkable life while being inspired to a deeper exploration of the music.'
'This year Hans Joachim-Roedelius will be 70. And the first thing to say after that is he has managed to stay perenially young at heart rather than suffer the debilitating tag of Grandfather of Krautrock. While most of his peers hung up their creative hats years ago, he has continued to develop and experiment with the abandon of a teenager. Stephen Iliffe's timely biography is a homage, though never fawningly so. It makes for an ideal introduction to an undersung gentle giant of contemporary music.'
'An inspiration to artists as diverse as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Brian Eno and Julian Cope, Roedelius has pursued his unique and extraordinarily beautiful vision for half a century. He has also lived a life that screams out to be told in a movie, but this will do nicely for starters... Iliffe's affectionate book overflows with great stories.'
'Painting with Sound gets my highest recommendation. Thoughtful and written clearly with the reader in mind, Iliffe's writing about the music dances through the albums. This is no hastily photocopied screed - it is beautifully designed with rare photos on every page. The power of Painting with Sound is that it does exactly what a good music book should do: it makes the reader want to go out and buy some Roedelius CDs.'
'Normally books of this nature are half-assed affairs - written by fans paying tribute to their heroes but with no special insight or original research about the subject at hand. In this case, the author has befriended the man himself, done his homework and delivered the goods. If the name Roedelius means nothing to you, but you get excited by the mention of Brian Eno, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream or Can - you'll dig his revolutionary music as much, if not more than his famous peers. My vote for rock music biography of the year.'
'Kudos to Stephen – he obviously understands that every honest musician’s work is only based on his own life experience. He avoids the silly and naive clichès that can unfortunately be spotted quite often in journalists' views of the German "krautrock". This book is truly well researched and not affected by ‘invented’ truths, theories and myths… Great archive photos… luxurious quality of print and paper… If you are a fan of Roedelius and Cluster or just interested in German electronic scene, then "Painting with Sound" is a must.'
'Lavishly illustrated and a highly recommended read. As Brian Eno says in his foreword "With Roedelius' music you get the sense of someone completely alive." By having lived such a rich and varied life his music is also full of that zest for experience. And Stephen Iliffe has caught the essence of his art very well.'
'A homage to one of the most important composers of our time... marvellous!'
'What a beautiful artefact. I will cherish this to my dying day.'
'To buy this book is obligatory; it ought to be in the collection of any music lover who has respect for himself'
'Approaches Hans Joachim Roedelius and his music as an absolute fan without neglecting the obligations of a journalist. A genuine jewel - I warmly recommend the book.'
'When I learned that Stephen Iliffe was planning to publish a book on Roedelius, I had a strange feeling. That this man's life and work could be encapsulated in a slim, full-colour volume brimming with photographs, observations, reportage and interviews, seemed like such a strange idea, this man who is so alive and passionate about life and music, about his family, or how the sun shines on the leaves, on the rooftops... And when I thought of the idea of capturing this life in the pages of a book-and not by his own hand, but from the perspective of another-I must admit I had my reservations. And yet Stephen Iliffe is one who seems so enchanted by the stature of Roedelius, by his experiences, friendships, chance meetings, collaborations, and, most of all, by his music, that his text seems very much alive with this enchantment, but also fed and refined by the reporter in him, looking for facts both obvious and obscure, little gems of insight, interviews with others, snapshots from the distant and not-so-distant past. His writing captures with ease the zeitgeist, the creative energy which filled the studios, the concert halls, theatres, the rooms, and streets.'
'Possibly the best book in its field. The way it portrays Germany and German life and politics is very accurate and brilliantly written.'
'Highly recommended with a brilliant introduction by Brian Eno. A fine tribute to one of the most unique and creative composers of the 20th century.'
'Stephen Iliffe's meticulous research finally puts Roedelius in his rightful place as one the most innovative composers of our time. A must-have read for anyone interested in original thought and original music.'
'This new book is a dream come true for fans of Cluster and Roedelius. Stephen Iliffe has done a wonderful job in fleshing out a vivid portrait of a truly great artist.'
'A fascinating story… this book really gets inside the musician and so you come out with eyes wide open.'
'A particularly pleasant read, this book does real justice to one of several German musicians of the 70s who did not get the status he deserved.'
'An entertaining jewel of a book for anyone interested in the history of electronic music, even for those readers whose English is not perfect.'
'The music of Roedelius is blind to commercial logic. Rather, Iliffe delicately lures the reader into an intimate creative process that allows Roedelius to dig into the depths of the human soul.'
'The old man's advice to young musicians today: "Live life to the full and draw the music from life." The book weaves the 70-year old Roedelius' life story into a thoughtful analysis of an approach to composing music as 'the gift of the moment'.' WHAT THE READERS SAY
'In the summer of 1975 I first heard Cluster and suddenly another world was uncovered. This book is like discovering the music all over again.'
'I've counted Joachim as a good friend for 20 years now, yet there is so much in this book that has taken me by surprise. The detail, the sharp analysis, and the richness of Stephen's writing illuminates a great life and an incomparable musical legacy.'
'I loved the Roedelius book - it only took me a few days to burn through it. Achim's relentless drive to live and create outside the rigid walls of "formal musical systems" is truly inspirational for me.'
'In the US, the gleaming vinyl import LPs of the 1970s were like jewels among the dross. This book is the same.'
'A marvelous job… I am humbled to discover what a hard life Joachim had in his early years - makes my problems trivial by comparison! I was touched that he turned down remixes by certain British DJs who made his work all dark and no light. My feelings entirely about much modern music. Let there be light!'
'I just thought I should tell you that reading the book has changed the way I approach music! Very powerful.'
'The book is great and Painting with Sound is such a perfect title: the difference between Roedelius and many of today's bedroom boffins is that he pushed his machines as far as they could possibly go. Most people have far too much "fashionable" equipment, are spoilt and sound dated after three months.'
'It gives me an even greater urge to search out more of the old man’s albums!' Eric Spansjerberg [Schiedam, Holland]
'The discography and album cover pictures alone are worth the price of the book.'
'The book is great in all sorts of ways - the design and structure make me want to keep returning and dipping into sections within it.'
'Informative and well-written - I leant this book to my father who is around Joachim’s age as it gives another view of the war time and an unfamiliar approach to music.'
'I enjoyed the book very, very much. I could "feel" his music while reading the book and looking at the pictures'.
'A thrilling journey back into my own country's history - the history of Germany before the reunification. It should be translated into German!'
'Really well-written... the book was especially engrossing to an e-music geek like me.'
'My God, the book is fantastic! I was completely bowled over by it. Joachim Roedelius really has lived through some 'interesting times'.'
'The layout of the book is very impressive. The photos, reproductions of albums sleeves are exquisite.'
'Being a listener of HJR for 30 years, I did not know anything of his life before. But the book confirmed what I could deduce from his music: that he is deeply spiritual and appreciates the beauty of "creation" and the fragility of life.'
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