13 instrumental pieces from Fusion to Jazz and Funk
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1. Vitamin B
Sometimes the Hesso-Brazilian in me finds his way out. My skin turns darker, my hair becomes black and Brazilian rhythms and harmonies cast a spell on me. In this case Baião (Vitamin B) und Afoxé (De Nada), both from the north of Brazil.
2. Little Zebra’s Walk
This title was Peter's idea. He wanted more seriosity in our choice of songtitles. Well, if stripes, then "Chipmunk" would have pleased me more but a zebra - of course - is culturally more profound. Considering this the title fits like a glove.
Peter Praesent: Drums
3. Corona-Matte (Corona-Hairstyle)
It's about the virus not the beer. In times of pandemie (older people may recall) hairdressers had to close their shops. This lead to uncontrolled growth on the head which added an asthetic crisis to the health crisis. The harmonical structure of part A with many #11-chords and key changes symbolises this blond-brunette-black chaos. The four steps of part B (actually 3: because 4=1) stand for the re-opening of the hairdressing-salons and the reprise of the layered hairstyle. The guitar solo brings the uncontrolled growth to sound and the organ solo shows the structured procedure in regaining the façon (dedicated to my hairdresser Hüseyin Atici).
Peter Praesent: Drums
Karlheinz Kern: Organ
4. Die Wiederentdeckung der Langsamkeit (The Rediscovery of Slowness)
The title of this piece is pure posing and shall demonstrate that my literary competence has risen compared to my Perry-Rhodan-Phase as a young man. Actually it was Peter's idea. So it may have been his literary competence this title is owed to. Difficult question. Besides the piece is slow. Maybe this can be the reason for the name of the song.....
Peter Praesent: Drums
5. Gassenhauer (old German word for a hit, cannot be translated)
This song has the potential for a super hit: about 3 ½ minutes length, simple melodies, a short guitar solo, driving drums ... unfortunately no vocals. Oh shit, not a hit.
6. Stein – Schere – Echse – Spock (Stone - Scissors - Lizard - Spock)
The title refers to an episode of "Big Bang Theory". Sheldon introduces a new version of the game "Scissors - Stone - Paper". He uses five gestures because he thinks the other version constitutes the risk that all players choose the same figure. Four of his gestures are used in the title of this tune. To be honest: they have no reference to the music. I only liked the words.
7. Chromaphil
Attention: Play on words! A chromatic theme played by a variety of tonal colours combined with a complementary part B. This mixture borders abstract art.
Peter Praesent: Drums
Carsten Altvater: Slap Bass
8. De Nada
see "Vitamin B"
9. Eine Prise Salz und ein Scheffel Schaffel (A Pinch of Salt and a Bushel of Shuffle)
Emerged from a mixture of African and European musical traditions the "Shuffle" (in Jazz: Swing) has become a style-forming attribute of Afro-American music. Instead of playing eighth-notes in a binary way they are played ternary which leads to a rocking rhythm and grooves like hell. A phenomenon that works with a 4/4-meter should also work with 5/4 and 6/4 ...... and Jörg's keyboard playing is the spice.
Jörg Sandner: Keyboards
10. Langsamer Walzer (Slow Waltz)
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Steps for the man: 1. Right foot straight forward. |
Steps for the woman: 1. Left foot straight backward. |
Quelle: https://doodance.com/ressourcen/langsamer-walzer-schritte-figuren-lieder
Niklas Runkel: Violin
11. Funk Shui
Funk Shui is a Taoist way of composing from Southern Hesse. The goal is to achieve harmony between the bass and the wind instruments. That applies to all musicians except for the guitarist. Nothing ever applies to the guitarist, especially when the guitarist is composer and soloist at the same time.
Peter Praesent: Drums
12. Zombie’s Breakfast
Many people don't know this: Male zombies are quite inflexible in their breakfast habits. They exclusively eat G-Rolls with a variation of Minor-Jellies. The table appears to be laid chaotic but it follows an individual order. Part A is dedicated to the zombie man. Zombie women like varieties on the menu and prefer a recognizable structure of decoration. Part B illustrates zombie women.
13. Ostinato
In music, an ostinato ("Italian: [ostiˈnaːto]; from Italian 'stubborn', compare English obstinate) is a motif or phrase that persistently repeats in the same musical voice, frequently in the same pitch. [...] The repeating idea may be a rhythmic pattern, part of a tune, or a complete melody in itself. Strictly speaking, ostinati should have exact repetition, but in common usage, the term covers repetition with variation and development, such as the alteration of an ostinato line to fit changing harmonies or keys.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostinato (October 3rd, 2025)
Peter Praesent: Drums
Niklas Runkel: cover design
Robert Runkel: guitars, bass, keyboards, drum programming, percussion, alto-saxophone in 1, 4, 7 und 12, composition, arrangement, mix und mastering
v.l.n.r.: Niklas Runkel (cover, violin), Peter Praesent (drums), Robert Runkel