Flim (Dresden, Germany)
stage.vitaminic.com/flim

Flim a.k.a. Enrico Wuttke was born in 1971 and lives in Dresden, Germany in the former DDR. He has been making music since 1992 and after some band projects he started working solo in 1998. I've been enjoying his music for about a year downloading tracks from mp3.de where he until recently used to make his music available to the public.

He has now released his first album This Is A Lush Life which consists of 11 minimalistic compositions. It's easy to hear that the later Talk Talk albums have served as a part of the inspiration but Flim walks even further in the direction of organic minimalism. Calm and gentle but with chaos and chance playing important roles. Forgive me - it's really hard to describe the music but I won't hesitate to give it my warmest recommendations to people who like to listen to music without the verse-chorus-verse structure. Until now I have only listened to the album from the RealAudio files which can be downloaded at the website but the cd should be in my mailbox any day now. I can't wait.

Flim’s album can be ordered from Vitaminic  where it's also possible to download tracks in RealAudio format.

How to guard a music tape
by Flim

I remember the moment quite well when I unwrapped my brand new "Laughing Stock" tape which I had bought  just the same day. The shining new plastic sleeveglittered in the springtime light. That tree on the cover seemed somehow familiar to me. Finally after so many years! Stumbled upon it purely by chance.

The guy in the shop didn't recommend the record to me at all. He told me the music was very weird. Strange sounds as if the guitar was broken. And then the vocals, you almost couldn't understand them. Oh no, you really couldn't listen to that kind of music.

With a faint feeling in my stomach I sneaked into my kitchen and started my old, dirty tape player. Nothing happened! For some seconds absolutely
nothing! I turned the volume up to the peak ­ a weird rustling was to be heard. Any technical defect? But then: plang!

I don't remember how often I have listened to that music tape since then. I don't know how often I have tried to translate the lyrics. I don't know how often I have tried so hard to see what's behind the drum grooves in "New Grass". Or to get the secret of that feedback piece in "After the Flood". I don't know how often the musical impact and intensity at the end of "Ascension Day" has made me weep. I have never listened to anything comparable again.

How is it possible to play music like that? Music which seemed to be created by itself. I suppose it was the final glow. Everything that would come after
that would pale beside it. Yet, there wasn't anything to come. Where should it come from, everything already existed.

I've kept that music tape within reach for years now. It's plastic case is completely scratched, its cover is all tattered. It's like a beautiful stone which you have once found on the beach and which you keep for the rest of your life. It represents a memory, an appeal, a hope?

I would take this MC to the notorious isolated island. Just this one ­ love, hate, prayer ­ that's enough.