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Our Review

Here's something fun. All the way from Germany, the über-talented Zen-Men deliver holiday electronica on 2512--Christmas that is smooth and scintillating. This synthesized mood music is cool, clean and contemporary, and it nicely walks the line between jazz and new age.

The 11 instrumental tracks include three German numbers. I particularly liked Kling, Glöckchen, klingelingeling. Although I speak no German (French is my game), I strongly suspect that the tune is all about bells, and it's a memorable, hand-clappin' presentation. The album's centerpiece is the extended (almost 14 minutes!) version of Silent Night/Stille Nacht, which includes the soulful sax wail of Frenchwoman Gaby Schenke. This piece is the perfect close to the album, which overall provides 56 minutes of chill-out time on an international scale. It should be noted that a shorter version of Silent Night/Stille Nacht also opens the album; I always enjoy it when artists "bookend" an offering in this fashion.

The inclusion of Schenke's excellent sax on four cuts warmly enriches this contemporary take on holiday favorites. With each number averaging over four minutes, the release bursts with nicely developed stories of high-tech Christmas. This music would provide excellent ambient holiday background filler for any seasonal event, and it's very easy on the ears while doing that last-minute wrapping.

My thumb's up for Zen-Men's 2512-Christmas. If you like relaxing instrumental music with an electronic edge that is totally smooth and accessible, this is a great choice for you.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2007)

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From the liner notes:

Guitar on tracks 3,7 (Akis)
Saxophone on tracks 1,4,8,11 (Gaby Schenke)

From the Website:

ZEN-MEN started to transduce their thoughts using musical waves in the year 1995. Two years later, 1997 the first album "men from mars" was released. Several tracks were licensed to various compilations worldwide including Buddha Bar, Café abstrait, SpaceNight, Klassik Lounge and others.
Their music is often described as "special" or "unique". Well it IS the essence of years of research and studies in e.g. BioFeedback, BioPhotonics, Buddhism, Cymatics, Harmonik(Hans Kayser), Hawking, Hinduism, Kepler, Leonardo da Vinci, LIFE, Metaphysics, Numerology, Plato, Psychology, Overtones, ZEN...
The musical background is based on many years in different music-schools, classical piano, e-bass, trumpet and an exam in Sax, living years in various bands, big bands and jazz combos.
Set and setting are very important elements in the creation of ZEN-MEN's music....
It took almost 8 years to complete the 2nd album "you are home", released December 2005.

"Listen and live!" and like Caroline said:
«Le soleil brille toujours pour celui qui sait le voir...»

Zen-Men

2512--Christmas

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Track List