The Rorschach Garden – Dangerous Isolation Site (EP – Ant-Zen)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Wave, Minimal-Electro.
Format: Digital, Vinyl.
Background/Info: Active since the late 80s, The Rorschach Garden always remained inspired and driven by good-old Electro-Wave. This EP features three ‘older’ songs plus an exclusive cut.
Content: The EP takes off with “Dangerous Strangers” originally released in 2008 at the compilation “20th Anniversary Gift” and perfectly symbolizing the sound of Philipp Münch. This is pure vintage Electro, which sounds sterile, but melodic. The vocals inject a warmer touch to the production. “Isolation” originally released in 2007 on the album “The Toy Factory” is a similar cut and another dancefloor track for 80s lovers. Both songs left –including the previously unreleased “Sometimes”, are shorter cuts.
+ + + : The EP doesn’t feature that much new material, but will be for sure become a collector’s item for Rorschach Garden fans. The sound remains refreshing, and especially authentic; no tricks and that much effects here, but simply the power and magic of analogue gear creating unique sound treatments. I like the mix of coldness and melodic tunes.
– – – : The single new cut “Sometimes” is nothing more than simply a B-side cut. It’s not exactly a bonus to this EP.
Conclusion: “Dangerous Isolation Site” reminds us of the magic of this old-school devoted Electro-Wave project.
Best songs: “Dangerous Strangers”, “Isolation”, “Holiday Site”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.facebook.com/TheRorschachGarden
Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official
About The Rorschach Garden
The Rorschach Garden is the electronic project of German musician Philipp Münch, started in 1988 as a one-man project and first circulated through the underground tape scene. That first phase closed in 1996 while Münch worked on other projects, among them Synapscape. He restarted the project in 2001 with a shift toward synth-pop and minimal-electro, beginning with a 7” single on the Bazooka Joe label. B. Teichner and N. Pohlmann later joined for studio recordings and live appearances.
“Dangerous Isolation Site” was released by Ant-Zen on 21 April 2021 in digital and vinyl formats. Philipp Münch handled all voices, synths and programming, and Stefan Alt supplied the artwork. The four tracks are “Dangerous Strangers”, “Sometimes”, “Isolation” and “Holiday Site”.
A full-length album followed two months later, reviewed here as The Rorschach Garden – We Are Vanishing (Album – Ant-Zen). Ant-Zen continued with The Rorschach Garden – Stealth Black (Album – Ant-Zen) in 2022 and The Rorschach Garden – Pleasure Under Pressure (Digital/CD Album – Ant-Zen) in 2025. Münch discussed the project’s history in the November 2021 ‘Click Interview’ with The Rorschach Garden: ‘The Rorschach Garden Always Was And Still Is My Musical Diary’.
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