|
The year was 1991. The ultimate Techno-Beat Track that became "NUMERO UNO" in German Dance charts was done by Alex Christensen (on April 7, he turned 29): A DJ and producer from Hamburg. The man behind U 96. This track written and composed by Klaus Doldinger and produced by Alex Christensen, was a title song to new movie at that time called "Das Boot". This was extremely dynamic and powerful track with lot of electronic sounds, underwater effects. It took German floor entirely. Picked charts in many countries: Norway, England, Denmark, Sweden, France, Holland, Belgium and Finnland. Interestingly enough, this track made to US and was released by virtually unknown to me American label "Cohiba Records" "Das Boot" was the first Platin-Maxi Single by this group sold at more than 500 000 copies. In the beginning of 1993 U 96 released first album called: Guess how? Das Boot . Another song in this album worth mentioning was "I Wanna Be A Kennedy". Song that in many places reminded a Hit from 1980 by Visage "Fade to Grey". It this album produced by Matiz and AC16 (this team actually produced all U-96 albums), as guests were performing Miss Melody ("Come 2 Gether" and "Ambient Underworld"), Miss Andromeda ("Sportly Animal-Loving Extravert") and a RAPPER - Satchmo in "Ambient Underworld".
In 1993, U 96 released the second album Replugged. Why "replugged" you might ask? It was Alex's response to what MTV-Unplugged series was presenting. A lot of ROCK while he was introducing more TECHNO/RAVE style to the dance music. The first hit from this album was an excellent TECHNO track "Love Sees No Colour". Reference to "Das Boot" was the TECHNO version of "War Of The Worlds". While the "Das Boot" was virtually only one single by this group released in the US, "Love Sees No Colour" was advertised in the US as: The Euro-techno smash finally invades American shores! . Entire album was mostly recorded in France (Paris), written and composed by several writers and artists (mostly French) : Lagonda, Castioni, Wycombe, Ac Beat, produced by AC 16 and Matiz; the same team from U 96's first album. . Both producers were already in demand by such stars like: Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Jean-Michel Jarre. This team of writers brought a French flavor to this album. You can hear this clearly in Jean-Michel Jarre alike track called "The One Russian". Alex Christensen meanwhile produced and composed songs for other artists. Probably the most known track written by him was released in 1994 "United" sang by team Prince Ital Joe and ex- "New Kid In The Block" Marky Mark.
Replugged was a good album, but the album Club Bizarre released in 1995 brought quite new dimension to his music and left major impression on the new direction Euro-Dance was going. The title song: "Club Bizarre" was a small revolution. He was able to mix blue-sounded harmony with a strong and sharp sound of Vocoder creating a hybrid of melancholy and trance. Quite an accomplishment. The Cover of this album featured Alex in crucified position as "Guru" is an illustration to his another hit from this album: "Love Religion". He did not forget the song he started his career with. In Club Bizarre is featured "Das Boot II". The closing song in this album was Ambient "Dark Room Rituals" with leading motiv from classic movie by Steven Spielberg: "The Close Encounter of The Third Kind". The entire album had new sets of writers and composers that influenced different sound than the one featured in Replugged. Besides Alex's, music and texts were also written by Ingo Hauss, Helmut Hoinkis and Hayo Panarinfo. Producers remained the same: Matiz and AC 16. Another revolution caused by Alex was releasing a CD-ROM version of this album fully interactive.
Both 1995 and 1996 are years of many changes for Alex Christensen. First U 96 has joined DEA-Le (Dorothy Lapi) (23) a beatiful, dark haired woman from Frankfurt with a admixture of Sicilian blood.. Who is she? DEA-Li is a professional dancer and choreographer (she does choreography for another group called Captain Jack). Her hobby is painting (Acryl) and she is a fan of Al Pacino. Both DEA-Li and Alex met each other for the first time in August 1994. This story is quite interesting. DEA-Li was taking vacation in Mallorca, place unusual for her, because she was taking her vacation most of the time in Africa or India, the places she loves the most. While in Mallorca she visited her friend Marina. One night both ladies went to a Japanese club. Marina bet DEA-Li that she is not going to sing publically. Well... She did. She sang "Smooth Operator" an original song by Sade. People in the club were quite impressed by her performance. Actually she had to encore several times. One of the person in the "audience" who also asked her to encore was Alex Christensen himself. They have exchanged addresses and phone numbers., but nothing happened during next twelve months. In the Summer of 1995 DEA-Li with her friend Murat from the HIP-HOP group CodX were visiting Frankfurt (Germany). When she was leaving the studio, she met Alex. The end is known... The second change was the fact that he bought a new house. No, this house is not in Germany it is is Mallorca !!!. Actually, statement: "a house" would be an underestimation. More proper would be a small palace with 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, large living room, kitchens, huge dining room, 3 fireplaces, obviously a pool. Did I forget something? Oh Yeah! also 2 fountains !!!. Enough? Hope so.
The Alex's love affair with Mallorca is also partially professional. He performs several times a year in the island. The most often he is spotted in disco temples like: BCM or Joy Parade. Both places are one of the biggest dance floors in Europe. Alex was often invited to Mallorca by DJ Sammy, who has been named "The King of Disco Heat". DJ Sammy is co-owner of Joy Parade. He also helped Alex in purchasing his new house. Alex's decision to buy a house was also inflenced by the wonderful climate, Mallorca offers. He loves to stay in the house, most of the songs in his new album were actually composed in here.
Speaking of album. In May 24, 1996 U 96 released fourth and the newest album Heaven in which already is featured DEA-Li (actually she participated in preparation of four titles from this album). The rumour says that the name of the album is after his new "residence" in Mallorca. Honestly speaking I believe in this rumour. Right from the start the title song "Heaven" (and first single released from this album) became a hit. The controversy around this track is an almost obvious "ripoff" of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time". The major difference beside the text is the speed of the track (154 BPM). Regardless, Ambient "Heaven" has been reviewed in details in Dance Releases Review Page. The album contains several nice tracks: "Are You Ready", is sorta TripHop track but with nice sequence lines and vocals. "A Night To Remember" is another potential single-hit from this album, nice male vocal, dancable Euro-Energy sound. Seems to me that U 96 is "sticking" to previously released tracks by other artists. "Venus in Chains" repeal to Grace Jones hit "Slave To The Rhythm". Completely instrumental track "Drag Queen" represents ACID sound and with help of TRIBAL drums is creating quite hypnotic mood on the edge of TRANCE. Entire album is a great production with almost any styles of present dance music being featured in this album. For me it was good money I spent for this album, but than I always liked U 96.
In the summer Alex came back from Hamburg to Mallorca, where in July he took part of the meeting for leading DJ's from Europe that lasted two weeks. This meeting was attended by Charlie Lownoise, Mental Theo, DJ Hooligan, Mark 'OH and of course Alex Christensen. Recently several singles were released by U-96, all of them originally appeared in album Heaven: In May: title song "Heaven" was released as single, followed by "A Night To Remember" released in the August and most recently in October the third single: "Venus In Chains".
A year after the release of the album, in May 1997 U-96 released new single "Seven Wonders" where new additional vocalist was introduced. Her name is Nicky.. "Seven Wonders" brings back unique U 96 sound and is simply wonderful. In my opinion one of the better releases from this group Virtual Dance TECHNO sound at its best. It has some reminiscence of "Heaven" but the analogy is quite superficial.
|
