Code III - 1974 Planet Of Man

Artist: Code III
Album: Planet Of Man
Year: 1974
Label: Won-Sin WS 885.635-2 (South Korea 2002)
Country: Germany
Style: Progressive rock
Genre: Krautrock, Experimental, Electronic prog.
Format: ape (image) with cue, EAC log, md5, audiochecker log & full artcover
Size: 238 Mb (4 % recovery)
Source: tracker site

Code III were never a proper band, but were an impromptu group created for an album dedicated to showcasing the amazing sound characteristics of the Kunstkopf Artificial Head Recording System. Principally, Code III were Berlin studio engineer Manfred Schunke and American multi-instrumentalist Ed Key.
The music on Planet Of Man is a sonic depiction of the history of the Earth, from the void of empty space, via the formation of the planets, the evolution of life, through to man's domination of the planet, and ultimately back to the void. The opening and closing excursions, involving atmospheric electronics, injections of a dreamy folk song, and disembodied resonant female voice, hint a little at Brainticket's Celestial Ocean, although the mood is much spookier. Confusingly "Dawn Of An Era" (the lyrics are sung in the previous track) involves what sounds like demented Neanderthals involved in some weird drum ritual. "Countdown" adds up to a blend of atmospheric electronics with abstract use of voice collage and effects (and Indian music), onto a remarkably clever accelerating space-rock burn-out featuring Klaus Schulze at the drum stool! Returning to weird space music at the end, it all adds up to a remarkable and unique album.
Note: At least two versions of Planet Of Man exist, the most common one is 52 minutes long, whereas the issue with the matrix 25-125-1IV is around 40 minutes. Why this is so, no one seems to know!

Tracks:
1. Formations/The Genesis (17:47)
• Codes
• Evolutions
2. Dawn Of An Era (6:35)
• Drohung
• Der Mensch Kommt
3. Countdown/Phoenix Rising (25:27)
• Countdown: Hope/Disillusion/Escalation Of Violence
• Phoenix Rising: Germination/Nova Vita

Line Up:
Manfred Schunke — instruments, electronic effects, sounds, vocals
Ed Key — vocals, instruments
Mary Key — vocals
Apama Chakravarti — vocals, tamboura, harmonium
Klaus Schulze — drums (3)

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