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YOU

Progressive Electronic • Germany


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You biography
German outfit YOU was formed when Udo Hanten (synths, sequencers, Mellotron) decided to end his tentative steps toward forming a solo career in 1978; and decided to work with Ulrich Weber (guitars, percussion) instead.

After recording a few tracks in 1978, the pair decided to record a full album, and with the inclusion of Albin Meskes (synths, sequencers, Mellotron) and Harald Grosskopf (drums, synths) they hit the studio again to create their debut album "Electric Day", issued in the fall of 1979.

This same line-up also recorded the next release, the EP "Scanner part 1 & 2" in 1981.

After this line-up changes were afoot, with Weber and Grosskopf leaving; leaving the duo of Hanten and Meskes - and this duo would be the only permanent mebers of this project further on.

In 1982 they hit the studio again, to make their second full-length album. Former member Weber made a guest appearance on this venture along with Helmut Brüker; and the finalized result was issued in June 1983, named "Time Code".

In December 1983 Hanten and Meskes hit the studio again; this time without guest musicians. Two months later their third album was completed, and was issued in the first half of 1984 as "Wonders From the Genetic Factory.

Late in 1985 You started recording what was to be their last album in this first phase of their existence. Featuring guest appearances from Jaime Zenamon and Klaus Gertken. "Laserscape" was made availble to the general public in April 1986.

Following this release Hanten and Meskes hooked up with former member Grosskopf to form the project "Central Europe Performance"; an outfit concentrating on live performances. In the just over 20 years this still existing project many musicians have been involved; with Hanten and Meskes as the core foundation of the outfit.

1995 saw a new addition to the discography of You, with the release of the multimedia production "00:1996:00", and the following year the 5 CD box compilation "Era" saw the light of day.

In 2000 You chose to change moniker, and opted for the use of Yourovion; and releases a fair number of albums of various kinds under that name.

In April 2009 Hanten and Meskes announced that they would return to their former moniker You, and that they'll herald the 30th anniversary of their debut album with a limited edition CD package names "The Electric Box".

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YOU discography


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YOU top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.45 | 17 ratings
Electric Day
1979
3.96 | 9 ratings
Time Code
1983
2.95 | 5 ratings
Wonders from the Genetic Factory
1984
2.95 | 5 ratings
Laserscape
1986
0.00 | 0 ratings
[00:19:96:00] Electric Images Revisited
1996

YOU Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings
Benaki Cycles - Live at Synch Festival, Athens
2009

YOU Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

YOU Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

YOU Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

5.00 | 1 ratings
Scanner
1981
0.00 | 0 ratings
Axis / Isotopic Moments
1984

YOU Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Electric Day by YOU album cover Studio Album, 1979
3.45 | 17 ratings

BUY
Electric Day
You Progressive Electronic

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

4 stars YOU were an Electronic band out of Germany and this is their debut called "Electric Day". We get real drums and guitar along with two guys adding synths, so a four piece with the drummer being Harald Grosskopf who knows a thing or two about Electronic music. He's played with Klaus Schulze, ASHRA, THE COSMIC JOKERS, WALLENSTEIN, ASHRA TEMPEL and more. He also helped mix this record. This band would release six studio albums over three decades with most in the 80's. I really dig this album and the guitar is different, quite abrasive at times and they add mellotron on one track as there was a MKII in the studio they were recording in.

While my top three tracks don't include the opening title track I want to mention it because it's a really good electronic piece with sequencers, cymbals and synths that gust over top. First top three is the next one "Magooba" and it's the guitar that's the draw for me here. Again it's abrasive with hit and run tactics before becoming a little more melodic after 2 minutes but still shrill. He's lighting it up before 4 minutes all the while we get electronics and spacey synths supporting.

Not a top three but I love the mournful synths on "Son Of A True Star" along with the drums. The synths sound awesome before 4 1/2 minutes. Second top three is "Slow Go" at almost 12 minutes. Beautiful sound when the mellotron arrives after 2 minutes. So warm and spacey. Drums before 5 minutes with sequencers in tow as the mellotron steps aside but returns to end it. Guitar expressions 8 minutes and drums came in too at some point. The final track is my last top three called "Zero- Eighty-Four" at 8 1/2 minutes. It's experimental to start, quite spacey before a beat arrives. Guitar starts to make some noise after 3 minutes and when they add some depth it just sounds amazing. So much going on here!

If your like me and prefer some guitar and real drums in your Electronic music you really need to check this debut out. Love the album cover as well.

 Laserscape by YOU album cover Studio Album, 1986
2.95 | 5 ratings

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Laserscape
You Progressive Electronic

Review by Progfan97402
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Laserscape by this German electronic combo YOU really took me by surprise. Mainly because it came out in 1986, certainly not a favorite time period, musically, for me (OK so I was 13-14 at the time, and definitely wasn't interested in what was popular at the time like hair metal and synth pop). Tangerine Dream's Underwater Sunlight from the same time I felt was pretty mediocre. Laserscape is much better! This is how I felt electronic music should have went in the '80s. By 1986 it was clear electronic music had either went synth pop or New Age. YOU refused to go that way. Here they use lot of digital synths and samplers, but what's shocking is they use Mellotron on this album and puts it to good use here! It's really difficult to find recordings from the mid 1980s using the tron because everyone preferred the convenience of digital synths, which were widely available by '86. They even use sequencers which Tangerine Dream had abandoned by this time. What I love is they often conjure up an eerie and ominous atmosphere, something that Tangerine Dream lost by this point (to be honest, Underwater Sunlight sounds pretty harmless, that's why I'm not a fan of it). I'm usually not a fan of how many artists in the '80s were using digital sampling, but these guys take a rather interesting and creative use of it. The cover makes it look like you're getting another typical sterile, soulless '80s type of album, but I'm happy to say that's not what you get here. Quality control really went awry in the '80s, so obviously I didn't have high expectations with Laserscape. I was expecting an Underwater Sunlight type of album, and instead got something much better and pleasing, the way I felt 1980s electronic music should have been like. Plus the presences of Mellotron sure helps! I am generally not a fan of digital sounds, but this group did it in a way to make it sound very appealing. This album actually comes recommended by me.
 Wonders from the Genetic Factory by YOU album cover Studio Album, 1984
2.95 | 5 ratings

BUY
Wonders from the Genetic Factory
You Progressive Electronic

Review by Progfan97402
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Let me tell you that YOU's debut Electric Day was amazing, to see that great electronic music can be made in 1979. Wonders from the Genetic Factory is their third album, from 1984, and it's clearly an uneven album. I am not surprised that this would have an '80s sound, it's 1984 after all, but I'm glad they didn't go overboard on drum machines or fell in love with the DX-7, but drum machines are used. "Axis" is a bit off-putting due to the 1980s upbeat nature, and the liberal use of that "orchestra hit" sound (that really got overused to death by the late '80s, I was so glad that use was pretty much over with after 1990). But there are some nice moments as well. "Isotopic Moments" is luckily better. "Europe Transfer" is without a doubt one of the better cuts on the album. What really surprises me is the presence of Mellotron, done really nicely (it was a Novatron, and the band removed the "Novatron" badge and found the Mellotron logo under it, which meant the Novatron was nothing more than a rebranded Mellotron, due to legal difficulties stemming back to 1976). "Sampling Dance" was clearly a big mistake. They were trying to be so trendy for the times with a bit of hip-hop influence (luckily without rapping). I could almost imagine seeing kids breakdancing to this (I grew up in the 1980s, and I remembered very well the breakdancing craze of the mid 1980s). What were they thinking? Luckily the lengthy "Yourovision" more than makes up for it, outdoing anything Tangerine Dream was doing by this point. It even features a little bit of Mellotron which really pleases me. This album has a couple of questionable moments, and is clearly not as consistent as Electric Day, it's still has a lot of worthwhile material, and for the most part, better than most other stuff I've heard from this time period.
 Electric Day by YOU album cover Studio Album, 1979
3.45 | 17 ratings

BUY
Electric Day
You Progressive Electronic

Review by Progfan97402
Prog Reviewer

4 stars A great electronic discovery for me. The fact this German group You recorded their debut in 1979, and had it released the following year, 1980, was the big reason I passed on them, given even progressive electronic was going downhill by '79, so I couldn't imagine You being worth my time. Well, I was wrong, I was just blown away by Electric Day.

Unsurprisingly this is Berlin School electronic music, very much as you expect: heavy on the sequencers, but also Edgar Froese- like guitar playing and none other than Harald Grosskopf on drums, although he was credited as Lhan Gopal, don't ask me why, perhaps it was due to his contract with Sky Records (his album Synthesis came out roughly the same time). It's perhaps a bit more hyper than even what Tangerine Dream would do, and they do not go for that "calm and sedate" stuff that Klaus Schulze is known for (I do enjoy his calm and sedate stuff, like on Mirage, so not to knock on him). Mellotron even makes an appearance on "Slow Go". What's really surprising is the tron in question is the Mark II, as the Mark II seemed to have disappeared from recordings after 1973 (roughly the time Genesis put out their live album). England's Garden Shed (1977) is often thought of as the last commercial recording using the Mark II until the 1990s tron revival, but it appears to be Electric Day. My big gripe is why they didn't use the tron more? Tangerine Dream certainly used it to great effect on many of their albums and You could have had that potential. Strangely You would continue using a Mellotron through the 1980s, only this time a Novatron, but I hadn't heard those albums, but apparently a cut above what many other electronic acts were doing at the time. Anyways, I was also happy that there are no new wave, new age, synth pop or modern elements in Electric Day, which makes me ever so happy. Strangely this music reminds me of some of those newer progressive electronic artists you might run across on Bandcamp. Whatever the case, another great album highly recommended to the fans of Berlin School electronic music.

 Laserscape by YOU album cover Studio Album, 1986
2.95 | 5 ratings

BUY
Laserscape
You Progressive Electronic

Review by Modrigue
Prog Reviewer

2 stars 2.5 stars

The second half of the 80's were definitely not the best for German electronic artists. Most of them turned towards new-age or ambient, not always successfully. And what about YOU? Well, "Laserscape" is an unequal mixture of ambient music with reminiscences of the Berlin school approach and a touch of new-age. There are only a few moments with heavy-psych pulsating sequences and upbeats typical of the band.

The tracks were in fact recorded in 1985 as a soundtrack for German designer Horst H. Baumann's open-air laser performances.

The opener "Passing Landscapes" sets the tone by displaying an aerial intriguing atmosphere. "Can You Tell Me Where I Am" is clearly the best track of the record, as it's the one that most resembles YOU's previous material. Consisting in a quick sequence and cool drums over a melancholic soft synthesizer melody, this passage is quite nice and catchy. Back to ambient with "Changing Rooms", the longest composition of the disc. Apart from bizarre sounds and slight oriental sonorities, nothing really happens in 13 minutes.

"Travelling Hologram" incorporates various string instruments. Original but not featuring many changes, this threatening piece sounds more like a thriller movie soundtrack. The surprising "Scanned Noises" is in fact not especially noisy. Its pretty delicate acoustic guitar play contrasts with the menacing electronic mood. Interesting. Not much to say about the anecdotal repetitive "Curious Phenomena Part I". Part II concludes the record with long mysterious synthesizer textures.

The 21 minutes bonus track "Laserscape/Live" is a recording of the Philips Laserscape Krefeld show on August 31st, 1985, that was broadcasted by Berlin's SFB radio station.

YOU went adventurous and experimental for this 1986 album. It has its moments, but the music is definitely not the trippy style of "Electric Day" or "Time-Code". However, the German duo avoided the cheesy new-age temptation, which is a good point. "Laserscape" was conceived as a soundtrack, so it may require to be heard with the corresponding laser shows to be fully appreciated.

If you're into ambient electronic music with experimentations, you can give it a try.

 Electric Day by YOU album cover Studio Album, 1979
3.45 | 17 ratings

BUY
Electric Day
You Progressive Electronic

Review by Modrigue
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Berlin School at the dawn of the eighties

First studio album by YOU, "Electric Day" is in the straight lineage of the 70's electronic Berlin School. The music is mainly based on trippy pulsating electronic sequences weaving hypnotic textures. The German duo adds however more rhythm, futuristic sonorities and upbeat percussions typical of this period. This is also partly due to the participation of Klaus Schulze collaborator and ASHRA member Harald Grosskopf at drums.

The title track features a fast frenetic loop over a dreamy soundscape, in the vein of KLAUS SCHULZE-meets-HELDON. Then comes the very nice "Magooba". A little softer piece, with distorted guitar solo and slight oriental touches, which can remind ASHRA at times. Back to rapid sequencing with the more rhythmic "Son Of A True Star". This average track is nonetheless a bit repetitive and does not contain many variations.

The short "Sequential Spectrums" parts are slow drone contemplative pieces. On the contrary, "Slow Go" is the longest track of the record. This composition is a lengthy electronic improvisation built around Grosskopf's drumming, and has therefore reminiscences of TANGERINE DREAM's "Madrigal Meridian" suite from their 1978 album "Cyclone". The ender "Zero-Eighty-Four" features mysterious strange sci-fi sonorities and sounds rather... bizarre.

For a first studio album, "Electric Day" is quite pleasant. The German duo is just beginning to develop its own musical identity here. In 1979, YOU were one of the only few bands to propose such quick sequenced hypnotic electronic music. Their elder brothers TANGERINE DREAM were still in their progressive rock period before they turned more melodic in the 80's, while KLAUS SCHULZE was changing direction.

Although uneven and not genuinely innovative, this first opus is very futuristic and spacey. Recommended to 70's sequenced electronic music lovers!

 Electric Day by YOU album cover Studio Album, 1979
3.45 | 17 ratings

BUY
Electric Day
You Progressive Electronic

Review by Guldbamsen
Special Collaborator Retired Admin

3 stars Final gasps of the seventies

The tail-end of the seventies was a confusing time musically. In many ways you could say that the progressive scene, be that the rock, electronic or both coupled up together - came together in a very homogeneous way that foretold the sonic soap operas of the impending decade. Music got slick and smooth, and a certain metallic and industrial tone had suddenly infected the different recording studios. The sounds of the synthesiser are testimony to this hypothesis of mine. Having spawned from the vibrant and vivacious drive masterly conveyed on classic electronic records such as Alpha Centauri and Blackdance - now those synths took on the very thing that people associated them with: Robots.

You is a fine example of this evolution. They produced their first album in 1979 with the gift of hindsight and the ability to choose from whatever slice of Germanic electro history they saw fit. With the add on of Harald Grosskopf, I guess the group naturally leaned towards that ever so floating Klaus Schulze universe. Remember Grosskopf played with Schulze on the Bodylove soundtrack as well as Moondawn. Still, like I said, the feel of the music is one of order and metal. The recording techniques had revolutionised themselves so as you finally could purchase an album without all of the inappropriate 'noise'... Needless to say(mostly because I keep saying this....) that I've always thought of noise as half of the music. Those ambient oscillations emanating from instruments that take up the invisible room of any recording are priceless and irreplaceable - but whatever you do - don't kill 'em.

Now whilst some sections on this debut album feel somewhat close to the great oceanic textures of the aforementioned electronic guru and pioneer, you also sense a devout and knowledgeable act that know their way around musicians like Moebius, Froese, Schnitzler and Hoenig. The one thing You manage to slap onto the proceedings here that set them slightly apart is speed. The first cut illustrates just how brilliantly and innovatively they do this - sounding like an amphetamine fuelled Berlin school track with a motorik groove that goes faster than anything else from the scene I've come across before.

Other than that, you are facing sequencers up the wazoo, the occasional mellotron as well as those soapy synths that pre-dated the whole 'new age' scene by a couple of years. Real acoustic drumming courtesy of Monsieur Grosskopf and last but not least: Edgar Froese guitar stylings, which incidentally just means David Gilmour butter fingers fondling up the odd guitar string now and again.

I think the tracks on this debut all are pretty good. I actually find some of them quite refreshing and successful, and I'll happily recommend this one to anyone seeking a way into the German electronic scene. I would think the combination of guitar and drums eases the rock fiend's relentless cravings.

If you enjoy the late 70s electronic scene - the moment before the wave broke and flooded the lands with plastic and marshmallow antics, then you should probably take a chance on this recording. Sure, you get a lot of the usual sonic suspects, but there is a charm and warmth to some of these cuts that are as welcome and innovative to the scene as a metallic elbow on your forehead, yet somehow this thing works. 3.5 stars.

 Wonders from the Genetic Factory by YOU album cover Studio Album, 1984
2.95 | 5 ratings

BUY
Wonders from the Genetic Factory
You Progressive Electronic

Review by Modrigue
Prog Reviewer

3 stars Third opus by YOU, "Wonders From The Genetic Factory" was released in 1984. The music is more joyful than in the former albums and rather unequal. Yet, the overall is still good.

So let's begin with the bad apples: the opener, "Axis", sounds really dated and seems to have no point, whereas "Sampling Dance" is an useless pre-house exercise. This said, the other tunes are rather good. "Isotopic Moments" has some nice floating guitar and "Europe Transfer" some reminiscences of TD's "Tangram". One of the most efficient track here is the robotic "Future Generation"; the duo is truly in his territory here. But the highlight of the disc is of course the 24 minutes long "Yourovision". The song contains many changing themes and rhythms, slow moments and dreamy sequencer passages. "Koyaanisqatsi Xmas" is a lengthy bonus live track in which the band plays its favorite themes, mostly sequencer driven. A welcomed addition.

With "Wonders From The Genetic Factory", YOU searches new ideas in the evolving landscape of the 80's, but with no significant novelties. Anyway, an enjoyable album for Berlin electronic school fans.

 Time Code by YOU album cover Studio Album, 1983
3.96 | 9 ratings

BUY
Time Code
You Progressive Electronic

Review by Modrigue
Prog Reviewer

4 stars "Time Code" is the second album by YOU and the probably their best. As an electronic German band born in the late 70's, they were much influenced by their elders. Recorded in 1982, released in 1983, the material is the lines of what TANGERINE DREAM was doing at this period with Johannes Schmoelling. Yet, the music is slightly more melodic, with a touch of KRAFTWERK-ian synthetic rhythms.

YOU's various influences are clearly exposed in the first half of the album. The first two tracks, "Time Code" and "Future/Past" are rather robotic and cold (special mention for the dreamy ending of this song), with patterns in the vein of KRAFTWERK's "Showroom Dummies". "20/11/28" and "Deep Range", are cosmic and meditative, whereas "Taurus-Fantasia" sounds like an old-fashioned oriental electronic sound. The second half of the disc oscillates between calm passages and fast sequencer-driven moments. The highlight here is undoubtedly the mini-epic "Live Line", where the duo fully demonstrates its talent and variety. The record ends with "Zone Black", ambient and mysterious.

In conclusion, YOU offers with "Time Code" enjoyable quality tunes in the direct legacy of the Berlin school. Nothing revolutionary, but a very good acquisition for 70's sequenced electronic music lovers!

Thanks to Bilek for the artist addition. and to windhawk for the last updates

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