The first time I heard Eichhorn's Transition, I felt like I was on a walk through all the reasons why I love electronic music. Filled with excitement and appreciation for the art of the German producer, I'm beyond happy to share this beauty with you.
Raised in an environment where free jazz and abstract art were celebrated, the Eichhorn (real name Thilo Eichhorn) developed a broad and eclectic musical foundation from an early age. Something I picked early on while listening to the 7-track LP that spans close to 40 minutes of greatness. While formally trained in classical music, his fascination with electronic sounds emerged through trip-hop in the 90s. With influences ranging from contemporary innovators such as James Blake, Caribou, Floating Points, Bonobo, Jamie xx, and Thom Yorke to pioneering acts like Air and Kraftwerk, what Eichhorn excels at is storytelling through sounds. I love the rich palette of the record and the fact that it doesn't feel stale at all. Also, if you know me/follow Stereofox for a while, you'll realize these are all artists we all deeply admire and appreciate, so Transition felt like an album we have to spotlight.
To understand Transition, I feel you need to understand Eichhorn, so I'll start with a quote he sent me. "I simply love long jam sessions and improvisation; that’s how my tracks come about. Of course, there’s a lot of fine-tuning afterwards, but I always try to retain that vibe of spontaneity. I’m always looking for ways to bring an organic feel to electronic music. Not overthinking things, allowing for mistakes, using real instruments instead of samples, and so on," he shared with me via text.
One could describe this record as the artist's personal quest through the currently murky music industry landscape we live in. "I see it as a mission to counter the rising tide of AI aesthetics. For a long time, it was exciting to extract an increasingly artificial sound from machines. But that has now become some kind of a dead end. Perhaps I’m being conservative here, but I can’t see the appeal of AI in music production. Some people describe making music as something sacred. For me, the process is at least what it’s all about and what I love most. Why should I cut corners?" he explains.
The album kicks off with "Seabirds", which reminded me of German electronic duo TWO LANES. Bouncy, yet introspective. I'm glad Thilo decided to start the album with such a hook-y tune. Instantly sets the vibe straight - this guy is here to make a statement and to claim his spot in the busy, yet exciting world of electronic music.
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Once you pass beyond albums 3rd track, "Moondust", you'll realize that the title Transition isn't random. To me, it felt like a very carefully curated album that doesn't go overboard, and every detail is there for a reason. The German producer didn't rush the creation of this album, and that is clear from the get-go.
"Hidden" is certainly not a track for the light-hearted, but to me, it felt like the most critical part of the album. It felt like a solid bridge between different sonic directions and speaks for Thilo's knowledge of music as a whole, way beyond electronic music. He shared with me his deep inspiration from the spiritual jazz of John and Alice Coltrane, and the boundary-pushing jazz-rock explorations of Miles Davis's Bitches Brew, shaping a sound that bridges experimentation, atmosphere, and improvisational freedom. All of that is masterfully engraved in the album, and this track as a whole.
That jazz experimentation is scented in the middle of one of the most danceable tracks on the record, "Hot Blood". That switch at minute 3 is certainly a pleasant surprise, and I would love to see AI coming up with anything remotely good as this. Experimentation aside, I feel this is a great banger for the dancefloor, and if you vibe with heavy, yet groovy synths and hard-hitting drums, this one is for you!
Despite a career spanning decades, Eichhorn has often chosen to express himself through collaboration rather than step into the spotlight alone. That's why I'm happy to see him take center stage with his debut album. In a time when technology increasingly blurs the line between human and machine-made art, Transition feels like a much-needed reminder of what makes music such a deeply human endeavor. Thoughtful, curious, and crafted with intention, the record makes me optimistic about the future of music.
I hope it resonates with you as much as it did with me.
photo credits @ Jakob Staszewski (artwork) + Sylviane Brauer (photography)
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