Gas – Nah Und Fern

So...

There's "Gas" by Gas (AKA Wolfgang Voigt), and there's "Gas" by Wolfgang Voigt (AKA Gas).
"Gas" by Wolfgang Voigt (AKA Gas) features the track "Nah Und Fern", also a title on the 4 track vinyl compilation "Nah Und Fern" by Gas (AKA Wolfgang Voigt), but these appear to be separate tracks; the CD version of "Nah Und Fern" (The album by Gas (AKA Wolfgang Voigt), not the track by Wolfgang Voigt (AKA Gas)) is essentially a box-set of Gas' first 4 albums, none of which contain a track called "Nah Und Fern". Also it is worth noting that a few untitled tracks from the original releases have either been remixed or extended, or else swapped out for different untitled tracks on the CD compilation, and that all tracks on all 4 albums are untitled.

Glad that's that cleared up.

I just bought this album and received it today.

I’m wandering why my copy has 7 tracks on Disc 1 (album Gas from 1996) and not just 6 tracks as listed here and why nobody else mentioned this until yet.

When I first heard the music from this box set it was one of those rare occasions in my life when I thought: "wow, I didn't know this kind of music exists!"
It's like wandering around (or simply lying on the ground) in a deep forest, at night, while the music from several string orchestras and the sound of a distant techno congregation bleed from other dimensions into yours. Therefore the sound may not be entirely clean - there are crackles and rustles and the frequencies are not perfectly equilized, but it all contributes to the realism of the experience.

Seeing him play (if you can call it that) this at the Barbican with audiovisuals was one of the most intense musical experiences I've ever had while sat down and totally sober. I've never really been able to give it the time at home, but an absolutely exceptional piece of work.

My favorite bedtime album, the perfect soundtrack for dreams and probably one of my most listened to compilations in my entire collection. This is an experience beyond compare, I imagine this sound would be the perfect soundtrack to floating in a zero gravity tank.

To comment on the review below: the main difference between Nah und Fern and the original Gas CDs on Mille Plateaux are with "Gas" and "Königsforst". As pointed out by Plaidzebra, the tracklist on "Gas" is different: tracks 1 and 3 on the original album have been replaced by completely different tracks on the Nah und Fern. On the original album, track 1 is essentially a slower, beatless variation of track 2, so I can see why Voigt might've thought it was superfluous. The original track 1 does have its charm, though – it sounds like stepping into a steam bath, a fitting opener for an album called “Gas”.

Even sadder is the loss of the original track 3 of "Gas", as it has a cool, cosmic vibe that's a bit different from the rest of the album. It also has a crisper, housier sound than anything else on this album, or the following three Gas albums. As such, it’s closer to the Gas tracks that preceded the first album, and this is perhaps the reason Voigt chose to replace it. The new track 3 on Nah und Fern is more in sync with everything else, but sadly it's not as good as the original track 3.

Another major change is between the two versions of track 5 from "Königsforst". It's the same track, but on Nah und Fern it has been compressed or something, which makes the strings sound louder, but which also causes it to lose a lot of its depth. This change is inexplicable, as the uncompressed version on the original "Königsforst" clearly sounds better. The remastering ends up damaging the solemn, deeply spiritual groove of what is possibly the best Gas track of them all.

Aside from the changes outlined above, the differences between Nah und Fern and the original CDs are not significant: track 6 of "Zauberberg" is 3.5 minutes longer on Nah und Fern, and some other tunes have also been extended to a lesser degree, but they sound pretty much the same on both versions. Nah und Fern is still a great buy, especially considering its low price, but sadly the changes to "Gas" and "Königsforst" mean you still have to dig up the original records to experience these albums to their fullest.

I haven't seen anyone yet comment on the fact that the version of the self-titled album included in this box set is significantly different from the original cd release on Mille Plateaux. While the original 3LP release basically features longer versions of the cd album tracks, this new cd version contains completely different mixes and edits. To start, compare the track lengths of each cd version.

There are also a few minor differences between the other original albums and the versions presented here. Aside from the remastered sound, a couple of tracks are longer than the originals. I think the mixes on the three albums that followed the debut are unchanged in the box set versions.

The bottom line is that you're still going to have to seek out the original, amazing Mille Plateaux release to hear the whole Gas story (not to mention the other odds and ends of EPs, compilation tracks etc). It's essential listening.

Gas. A short word, which appears to mean very little but beautifully describes the music. It's Wolfgang Voigt's best project amongst his many 100s.

It was an excellent idea to release Nah Und Fern (Near and Far) since Gas's original artist albums are a little rare. The packaging is very nice - minimalism which suits the music and close up photos of tree branches from a darkened forest. There is no text inside the box except from album names, and of course the tracks are untitled. This is appropriate, since as with 76:14, without names you cannot have preconceptions about the music.

The title album (Gas - Gas) begins with a beautiful piece of ambience which is one of my favourite across the box. It's followed by Gas II, a longer work, with a muffled drum which pervades the entire piece. The criticism of this album is that pieces aren't coherent and lack a unifying theme like later work.

Zauberberg (Magic Mountain) is probably the darkest album of the lot. The tracks are very dubby and obscure, and Zauberberg really grows over repeat listens. I won't waste any time here as I have done a separate review of Zauberberg.

Konigsforst (literally King's Forest; this album was inspired by Voigt's hallucinogenic experiences there) utilizes the hypnotic and endless kick more than the other works and sounds as if it has more actual instruments used in it, such as the reversed guitar in Konigsforst IV. It's also dark throughout, like Zauberberg, and again has that epic feel, particularly in the martial track Konigsforst V.

Voigt says there are pop samples somewhere in his final and most popular work, Pop. All I can hear are lyrics brushing the surface, albeit barely on Pop IV!) The first two tracks are just lush, totally beautiful and addictive - they sound like heaven on Earth it's that at all possible with music. Pop V is another totally ambient piece; really withdrawn and sad. It's the cinematic Pop VI and VII that end Gas' legacy in style; they sound like vast battlegrounds.

The Gas sound: swirling chords, an extremely deep feel, a relentless trance-inducing hydraulic drum. To me it sounds like being underwater, like floating in space, or even like hearing a rave from far away, a rave which you long to be part of. It evokes the deepest emotions.

This is hypnotic, wonderful, awe-inspiring, anesthetic, lenitive, mesmeric, narcotic, opiate, sleepy, somniferous music.

At a bargain price, this box set definitely worth getting if you like anything near to ambient or deep music. It could just change your life; for instance menial tasks become much easier when you're not registering time...

Kompakt's collection and reissue of the four classic Gas albums (originally released on Mille Plateaux and now highly sought after collector's items) provides the perfect opportunity for the newcomer to develop an appreciation for the Gas sound. It has been said that the Gas project is Wolfgang Voigt's tribute to the sound of Chain Reaction; if that is the case, the closest act to Gas would be the most dense moments of Fluxion, or Porter Ricks minus all beat but a single pounding bass drum. Gas takes the often wintry, mechanistic sound of these acts and gives it a little more of an autumnal feel with the use of elegant strings, nature sounds, and occasional flashes of real instruments. Although he manages to stick relatively true to the Chain Reaction aesthetic throughout (as the first three discs demonstrate, particularly "Zauberberg"), the most impressive works of the collection are ultimately found on "Pop", where all of elements which are distinctively Gas come to the fore.

Although calling "Nah Und Fern" a hallmark in Kompakt's now ten year discography only serves to further highlight the label's recent slide in quality, it's hard not to do so, especially considering the great impression the four albums made at their original release and their scarcity today.

I find this release pretty contradictive in terms. We are talking minimal techno right, so why does anyone want to put out a 4CD box of it, making it a MASSIVE release (or even EPIC), not minimal. Wouldn't it be better to cut out the best 30 seconds of the batch, which fans of the genre then could loop, enabling them to hear that kick drum bang 24 hours 7 days a week if they so may wish? Top marks for the packaging though, a wonderful cardboard box it is indeed.