Aktion Mekanik Theme Versions Terence Fixmer

Kobosil, Norman Nodge and Marcel Dettmann offer new versions of Terence Fixmer’s 2003 “Aktion Mekanik Theme” on Ostgut Ton. It’s safe to say that Terence Fixmer’s track “Aktion Mekanik Theme” (Music Man Records, 2003) was as much a landmark release for Techno as the whole Aktion Mekanik compilation was for EBM as a genre. “As an artist who’s been pushing EBM sounds into the modernity of Techno it was a logical step to do the compilation back then,” Terence says. “I wanted to show my influences as a Techno artist, as Detroit sounds weren’t my roots at all, but classics by Front 242, Fad Gadget, Nitzer Ebb, Crash Course In Science or Snowy Red. I met Music Man’s Stefaan Vandenberghe through Emmanuel Top in ‘93, and of course I was a fan of his label – the label in Belgium at that time. Music Man was obviously the perfect place for this EBM project: they are from Belgium, they knew the bands, many of them were proud of this sound. So I discussed my idea of putting out a compilation with some classic and landmark tracks from the EBM direction with Stefaan, and it got made.” While the original version is simultaniously being re-released on red 12“ vinyl on Music Man, Ostgut Ton offers three versions of “Aktion Mekanik Theme” – after the original found its way into the DJ sets of the remixers. “I was surprised as – to me – this track was a kind of forgotten one from a limited vinyl compilation.”, Terence continues. “And it was a nice surprise to see that young artists such as Kobosil are into this kind of music, too. Marcel suggested to give this track a new life through remixes. The Kobosil one injects an amazing energy with a great sound, I wish I would have done such a version at that time.”, Fixmer comments. “The Norman Nodge version could be a track done in ’89 or ’90, it sounds so much New Beat, very Belgian, like another original. And Marcel uncovers the core, the essence of the original – it has much suspense, it’s dark and atmospheric. Marcel called it ‘Leitmotiv’ which really means it. The new and older generation, united.”