Wabi Sabi

Though more well-known for his work as Pluramon, German artist Markus Schmickler also released a solo album in 1997 as Wabi Sabi on A-Musik. A member of the thriving Cologne experimental music scene associated with Mouse on Mars, Nonplace Urban Field, Air Liquide, Mike Ink, and the A-Music, Electro Bunker, and Karaoke Kalk labels, Schmickler is one of the more "composerly" contributors to that conglomerate's growing renown. A formal student of electronic composition, Schmickler -- along with schoolmates Carsten Shulz (aka C-Shulz), Frank Dommert, and Georg Odijk -- was a member of late-'80s performance ensembles Pol and Kontakta, two freewheeling experimental/improv groups following in the footsteps of Cologne's most notorious musical lab technicians, Can.