Artist description Composing/Recording project from Germany. Core-members: Michael Pabst (b) and Marcus Prüßmeier (g)

Music Style Instrumental Avantgarde Rock, Experimental, Electric Chamber Music

Musical Influences Zappa, Stravinsky, Vai, Yes, King Crimson etc.

Similar Artists Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, King Crimson, Yes, Gentle Giant, Joe Satriani, Stravinsky, John Cage, Varese, etc.

Artist History Formerly known as 'PABST' this once was a real band. Released a CD called 'Bowdlerized Music' which is still available (write to FreakCha@aol.com).The band broke up.The two remaining members Michael Pabst and Marcus Prüßmeier continue writing and recording their own music under the name 'The RESEARCH INSTITUTE'. Their new CD is called 'Universum' and contains a variety of styles ranging from guitar rock to sound collages. GET THE SPECIAL MP3.COM-EDITION HERE (CONTAINS BONUS TRACK NOT AVAILABLE ON REGULAR CD) FOR $ 10.99 - OR: ORDER THE FULL VERSION WITH MORE TRACKS AND COMPLETE ARTWORK (that one costs more - write to FreakCha@aol.com or visit http://go.to/research-institute for more info)

Group Members Michael Pabst: composer, bass player;Marcus Prüßmeier : composer, guitar player;plus others (Jost Hübner: drums, Florian Altenhain: percussion, Matthias Bornemann: keyboards, just to name a few…)

Instruments Guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, brass, woodwinds, tuned percussion, violin

Albums Universum (1998), Bowdlerized Music (1993)

Press Reviews Ragazzi - Stralsund, Germany, Issue 05/00:THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE„Universum“ (Eigenveröffentlichung)PABST „Bowdlerized Music“In den Siebzigern wurden großartige Musiker/Bands zu Superstars, verdienten viel Geld und genossen weltweites Ansehen. Das geht soweit, dass z. B. YES heute noch hunderttausende Platten verkaufen, obwohl die musikalische Qualität längst weit abgefallen ist. In der heutigen Zeit ist es in der Rockmusik schwer, sich gegen den breiten Strom des von den Medien und großen Plattenfirmen gehypten Mainstream zu behaupten. Michael Pabst (b), Marcus Prüßmeier (g) und das Research Institute sprechen da eine beredte Sprache. Ihre musikalische Orientierung liegt zwischen Frank Zappa und Steve Vai mit deutlicher Orientierung am zappaesken Werk. Aber Pabst und Prüßmeier spielen keine Stücke nach, sondern entwerfen geniale Eigenkompositionen, die mit deutlichem und selbstbewußten Charakter jeden Plagiatverdacht schnell versiegen lassen. Es war nicht nur schwer, gute Musiker zu finden, die das Konzept nachvollziehen wollten/konnten. Für das zweite Album„Universum“ kündigte sich nach dem Desaster mit dem Tonstudio ein langwierigerRechtsstreit an, der das Weiterarbeiten an den Songs verhinderte (zudem verabschiedetensich immer wieder die geheuerten Musiker + es mußten neue gefunden werden). Das erste Album „Bowdlerized Music“, bereits 1993 erschienen, wurde industriell gefertigt, das zweite Album wurde im Eigenverlag veröffentlicht, klanglich und auch optisch tut das keinen Abbruch, „Universum“ ist ein ausgezeichnetes Produkt mit grandiosem Layout. Die rein instrumentalen Tracks sind emotional und technisch inszeniert, fabelhaft wechseln die Stimmungen in den spektakulären Kompositionen (unglaublich, dass die Band unbekannt geblieben ist!). Die Stücke, von zappaesker/vai´scher Gitarre und Marimba bestimmt und dem nötigen Rock-Instrumentarium illuminiert, prägnant und unpathetisch sind ausdrucksstarkgezeichnet. Ich kann nur hoffen, dass diese Werke bekannt werden und Käufer finden.Wer Qualität in der Rockmusik sucht, wird hier fündig. Bezug: michael.pabst@schimmack-und-partner.de oder FreakCha@aol.com (zweiter führt einen ausgesuchten Katalog voll Raritäten).Debra Kadabra, Italy:Would you like a swift review of these records ?If so, as an "old good granny's recipe", to better appreciate these TRUEdelights of European indie production the main ingredients are as follows: 1. Basic Zappa 2. Slices of classical music of the late European XIX century 3. Chips of progressive rock of the best early 70s 4. Sprinklings of jazz-rock in its most evoluted and dynamic form 5. Noisy flavor of the contemporary avantgarde experimental attitude ? as much as suffices. All this, simmered in the cultured irony of an intelligent form of 'entertainment' as proposed by Michael Pabst & Marcus Prussmeier, with an extraordinary ability in writing, arranging and virtuoso instrument solo (fancy Prussmeier as a certain kind of Steve Vai, who suddenly gives up his exceedlingly spectacular 'heavy metal look', to convert himself to a REALLY CREATIVE music, with no frills for people who came to see and not to hear) that create an enlighting example of originality and an encouraging signal showing the existence of a creativity that's still pretty alive somewhere in Europe nowadays. So, here are the sounds produced and prepared inh 1993 and 1998 by this German duet (based in Hille, near Hannover) which for me are candidates for being on of the best products of the last years and - although the reference to other authors' work may seem as disagreeable and little respectful to the originality of the authors - I can guarantee that, even leaving the necessary and evident quotations out of consideration, the quality of the musical work of Pabst and Prussmeier is absolutely of the highest degree, so that, sticking in the gastronomical metaphor, we must always keep in mind that the quality of a dish does not entirely depend from the goodness of the single ingredients, rather from the wise ability of the chef in proportioning and mixing them.So for, here in Pabst and Prussmeier's kitchen we really find ourselves in the field of 'haute cuisine'.Bowdlerized music was produced in 1993 (in a limited release of 1000) under the name of Pabst only, and is much appreciated for a strongly marked obstinacy in neo-progressive jazz-rock, stuffed with harmonically and rhythmically very complicate compositions. A true musical melting pot of styles with a very original final result. Pieces like "Love after the days of cholera" or "Call for art" shows in music what aforesaid. Cult quotations are not missing as in the case of Strawinsky's (... guess who?) "Berceuse" beautifully rearranged by Michael Pabst with great know-how and good taste while "Pain" has a special section with a musical texture which closely reminded me of the NewYorker "Purple lagoon", however it is so well inserted in the real context that the potential quotation results wholly integrated and most efficient. Universum was produced in 1998 under the collective name of THE RESEARCH INSTITUTE and represents another step forwards on the way of progress in organizing sounds and colors which occupy the creative space of the duet. "Bad neighborhood", "The blimp" (this one not related in any way with Beefheart/FZ's one really remarkable for the use of the 'cello and the percussions), "Thinman" and "Hot chicks" are very interesting and reveal a great creative tension, still full of ideas. The title-track "Universum"seems to be a shapeless mass of noises which efficiently leads to thedisquieting introduction of the well-ordered - though complicate - "Thefactory", true example of a modern polyphonic structure for guitar andpercussions. Almost hidden and discrete, this time there is an explicittribute paid to FZ, with a piece by the unmistakable title "4.12.93" (andsubtitled in an even more explicit "In memory of a maestro"), capable of re-elaborate and resume some of the main typical Zappa's work musical features all in one song, but in a fully personal and original way. In addition to what pointed out so far, I feel happily obliged to report amusical document which does not belong to the official discography of the Research Institute at present, but which I received with great pleasure as an update and as an integration of their official releases. These five new (?) compositions are simply breathtaking and they confirm (if ever needed) the importance of Pabst and Prussmeier work.Tracks as "Hussein", "Piano lesson n.1" and - above all - the provocative"Show me your Boulez" are a good warranty to wait for a future releaseeven more interesting and innovative than the preceding ones (... and if you take a listen to what's musically goin'on these days ... this is not so unrelevant anyway !!!)To recover this Cds my first suggestion is to visit their website athttp://go.to/research-institute then contact Charly Heidenreich who takecare of distribution with a small mailorder at following addresses:Fax 049 (0)931 2877464 - Tel. 049 (0)931 285333 - email: FreakCha@aol.com.

Additional Info New! Order CDs now at: FreakCha@aol.com

Location Hille - Germany

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).