Freakenstein Unsound by Freakenstein
CPR-001
Licensed to Canberry Preserve Records, an imprint of Copper Butterfly Music.
℗ 2025 Christian Paul Kuhlmann.
Song written in January 1993. Music and lyrics © 1993 Christian P.aul Kuhlmann.
Produced, recorded and mixed in September 1996 at 2XX Studio C (2XX Studios), Canberra, ACT, by Christian Kuhlmann.
Digitally transferred from the original cassette tape, of two 'rough mixes' from the multitrack tapes (using a DA-88 synchronised to a Tascam 58 providing 15 tracks), mixed directly to cassette tape (instead of DAT) in the studio, and edited in August-September 2025 (at home in Eltham, Victoria) by Christian Kuhlmann.
Tracks 1 to 3 mastered in August 2025 at KV Productions (in Ainslie Arts Centre), Canberra, ACT, by Kimmo Vennonen.
LINER NOTES (October 2025):
1996. Canberra. 2XX Studio C. Resident sound engineer conducts various sonic experiments like a mad scientist, alone in the hours after midnight. A 'Frankenstein' song written as a teenager is resurrected. The beats from a physical metronome are used to generate bass drum and snare drum sounds. Records wild analogue synths and howling feedback guitars. Plays a bass guitar through various distortion and fuzz-wah pedals. Multitracks different guitars with various phasing and flanger sounds, including a 12-string acoustic that is unrecognisable in the ultimate mixes (but mentioned on the tracking sheets found years later in the box of ½ inch tape used). Deliberately distorts the 'Freakenstein' vocals. Makes two rough mixes to cassette tape for listening back at home – but abandons the project without ever mixing it properly to DAT, despite having ongoing private access to the recording studio for a further 3 years.
Abandoned... Forgotten... Unheard... Unsound...
The song never performed live. The mixes never heard by anyone else for almost 30 years...
Until resurrected from the original cassette tape found languishing 29 years later. Transferred digitally into the 21st century. The raw 30-odd minutes of the original mix edited into parts, cut and pasted, and put back together as separate sections (some as ‘offcuts’). A ‘Final Cut’ combined from the best parts of the two original cassette mixes. The resulting creations given to a trusted mastering engineer to perform the required sonic wizardry and midwifery.
Creator and creation recombined! Freakenstein Unsound now given new voice! It’s alive!
Tracklist
Credits
Composed, produced, recorded, mixed, transferred and edited by Christian Kuhlmann.
Mastered by Kimmo Vennonen (tracks: 1 to 3)
Lyrics (tracks: 1 to 4) by Christian Kuhlmann.
Liner notes by Christian Kuhlmann.
Photography, design and cover image - Christian Kuhlmann.
© 2025 Christian P.aul Kuhlmann.
Vocals - Freakenstein (tracks: 1 to 4)
Guitar Feedback - Christian Kuhlmann
Synthesizer (Korg Analogue Synth) - Christian Kuhlmann (tracks: 1 to 6)
Electric Guitars, 12-String Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Yamaha DX27 Synth - Christian Kuhlmann (tracks: 1 to 4)
Lead Guitar - Christian Kuhlmann (tracks: 5)
Wurlitzer Piano - Christian Kuhlmann (tracks: 2 to 4, 8)
Drum sounds ('kick' and 'snare' created from a metronome), Handclaps, Finger Cymbals - Christian Kuhlmann (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 8)
Sounds: Heartbeats - Christian Kuhlmann (tracks: 1 to 5, 8)
Sounds: Wind - Christian Kuhlmann (tracks: 1 to 4)
License
All rights reserved.Tags
An experimental recording project of engineer/producer Christian Kuhlmann, Freakenstein was both created and abandoned in 1996, before given new life in 2025.
The initial spark was a song Christian Kuhlmann had written as a teenager in 1993 (initially as 'Frankenstein') after reading Mary Shelley's novel. (The eventual title was also inspired by Brian Aldiss's 1973 novel 'Frankenstein Unbound').