Real Time – Inspired by Stephen Hawking

Excerpt of the Real Time CD cover. Artwork by Enrico Andreis.
Excerpt of the Real Time CD cover. Artwork by Enrico Andreis.

In the winter of 1996, Thor Madsen, Jeppe Saugmann (later known as Abdullah S), and Jeffrey D. Jensen gathered at ARP studio in Aarhus to record the album Real Time. The project, recorded and mixed by Henrik Munch, featured sound bites inspired by Stephen Hawking, particularly evident in the song “Plenty.” The album blends genres and includes guest contributions from bass players Ole Brockman and Jesper Bodilsen, as well as brass players Kim Neergaard, Karl Kolind, OP Riis, Morten Klit, and Eskild Dohn.

Concept and Production

The idea, conceived by Thor’s brother Bo Madsen, revolved around integrating Stephen Hawking’s speech-computer voice into the music. This influence is reflected in tracks like “How Real Is Time.” The album, which gained underground recognition, was part of Kulturby 96, when Copenhagen was the Cultural Capital of Europe.

Musical Impact

Real Time was ahead of its time in genre-blending, achieving a cult-like status. The band, joined by additional musicians featured on the album, performed several concerts around Denmark. Although a second album was recorded, it was never released.

Photo of CD – backside.
Real Time. Listen on YouTube – CD is out of print.

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