As Is

Released in 1991 on the Mute label, As Is represents a distinctive chapter in the career of German musician Holger Hiller. Following his involvement in the influential Neue Deutsche Welle band Palais Schaumburg, Hiller moved to London and began exploring more experimental, sample-heavy electronic textures. This record serves as a testament to his shift toward complex, cut-up soundscapes that challenged traditional song structures, cementing his reputation as an avant-garde figure within the independent electronic scene.

The album reflects the signature aesthetic of Mute Records during the early nineties, which frequently championed artists who pushed the boundaries of studio technology. Hiller utilized sampling as a primary compositional tool, creating dense, layered tracks that often integrated disparate cultural fragments. While it did not reach mainstream charts, the work was received by critics as an intellectual and precise progression of Hiller's earlier minimalist experiments, remaining a sought-after piece for collectors interested in the intersection of post-punk and electronic art music.