Vital Weekly, the webcast: we offer a free-to-download weekly webcast as the
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excerpts from some of the CDs reviewed here (no vinyl or MP3s). It is
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* noted are in this week's pod-cast
KASPER VAN HOEK - A LIGHT YEAR OF SUNDAYS (CD by Heilskabaal Records) *
RAFAEL TORAL - SPACE ELEMENTS VOL. 1 (CD by Staubgold) *
ART OF ORYX - FIRST BOOK OF SOUND - (CD by Berlin Moves)
BERNARD GAL - RELIVE (CD by Gromoga Records) *
DJ OLIVE - TRIAGE (CD by Room40) *
ROBBIE AVENAIM - RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT DISORDER (CD by Room40) *
DAMN - FRESTILL SAMPLERIN #1 (2CD compilation by Chmafu Nocords) *
MZK #001 (CD by Moozak)
SOCCER COMMITTE & MACHINEFABRIEK - DRAWN (CD by Digitalis Industries) *
MACHINEFABRIEK - RUSLAND (3"CDR by Machinefabriek)
MACHINEFABRIEK - HUISWERK (7" by Ketchup Cavern)
OCEANA COMPANY - FOR THE BOATMAN (CD by Spacejam Records)
ANNELIES MONSERE - SOMEWHERE SOMEONE (7" by Morc Records) *
THE RETAIL SECTORS - MARCH OF INCURABLE WORKAHOLIC/SONG ABOUT A GIRL WHO
KILLED HERSELF YESTERDAY (8" lathe cut by Distraction Records) *
A SPIRALE - GARIGA (CDR by Setola Di Matale) * *
FROM THE WHITE CHIMNEYS - NAUTILUS WITH WINGS (CDR by Mystery Sea)
1000SCHOEN - AMISH GLAMOUR (MUSIC FOR THE SIXTH SENSE) (CDR by Luciol
Editions) *
HORCHATA VS SIL MUIR (3"CDR by Taalem)
CORDELL KLIER - PHONO 4 (3"CDR by Taalem)
VOX POPULI! - SOFT ENTRANCE TO NATURE'S CAMINO DE LUZ (3"CDR by Taalem)
THE DEAR LISTENERS - APPROACH (3"CDR by Dear Listeners) *
NORMAL - STORM (MP3 by Just Not Normal)
DANADAX -DAXSCAPES II (MP3 by Just Not Normal)
DUST - SIX (MP3 by Just Not Normal)
KASPER VAN HOEK - A LIGHT YEAR OF SUNDAYS (CD by Heilskabaal Records)
Recently I saw a performance by Kasper van Hoek in collaboration with some
video guy, whose name right now eludes me. Van Hoek 'played' an old stencil
machine and some direct processing. Nice, but a bit sketchy if he'd asked
me, which he didn't. Not enough 'composition' and too much 'improvisation'.
Whereas from his releases so far we know he can do a real good thing. His
'Minerva' LP and 'Den Haag/Groningen/Froombosch' CDR were highlights so far.
'Minerva' can be regarded as a best of LP from the period he spend in
art-school (2004-2006) and this new release, his first real full length CD
'A Light Year Of Sundays' is a best of from the period 2006-2008, and it may
not be a surprise that it includes two pieces from the aforementioned CDR. I
like that. Release CDRs as a more raw edged work and then a real CD with the
best material. A bit like Machinefabriek did. Ok, so the music, what is it?
The eight pieces here are a far cry from his LP, which was based on crude
electronics, worn
out
tape-loops and other broken machinery. The computer has taken over the role
of the analogue equipment and this results in music that is much 'softer'
and more delicately constructed than his early work. Perhaps micro-sound is
an appropriate term for his music. Van Hoek uses drones as the ground
pattern of his compositions to which he adds highly processed field
recordings, or sounds in action. The latter is a bit hard to trace back into
this music. This all culminates in a rather beautiful final piece, which is
a radical deconstruction of the rock band Sexton Creeps. Here too the drone
persists, but various 'band' elements are cleverly mixed in. Van Hoek knows
how to create a composition that is not the culmination of loose sound
events, but builds a strong, intense collage of sound, which is very nice to
hear. Points of reference are Machinefabriek (but without the extensive use
of guitar sounds) and even more to Roel Meelkop. This is a great CD, very
well be a best of, from what I
can judge. The only thing to complain about is the total absence of track
titles and information about the pieces. Great print-work though! (FdW)
Address: http://www.heilskabaal.net
RAFAEL TORAL - SPACE ELEMENTS VOL. 1 (CD by Staubgold)
Jazz, according to Rafael Toral, is 'a system of individual decision-making
from the standpoint of free-spectrum live electronics', and since releasing
'Space' (see Vital Weekly 542), Total plays his own, and I must add, his own
radical version of electronic jazz. On custom built electronic devices that
is. So not a merge of electronics and jazz, but jazz on electronic devices.
As announced back then, it was part of 'space elements', in which he would
play with others, but 'Space' was a solo record. Here however we get the
first volume of 'Space Elements', which also sees players as Rute Praca
(cello), Margarita Garcia (electric double bass), David Toop (flute) and Sei
Miguel (pocket trumpet). They don't all appear together, but in various
combinations, always along Toral's 'glove controlled computer sinewaves,
ribbon-controlled sinewave bursts, modified MT-10 amplifier, analog modular
synthesizer, delayed and filtered feedback empty circuit and amplified coil
spring' - quite a
mouthful. I am still not a lover of jazz, and prefer to make individual
decisions on perhaps a totally different level, but the musical ground that
is covered here is quite nice. The electronics sound utterly 'dry', i.e.
without sound effects, computer plug ins or such like, while the other
instruments restrict themselves to play also dry, clean and short sounds.
This is indeed 'free' music, where each player makes his own decision, and
as such its perhaps 'jazz', and again perhaps Toral's own term 'post-free
jazz electronic music' covers the entire ground. Its music that goes without
much precedent of the past, and surely marks something new. That by itself
is a great effort, but the results are nice also! (FdW)
Address: http://www.staubgold.com
ART OF ORYX - FIRST BOOK OF SOUND - (CD by Berlin Moves)
Art of Oryx is a Berlin-based quintet of Christoph Titz (trumpet,
flugelhorn), Frank Sackenheim (saxophones), Thomas Büchel (guitar,
electronics), Willem van Dijk (vocals, acoustic bass, electronics) and Jonas
Burgwinkel (drums). It is mainly a project of Büchel and Van Dijk, who both
also founded Berlin Moves, a new recordlabel and distribution channel.
The group was founded in 2000 by Dutch musician Willem van Dijk who met in
Germany the musicians with whom he could realize his musical ideas. A first
and second CD were released in 2001 and 2003. They played jazz music in
these days. Their newest CD needed more time in finding its definite shape.
Again it is jazzmusic but also a lot more. First recordings for this cd were
done in 2006. These recordings were however treated in the studio by Büchel
and van Dijk. New recordings, environmental sounds, etc. were added and
shaped endlessly until a fluid whole came into being, an intriguing mix of
jazz and popmusic. They surely did a tasteful and delicate job, resulting in
a mature and full-grown piece of work.
Van Dijk wrote all the music and also the texts. Most of them are sung by
him. For the lyrics he was inspired by the dutch riverlandscape intermingled
with childhood memories. Guest vocalist Iris Romen does a great job in some
of the songs on this album, like in 'Harbour'. A song that refused to leave
my ears and is still echoing in my mind. A conventional song in fact and
very catchy, but dressed in lots of unusual and uncomfortable sounds. In the
way they treat their material it moves at times towards a radioplay with a
strong evocating power. In this respect their work has some resemblance with
the work of Heiner Goebbels and Alfred Harth. Also their music is sometimes
close to Robert Wyatt (listen to 'The Village and the Sea') and the musical
universe we know from Chris Cutlers' Recommended Records family. Themselves
they describe their music as alternative, electro-acoustic jazz.
Although they experiment a lot on this cd, and a lot is happening, like in
'Jannowitzbrücke' where groupplaying is followed by passages of pure sound,
the overall feeling is that of a warm, harmonic and melodic music of
international allure. (DM)
Address: http://www.berlin-moves.com
BERNARD GAL - RELIVE (CD by Gromoga Records)
For whatever reason I am not sure of, the work of Bernard Gal was never much
reviewed in these pages, despite his past seven releases, a book and a DVD.
Its perhaps a name you see more in the announcement section. Since 2002, he
has played over 150 concerts on four continents, armed with his laptop and
devices, and through a mixture of on the spot improvisation and through the
use of pre-recorded sounds from his previous work (audio, installations), he
plays almost every night something new, it seems. So its perhaps a more than
wise decision to release an album of various piece, as recorded in concert.
The press texts gives a detailed description of each of the eight pieces,
and its a pity that this is not on the cover, as it is a pretty interest
read. The sounds he uses, the spaces he played in, and, in some cases, the
people has played with (pianist Xenia Hu, Guzhengplayer Yeh Jiuan-Reng and
the voices of Many, Marianthi and Vivian). Gal's selection of his concert
recordings is a
great one - at least as far as I can judge, as I never saw him play live.
Its almost possible to say that these are hardly 'live' pieces at all. They
make a coherent whole. Gal shows himself an excellent player on the
microsound scene, taking bits of his work and presenting new contexts for
them. The spaces play a role in his work in as far that when the audience is
super quiet, he is super quiet too, such as in the near silent
'Schulterblatt'. Things buzz, hum, crack in a highly intelligent way and
never leaps into boredom, despite the ominous length of this release. A very
fine release altogether. (FdW)
Address: http://www.gromoga.com
DJ OLIVE - TRIAGE (CD by Room40)
ROBBIE AVENAIM - RHYTHMIC MOVEMENT DISORDER (CD by Room40)
'Triage' is the third CD by DJ Olive for Room40, and its also the third
'sleeping pill', which are 'designed to create a deeply enveloping
environment in which the listener becomes engulfed in an audio tint'. I
missed out on the first one, 'Buoy' from 2004, but 'Sleep' was reviewed in
Vital Weekly 527. Again we are presented with an hour of high quality
ambient music, and much what I wrote last week about Steinbruchel's 'Home'
applies here too: I think music in general should be listened to when fully
awake, or perhaps even in a state of being under the influence, but when
it's nightie night, its silent. I for one would have a hard time falling
asleep. So for me, I can only judge this music of DJ Olive in terms of being
awake. It seems that throughout this new one is a bit darker than the
previous record, but when you play it 'soft', as recommended by DJ Olive
himself, you wouldn't notice these darker undercurrents as such very much.
Built from field recordings, instruments and lots
of computer editing which make things occasional quite dense, this is quite
a nice release.
Something entirely different is the release by Robbie Avenaim. He's been
active in improvised music as a percussion player since the late 80s, and
has played with Otomo Yoshihide, Keith Rowe and Oren Ambarchi, but oddly
enough, this 'Rhythmic Movement Disorder' is his first solo release. Other
than with his 'usual' work, which all finds its roots in improvised music,
this new release is highly composed. Maybe at its origins lie the improvised
playing, but its then edited on the computer to create something that is no
doubt more linked to electro-acoustic composition than to improvisation.
'Headbanging', the opening piece, sounds occasionally like gamelan, like
early computer music, and like Ikeda's sinewaves, but has a great vibrancy
to it. Things bounce, shift and phase to all four corners of the world. In
'Headrolling' the rhythmic playing has become very dense and its almost like
a piece of ambient music - but in a very direct manner. 'Bodyrocking' is a
more introspective piece of
music and perhaps a bit more traditional percussion music. The longest piece
is the final 'Bodyrolling', which is the culmination of all of these things.
At just under twenty-nine minutes this is quite a short CD, and I have the
feeling there would have been easily room for another piece, or even two.
This is an excellent release! (FdW)
Address: http://www.room40.org
DARKROOM - SOME OF THESE NUMBERS MEAN SOMETHING (CD by Burning Shed)
Micheal Bearpark (electric guitars, pedals, loops, feedback, acoustic
guitar, bass) just returned from touring with No-man (a side project of Bass
Communion and Porcupine Tree) is together with Andrew Ostler (synthesizers,
programming) and Andrew Booker on drum Darkroom, a project in which the
guitar plays the all dominant role. Burning Shed calls this 'ambient stadium
rock', which I though was very funny, but once I played the album, I thought
it was also an appropriate term. Crazy as it may sound. Darkroom seem to
combine all things guitar from all decades of popular music. Shoegazing,
cosmic music, The Shadows, and post rock. Just to name a few. The guitar
swells and swells, held together by crazy electronics and pounding drums. I
can picture them in a stadium and 'The Valley Of Ten Thousand Smokes', the
start of the CD, could be a great opening tune for the show. A 4/4 rhythm
and lots of sustaining guitar sounds. Lengthy krauty exercusions in music,
that sound by all means
'retro'. Music to be played loud, which seems also a bit odd for an ambient
production, but this can have it. Its all a bit much this one, no matter how
much I like it, its simply a bit too much. Perhaps in that stadium I would
think otherwise, but here at home I thought half of this would have been
great. Think F/i or Vocokesh on a more ambient trip. (FdW)
Address: http://www.burningshed.com
DAMN - FRESTILL SAMPLERIN #1 (2CD compilation by Chmafu Nocords)
In the early, very early years of Vital, when it was written on paper, we
wanted to have a survey on why women were not involved in experimental music
to the same extent as men. Without much luck. These days the situation is
improved - see Olivia Block, Andrea Neuman, Annette Krebs, to mention a
few - but it is still not a 50-50 situation (and then we could start a
discussion about racial backgrounds of composers, of course). One Hannes
Schweiger, percussion player and journalist, started searching for female
composers and asked them for a composition. Eleven of these are collected on
this double CD, and, hurrah, they are all new names to be added to the small
list. I have no idea how he did his research, but he found them. Angelica
Castello, Cordula Bosze, Manon Liu Winter, Katharina Klement, Petra Stump,
Elisabeth Flunger, Maria Frodl, Carla Kihlstedt, Susanna Gartmayer, Judith
Unterpertinger and Ilse Riedler. From what I gather, purely based on
listening to this double CD, is that
they all studied at the conservatorium and they all present pieces of
'serious' avant-garde music, and some ties to the world of jazz. Ilse
Riedler's piece is to be found there, but its traditional jazz for me and
Gartmayer and Stump too freaky. However most of the other pieces are quite
nice, such as the broken plates piece by Manon Liu Winter, the solo violin
cello piece by Frodl, Klement's modern classical piano piece, or the flute
and electronic piece by Cordula Bosze. Best pieces were an entirely
electronic piece by Castello and the voices of Kihlstedt, which could easily
be edited into a horror movie about monks going mad. A great release this
one, exciting and great music, a true adventure to explore new names. (FdW)
Address: http://nocords.net
MZK #001 (CD by Moozak)
New from Vienna, where things always remain busy it seems, comes a new label
Moozak, which is an extension from the Klub Moozak, held each month at Fluc
since september 2007. All of the twelve participants played there, and no
less then eleven are new, which once again proofs the electronic and
experimental is so much bigger than one can possibly imagine. The majority
of the artists featured here operate at the more noise based ends of music.
Not necessarily the over the top end of noise, but things here are pretty
loud and present. it moves between tape manipulations of Rinus van Alebeek
(the only name I recognized) and Gedi, to the more digital surroundings of
fAbia and Griefer and the darker side of ambient of Taos Hum. Griefer also
brings rhythm to the outburst, just like Lamanidayz. At the beginning and
the end there are two more quieter counterpoints, and me thinks the best
tracks: Strangelets microsound ambient glitch and the harmonic textured,
almost orchestral ambient of
Dirac. Not every moment is great, such as the luckily short CD skippings by
Analogset, and some are quite long (basically all four pieces that last nine
minutes), but this compilation offers a nice view of live experimental
music - if you run a stage and if your looking for new acts to book, then
this is surely a good guide. (FdW)
Address: http://www.moozak.org
SOCCER COMMITTE & MACHINEFABRIEK - DRAWN (CD by Digitalis Industries)
MACHINEFABRIEK - RUSLAND (3"CDR by Machinefabriek)
MACHINEFABRIEK - HUISWERK (7" by Ketchup Cavern)
It seems to be a bit more quiet on the Machinefabriek front, but once you
think so, three releases appear. The first one I thought was disappointing
when it turned out to be so short (twenty-four minutes), but then I learned
it is also released on LP (by Morc Records from Belgium), which then makes
more sense I guess. 'Drawn' is a collaboration between Rutger Zuydervelt and
Mariska Baars, who is better known as Soccer Committee. I saw Mariska
playing once (although she's going to be around this week here locally!) and
it blew me away. Imagine Oren Ambarchi, the same sparseness but then with,
likewise sparse vocals. This is what the two do here too: Mariska's songs
are the fundament of the music. Slow, very slow guitar notes, a few words,
lots of silence. Zuydervelt adds his own fine blend of delicate sound
processing to the dinner table, adding some sparse extra sounds on
'instruments' and computer, all in his trademark style of cracks, pops and
subtle drones. Very quiet music, but
quite intense at the same time. Lullabies for the new dark ages - had that
not be already used by someone else.
Recently Machinefabriek played in Russia four concerts as part of the Dutch
Punch festival. Everything was duly recorded, but not released as such. The
3"CDR 'Rusland' is an extensive re-edit of all the concerts plus some
additional home recording. The guitar plays the all important role here,
like in more of Machinefabriek's recent work Soft tinkling, with slowly
enveloping pedal work. On top there is a bit of cracks and pops and with
sparsely orchestrated field recordings. A thoroughly relaxing piece of
music, but one in which there is more sound than in 'Drawn'. Nice release
and on the website there is another twenty-five minute piece waiting for
you.
The final new release is a 7" on Ketchup Cavern, which is also limited
available as a 3"CDR by Machinefabriek himself. Two, four minute pieces of
music. Its nice to see Rutger doing something that is limited through time
and making things a bit more songlike. It adds a nice freshness to his known
sound palette, a bit more open than the more closed 'Rusland' (for example)
and has a playful character. Guitars tinkle, a drone comes in, the guitar
tinkles further. Maybe he should work on an album with more of these shorter
pieces. Knowing Zuydervelt a bit, I'm sure its already made. (FdW)
Address: http://www.digitalisindustries.com
Address: http://www.machinefabriek.nu
Address: http://www.ketchupcavern.com
OCEANA COMPANY - FOR THE BOATMAN (CD by Spacejam Records)
"You know, it might be a wise thing to send a copy of your CD to a guy close
by, in Nijmegen. He does something that is called Vital Weekly. I have no
clue what it is, other than he reviews music and I believe of some
alternative sort, so why not send a copy of 'For The Boatman' by your band
Oceana Company to him. You know, sounding like Motorpsycho, Porcupine Tree,
Q.O.T.S.A. and Anathema, is surely alternative enough to be part of such a
publication? If you write him that psychedelic, stoner rock, prog rock and
indie music have never been before connected so well, in The Netherlands of
course, then you are bound to get a review. Just do."
"Thanks mate, CD on its way."
Address: http://www.spacejamrecords.com
ANNELIES MONSERE - SOMEWHERE SOMEONE (7" by Morc Records)
In Vital Weekly 622 I reviewed a CD-EP by Jessica Bailif and Annelies
Monsere, of high quality minimal songwriting. Monsere returns here with no
less than six songs which she recently recorded, using a hammond organ, a
bit of percussion and her own voice. Short songs - the title track, just
under three minutes being the longest. Its perhaps very easy to think of
poor old Nico when you hear these songs. Not with the same intense voice,
but of equal minimalist beauty. Monsere plays folk like songs, short and
sweet. Intense but in a different way. Not a note too many, just the right
amount, in every aspect. Great stuff. (FdW)
Address: http://www.morctapes.com
THE RETAIL SECTORS - MARCH OF INCURABLE WORKAHOLIC/SONG ABOUT A GIRL WHO
KILLED HERSELF YESTERDAY (8" lathe cut by Distraction Records)
Kentaro Togawa is a busy man: responsible for the nice Symbolic Interaction
label and a musician himself under the banner of The Retail Sectors. The
guitar is his main instruments, along with some pedals and sampled drums. He
has had a couple of releases on his own label, and here comes with two
pieces on plastic, erm, lathe cut. The a-side starts with heavy guitars and
heavy drums, whereas the b-side has a slightly longer quiet intro, before
drums burst in. Togawa calls his music post post post rock and that is
clearly shown in these two pieces. An interest in minimal music - the
repeated quick guitar loops - and in rock music - the heavy pounding drums.
It may seem a curious marriage of two outer limits of music, but it works
well. In the past I have not been always too enthusiastic about The Retail
Sectors, but when it comes served in such a small dose, its more than
welcome. (FdW)
Address: http://www.distractionrecords.com
A SPIRALE - GARIGA (CDR by Setola Di Matale)
Sometimes a press text presents an endless stream of names of which one has
never heard, which hardly makes much sense. Therefore I can hardly reproduce
what I read about A Spirale, but it seems to be a trio from Italy with
Maurizio Argenziano on 'corde ed elettricita', Mario Gabola on 'sax alto'
and Massimo Spezzaferro on 'batteria' - drums, guitar and saxophone.
Sometimes they play with other people, hence the big list. Here however its
just a trio. Six pieces of improvised music, carefully played, lots of
silence, lots of instrument treatments, other than regular playing. Quite
nice, but also quite regular in their approach to the 'new silent
improvisation'. Electro-acoustic improvisation, with an occasional
traditional approach in playing their instruments. Index points, or rather
separate track titles seem only to be there for the comfort of the listener,
but it might very well be one session. Nice, but not great, but well
executed altogether. (FdW)
Address: http://www.a-spirale.blogspot.com
FROM THE WHITE CHIMNEYS - NAUTILUS WITH WINGS (CDR by Mystery Sea)
The name From The White Chimneys appear to be a new one, but the names
behind are well-known, as its the collaboration between Danny Kretutzfeldt
and Ben Fleury-Steiner, both of whom are active as hell, releasing lots and
lots of material on CDRs around the world. I believe this is their first
work together and the three pieces are all what they are about in their
(recent) solo work, as well what the label stands for. The mighty deeper and
darker atmospherics in life. I have no idea what they use here (field
recordings? electronics? software synthesizers? pure effects? or perhaps a
combination of all of this?), but the three heavy weight pieces are quite
nice. Trademark stuff of this kind of music. Nothing new or spectacular, but
executed with great care and style. Shimmering melodies, the sinking of a
ship, the sea waves rolling. Great late night music. Unnerving and relaxing
at the same time. (FdW)
Address: http://www.mysterysea.net
1000SCHOEN - AMISH GLAMOUR (MUSIC FOR THE SIXTH SENSE) (CDR by Luciol
Editions)
HORCHATA VS SIL MUIR (3"CDR by Taalem)
CORDELL KLIER - PHONO 4 (3"CDR by Taalem)
VOX POPULI! - SOFT ENTRANCE TO NATURE'S CAMINO DE LUZ (3"CDR by Taalem)
Another new division from the house of Taalem, next to Kokeshidisk and
Taalem, is Luciol Editions, and I am not sure why this is. 1000schoen is the
project of Helge Siehl, who went solo after the split of Maeror Tri, when
the other members became Troum. He has released already a couple of works,
and hearing 'Amish Glamour (Music For The Sixth Sense)', one could have some
interesting thoughts about the split of Maeror Tri, and the music of Troum
and 1000schoen. After all these years, its still strongly connected,
soundwise. The differences between the three are to be spotted with a
magnifying glass. Lengthy dark ambient pieces, built from lots and lots
sound effects applied to a few instruments, to an extent in which we no
longer recognize what instrument it is. Loops are used to great length also
and 1000schoen walks the path of ambient, industrial with a touch of
magical. Nothing new under the burning dark ambient sun, but executed with
great. Perhaps his best release so far.
Taalem is the imprint for 3"CDR releases of a more droney nature. Like Drone
Records 7" series, this is a long running enterprise, now up to number 54.
They are usually released in series of three. The first is a collaboration
between Michael Palace, also known as Horchata and Sil Muir being Andrea
Ferraris (all guitars) and Andrea Marutti (all treatments). It seems that
Horchata delivered the raw material, Ferraris added some more guitar and
that Marutti did the overall sound design. Two great pieces of dark
atmospheric drone music. Nothing new, but very very dark and elegant.
Cordell Klier has already had a bunch of releases on labels as Ad Noiseam,
Mystery Sea, Afe Records, Gears Of Sand and his own Doctsect label. Its not
easy to hear what is going on 'Phono 4'. This hoovers very much on the edge
of near silence. Soft crackles, even more soft drone like sounds, some field
recording. And all of this in the middle of the storm of silence. Turn up
the volume really high or use the best headphones. Its great minimalist
beauty, in the best microsound tradition.
Its quite a surprise to see Vox Populi! to be part of Taalem. Axel Kyrou has
been active since the early 80s in the field of experimental music, but
sometimes with a more pop like direction (in the early stages), ethnical
(later on). I wasn't always a big fan of his work, but what he does here is
very nice. There is a long list of instruments used and places that were
recorded, which are finely woven into a three piece suite of all these
various sound sources, making a very nice sound scape of animal sounds,
chimes, bells and other field recordings. If this is his recent direction,
then I am all ears. (FdW)
Address: http://www.taaleem.com
THE DEAR LISTENERS - APPROACH (3"CDR by Dear Listeners)
The second release for The Dear Listeners, the new and ongoing project of
former Vance Orchestra member Robert Deters and Martin Luiten (Uw
Hypotheekadvies and Pick-up member) and again on a 3"CDR. 'Approach' has two
pieces of Luiten's guitar work and Deters' electronics. In 'Part 1' they
operate on a more drone related base, as 'Vallen' did before this. There is
a distinctive live feel to it again, of sounds popping in and out the mix.
Sustained frequencies from the electronics, the guitar fed through a ring
modulator, while being played with an e-bow. The second piece starts out and
has throughout the sound of humming voices. A more angular sound is used
here and even at some point there is a bit of rhythm coming through the
louder, densities of the piece. Two quite different pieces working from a
similar ground. A very nice follow-up to 'Vallen'. (FdW)
Address: http://www.myspace.com/thedearlisteners
NORMAL - STORM (MP3 by Just Not Normal)
DANADAX -DAXSCAPES II (MP3 by Just Not Normal)
DUST - SIX (MP3 by Just Not Normal)
A new MP3 label from The Netherlands, using the advantages of blog pages. A
great and even more simple way of starting a label, and great to by pass
Myspace and such commercial nonsense. Just Not Normal is connected to a
radio program called Not The Normal Shit Radio. I received a data CDR with
three current releases. Mark, label boss (ho-hum), says he knows the artist
Normal for about five years, but that the artist doesn't want to say much
about himself. He's from the USA, and not, as I expected, Mark himself.
Three pieces dealing with the issue of 'storm', all exactly twenty minutes
in length. Perhaps its built from field recordings of a storm, I don't know.
But they are fed through a bunch of computer plug ins which seem to work at
random, but in a slow manner. Things never really unfold but move rather
linear. It moves between certain parameters and then bounces back. Its quite
nice music to work by. Not too demanding, but also not too ambient. Owing a
bit to the work of Roland
Kayn I thought. A fine break from the world of pure field recording, moving
into a more musical area.
Also from Daxscapes nothing is known, not even where he's from. 'Daxscapes
II' is the follow up to a release on the Amduscias label. Here too its not
easy to tell what is going on. Again it might be field recordings, but then
from all sorts of electrical sources, being fed through the computer to make
things more noisy than their origins. Corroded circuits, ambient hum,
electric discharges: this is a rather unpleasant piece of ambient industrial
music - the post nuclear landscape, or the sci-fi soundtrack to a film that
has no peaceful end.
The last one is by an artist from the UK, called Dust and 'Six' is, you
might have guessed, his sixth album. I am least enthusiastic about this one.
The pieces use an amount of rhythm, which sometimes is borrowed from the
world of techno, but also from glitch. The first three pieces fade easy into
eachother, and so do the final three. The final three are a bit more 'drone'
based with rhythms, and the first three just rhythm based. Nothing much
happens that made things really worthwhile, though as a piece of background
music things aren't totally bad either. One assumes there is more into than
just this, I guess. (FdW)
Address: http://justnotnormal.wordpress.com
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