ERRATUM #1 (CD compilation by Erratum Musical)
Music should be heard, so each magazine about music should have a CD or be
a CD (so where is our real-audio format?). This new French magazine is a CD
twelve introductions to mainly French artists. I just happen to know only 2
of them: Etant Donnes and Henri Chopin. A great deal of the others present
music that deals in one way or the other with voice and poetry. Problem
with some of those, like Serge Pey, that it requires some knowledge of the
French language. Others, like Chopin, are abstract and electronic, however
heavily based on sounds from the throat. A varying pallet of different
approaches to sound poetry and those interested should check this out. As
an audio magazine this continues where ‘Reveu Ou’ left off before we were
all born. (FdW)
Address: <erratum_musical@hotmail.com>
MASONNA – SPECTRUM RIPPER (CD by Cold Spring)
This really happened, a true story about one of the dumbest things I have
ever done: I went to the supermarket with my roommate a couple of days ago,
and we were walking around in the produce section. There was a basket of
peppers sitting up by the broccoli, near the squashes. It was labeled
“Bonnet Peppers”. I thought aloud, “Hmm, wonder if they mean ‘Scotch’
Bonnet peppers, which are the hottest peppers in the world, or if just
plain ‘Bonnet’ Peppers means something different?” My roommate had no idea,
of course. “Well,” I again thought aloud, about to do the very dumbest
thing one could possibly do in this situation, “only one way to find out”.
And with absolutely no further thought, I ate the pepper. Just popped the
whole thing into my very stupid mouth and chewed. My roommate’s jaw
dropped. “Oh,” he said. “You are a complete idiot. I can’t believe I live
with such a fool. You’re not supposed to eat those, you’re supposed to cook
with just a very little piece of one.”
At first, it was enjoyable. Didn’t take too long to realize that this was,
in fact, a Scotch Bonnet, as my tongue went numb, my lips went numb, my
throat singed, my esophagus melted the whole way down, the skin on my neck
started to creep forward (trying to get away, I imagine), my eyes poured
tears. For the next twenty minutes, I couldn’t speak. Breathing became
difficult. I ran straight to the dairy section, of course, and drank a
half-gallon of milk in two or three gulps, but it didn’t stop the awful
sensation. I really wanted to laugh, but just couldn’t (it hurt too much).
The strangest part of all is that I liked it. Wouldn’t eat one every day,
of course, but it was really, really fun riding out all that excruciating
pain.
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Howie, that sure is a good
story, but what in heck does it have to do with the new Masonna CD?” The
only difference between the two is that the new Masonna CD lasts ten
minutes longer than that pepper did.
(Was that a cop-out? I think it might have been. Hmm. True story, though,
really.)
Address: <coldspring@thenet.co.uk>
GUNTER MULLER & JIM O’ROURKE – WEIGHTING (CD by For 4 Ears Records)
As far as I remember, this is the third CD with improvisation recorded by
these two. The first one was heavily based on what one expects from improv:
many changes, raw and daring. The second (with the help of Voice Crack) was
already more calm, but this goes all the way. I am not sure what it is, but
there is a specific droning character to each of these pieces, on which
these two lads put distinctly quiet sounds, like a piano or a guitar being
strum. The mood is laid-back, and you can tell that these two are a well
tuned pair. It sounds so easy, that it is hard to believe it is improvised
music. Let’s hope it will be a continuing affair – then much beauty is
promised. (FdW)
Address: For 4 Ears – Steinechtweg 16 – 4452 Itingen – Switzerland
HEDAH (CD compilation by Hedah)
Just the like ‘The Gods Must Be Crazy’ compilation CD, this is another
documentation of an art project from The Netherlands. This time from
Maastricht where artists were invited to think about ‘the possible meanings
of the word ‘space’. The otherwise uninformative package (just a carton
sleeve) sums up 15 artists and their titles. It’s hard to tell whether it
is documenting visual events, or if it is ‘just’ a compilation about a
rather broad theme. Many of the captured spaces here are of electronic
nature, like the widened space of Ultrasound, the taped refrigerator of
Suchan Kinoshita, the minimal crackles of Paul Devens or the maximal
demolished cracks of Justin Bennett (of BMB con, and also co-curator of
this). A total hit and mis is the track by Dancing Queens – slowed down
popmusic of utter boredom. Luckily placed towards the end, just before the
dance track by XLR8 (which is kinda nice in it’s roughens) and a much too
long track of mumbling voice. So program 1-12 and then take out! (FdW)
Address: Hedah – Cortenstraat 3 – 6211 HT Maastricht – The Netherlands