TRANS AM – THE SURVEILLANCE (CD by City Slang)
Post-rock, krautrock or whatever gravelity the rock now rocks, there is
some mighty interesting things happening. Take for instance Trans Am. Their
previous CD was already a delight, but this new one is again another
yummie. Post (or whatever-) rock takes the traditional format of a rock
group, but the studio is a big blender. Everything is thrown in, tons of
those digitalia are added, a snap of synth, a touch of techno there, and
there you. Trans Am fildes around with hard rocking guitar, bass, drum
stuff, but cocktail it with weird electronica tunes. These are not apparent
in one track, but they are set after each other. It took them months to
create this, and of course I have to nag about something: why do they come
up with only 36 some minutes. Now that’s a big too short guys, I’d love to
have this at least an hour. (FdW)
Address: any store (this indie is too big)
KREIDLER – APPEARANCE AND THE PARK (CD by Kiff SM)
More post krautie stuff… Since I had the pleasure of seeing them play a
concert at some radio station, I am a big devotee. A drummer that hammers
along the rhythmbox, a lame dubby bass, and weird, almost childlike synthie
tunes, give Kreidler a big sentimental, but very accurate 90s sound.
Sentimental because it is so 70s, accurate since it is so… clean and
digital. Some of the tracks take their time in building up, with the
elements mentioned above, but Kreidler also fools (you?) around with short,
snippet like tracks that last only a few minute or so. Maybe Kreidler is
more popmusic then much else reviewed in here. Luckily I don’t work for
their recordcompany so I don’t hav to tell which track has hit potentional,
but we shouldn’t be surprised to see them in some chart one day. Combined
with a videoclip of some kind, MTV might be into it… (of course I don’t
know, I don’t work for them either). (FdW)
Address: <info@pias.hh.eunet.de>
PHILIP SAMARTZIS – RESIDUE (CD by Dorobo)
Samartzis was once half of the duo Gum – those down under types
manipulating and recycling vinyl before the word DJ was a superstar. Now
Samartzis is still a composer, but one of the more serious composed
electro-acoustic, musique concrete. His first solo CD (actually the first
to come in Dorobo’s Limited Editions series) has three long pieces of
samples in conjunction with environmental recordings. I hear mumbling among
you: we’ve seen that… true, but Samartzis does something new: his samples
are short, like only a microsecond, and repeated. These samples take shape
in a block as they are and then, as suddenly as they appeared, they
disappear. Only to be followed by fairly long passages of environmental
sounds, and, in the first piece, spoken word. It’s a strange mixture that
surprinsely works well. It takes a few rounds of listening, before one gets
into it. And to that extend it might never work for some.
Address: <dorobo@werple.net.au>
ZENOPEDE – Screaming at the Silence (Cassette by Zenopede)
A new musical project which comes from Swansea, UK. Very minimal electronic
sounds, dense layers, sometimes only single tunes. Side two uses lots of
environmental recordings, cars & machines, mixed up with electronic
effects. Strange atmosphere. Interesting! Zenopede has also released a very
limited (54 copies only) 7″, which is more rhythmic.
Address: Zenopede, c/o Dave – 4 Brynmill Terrace – Brynmill – Swansea SA2
OBA – UK
BRAINQUAKE – Skies of Bezerko (Cassette by Thee Disciples of Penumbra)
A project from Belgium which is like AH-CAMA-SOTZ operating in the dark
electronic regions of music. Brainquake combine dark samples with technoid
rhythms, and the whole thing has a mystic / occult touch. The B-Side is
more relaxed and ambient. Sometimes it sounds like a dark industrialized
Techno. Interesting.
Address: Thee Dispiples of Penumbra – Mark Ceulemans – PO Box 471 – 2000
Antwerpen 1 – Belgium
ALLUVION – Alluvium 1 (Cassette by Aegri Somnia Vana)
The music presented on this tape originated from many different
soundsources (which are printed in the inlay), like field recordings, metal
objects, water, digital errors, ceramic objects, etc.. You may expect a
strange collage when you read this but this is more of a spacious, ambient
character – dreamlike soundwalls which enter the room very slowly. The
hypnotizing acoustics stay for a while and the another wave is coming.
Really a great release! Aegri Somnia Vana is not only a cassette-label but
also a magazine.
Address: <aesova@ripco.com>
DRIFT – Apokalypse (Cassette by Kadef)
This italian project works in a very dark area, static monumental drones on
Side A, and more Scorn-like bass & rhythm-structures on Side B, with lots
of drones, too. Much more rough than the CD I heard before. There’s not
happening very much on these recordings, no surprises, but I don’t see it
as a negative point, as the sound itself is good. (BAR)
Address: Kadef – K. Witanski – Saalestrasse 12a – 35260 Stadtallendorf –
Germany