HAYFEVER #5 (Magazine)
This is yet one another sympathetic German magazine, this one comes with a 7″. Of course all in German, but luckily for me I was a good boy in school. Intelligent interviews with Stefan Jaworzyn (quote: “I don’t like to hear improvised music, I like to play it”) and RLW, but also about Songs: Ohio and the Steward label. Anything from experimental music to postrock and dance music is found in the review section. The layout is unfortunately not always good to see, but the 7″ is nice. Modernista Novanta with a nice laid-back dub sound, RLW with a reworking of a track from Pullover. The flip has lo-fi guitar music by Hall Of Fame, Appendix Caledonia and Songs: Ohio.
Address: <kessler@uni-bremen.de>
SIAN – SINK/ASSIGN (CD by Manifold)
I am not sure (you never know with the output of Akifumi Nakajima), but I guess that this is the first full length CD by SIAN, which is a collaboration between Shohei Iwasaki and Akifumi Nakajima of Aube. Their previous work, mostly obscured vinyl, tended towards a more cosmic music, in the ‘traditional sense’ of the word: stretched tones on a bunch of analog synths. The three long tracks here however could be again be described as cosmic, but it doesn’t justify what it is. The first track, ‘Sink’, is in the Aube direction: slowly evolving samples that turn slowly into a sequence. In it’s 13 minutes there is a slow, minimal shift but one that is constantly changing. “Assign” is like slowed down bells in repetitive moods. This track is the highlight of the CD. The last track, ‘Sink II’ is more bell like sounds, or maybe the sampled sound of the Anklun. Without too much effect processing, it’s stays maybe a bit too much the easy and simple things in life. But that minimal character is also a quality of its own and has a mysterious eastern feel to it, like you are watching a ceremony without being too familiar what it is all about.
In all (and thanks once again to that great small label Manifold) another great CD. (FdW)
Address: <manifold@manifoldrecords.com>
LARRY KUCHARZ – UNIT 25: DARK RED (CD by International Audiochrome)
An extremely uninformative package by one Larry Kucharz, whose work can be found also on labels as Hypnos and Adastra. Mr. Kucharz uses a bunch of digitalia to produce a bunch of late night relaxed listening. Most of these pieces consist of accords played, stretched and drony (as in synthesized) sounds. Not bad at all if leave this playing on a soft volume in the background. Kinda sweet, mellow ambient (no rhythms) that if you play them loud will be a bit too static. Music to be ignored, and quite aural wallpaper. That may come of as a negative approach, but it’s not. It’s just what it is: nice background music. (FdW)
Address: <intaudiocr@aol.com>
LUNUS – L-Loch (Cassette by Soffitta Macabra)
Again one of those (rare) projects that appear only on cassette. In this case I must say “appeared” because Lunus (from Italy) doesn’t exist anymore. This seems to be the last release, and that’s really a sad thing, as this is excellent mysterious ambient “industrial”, floating loops which seem to come from an uninhabited area where no humans are allowed to exist, pounding and droning. Reminiscent of Amon or the great Tam Quam Tabula Rasa, this would be an almost perfect candidate for the Drone Records 7″-series, if Lunus would only still be active. But the man behind it called DEVIS G. is still continuing his musical work as far as I know, so we might hear from him again one day. Limited edition. [BAR]
Address: <fenrir@iol.it>
KEIMBEFALL/SOURCE DIREKT – SPLIT (picture-10″ by SD-Image)
Cold Industrial from two German projects, on a nice b/w-looking picture-10″, of course limited and numbered (300 copies). Keimbefall come from Hannover and try to sound as clinical & isolated as possible. On their 2 tracks whispering & manipulated voices, dark floods of sound in the background, samples and electronic effects are the ingredients of this depressed and dull music, which reaches it’s climax at the end. This is something that would be also perfect on Tesco: Industrial in the truest sense of the word. Source Direkt from Chemnitz had a split 7″ with Aube some time ago, and they present here electronic (instrumental) experiments with the extensive use of Octaver- effects. Interesting sounds, but the piece itself appears a little bit directionless to me, there is no real development in the music, and the atmosphere is not as captivating as on the Keimbefall-side. As a whole worth checking out for fans of the more old-fashioned Industrial. [BAR]
Address: SD-Image – P.O.Box 49 – 09050 Chemnitz – Germany
SKALP – REGISTRATUR / AMBIVALENZ (10″ by Tesco)
Another project of Stefan Roigk from Hannover (who is also doing Keimbefall), which is again dark and apocalyptic Industrial, nicely arranged with totally distorted singing, church-chorales, effected synths and dull pounding slow rhythms, which sound metallic sometimes. Again this creates a dense & emotional atmosphere of depression & isolation, which will turn even the sunniest day into a gray & foggy place. Some pieces reminded me a bit on the last surprisingly gloomy Bad Sector 10″. Keimbefall though continues the tradition of the old school Industrial. This 6-track 10″ has quiet a long playtime and an attractively printed cover. If you like doom Industrial soundscapes, this is a must have. [BAR]
Address: <Tesco-Organisation@t-online.de>