RALF WEHOWSKY/ANDREW CHALK/ERIC LANZILLOTA – YANG TUL (LP by Anomalous Records)
DAS SYNTHETISCHE MISCHGEWEBE – DRUM
MICHAEL PRIME – PRIORY GARDENS (both 7″ by Povertech)
DAMIAN CATERA – PROCESS, OBJECT, INTUITION (CD by Harsh House)
STEREO TOTAL – HOLIDAY INNN (2 x 7″ on Bungalow Records)
LE HAMMOND INFERNO – EAST OF SUEZ (12″ on Pool Records)
RALF WEHOWSKY/ANDREW CHALK/ERIC LANZILLOTA – YANG TUL (LP by Anomalous Records)
A set of collaborations here: Ralf Wehowsky, nowadays known as RLW
(formerly of P16.D4) gave some sound material to Andrew Chalk (who gained
his fame from the circles around Organum) and on the b-side it is RLW who
goes about with sound material from Andrew and Eric Lanzillota (not the
first recordlabel boss doing sound on his own). On the A-side the sound
sources are unrecognizable, because Chalk builts a large, slowly evolving
drone sound in which he heavily manipulates the sources. Not uncommingely
to the Organum sound or the beautiful Jonathan Coleclough CD on Robot.
Being a deep admirer of this kind of dark atmospheric music, I don’t mind I
don’t recognize anything of the original sound material (which I believe
not to be of importance anyway).
The b-side turned out to be a little bit more problematic. RLW produced a
similar drone as Chalk, but mixed to the background. Over these he
presents, apperentely randomly, the sounds that he is supposed to work
with. But the result is, at least for me, a bit too lose. There is, so it
seems, a randm factor at stake, that just makes it too simple. Having said
that, this is not bad at all, the builts up may seem a bit simple, the
overall effect is a pleasent listen. And that’s what counts. (FdW)
Address: <nom@anomalousrecords.com>
DAS SYNTHETISCHE MISCHGEWEBE – DRUM
MICHAEL PRIME – PRIORY GARDENS (both 7″ by Povertech)
Povertech has already an interesting catalogue of 7″ releases, and these
two are mostly welcomed. Das Synthetisches Mischgewebe open a new series in
which ‘a single acoustic sound’ is recorded and then transformed by
analogue and digital means. The sound of drums are in there (like the
cymbal being hit), but it’s a heavily processed collage of sounds, crackles
and popnoise. Kinda like Rehberg or other Megoids, DSM go beyoond, and make
it raw and rhythmic, as the percussive feel is most defintely present.
Michael Prime doesn’t do much else then hanging a microphone in a tunnel or
cave and record the bats moving in the space. The role of the composer here
is to have good ears and make a decision where to place the microphone.
Prime succeeds in that very well, as these are fascinating recordings.
Both are excellent productions
Address: <povertech@emrl.com>
DAMIAN CATERA – PROCESS, OBJECT, INTUITION (CD by Harsh House)
Who? This is somebody from Con Demek, and I am sure a few bells start
ringing somewhere. Here, on his own, he just plays guitars, some even
acoustic, but if you didn’t know, you couldn’t tell. He samples the six
strings, puts it on harddiscs and they crash… ‘Race Point Light’ is an
ocean of feedback like sounds and the rubbing of the screwdriver are the
waves to hit the shore. ‘Ilal’ is more lighter kind of sound, minimalistic
reverberating and slowly evolving it’s course. ‘Symbol’ was inspired by
Xenakis, but I couldn’t tell (maybe I wonder who Xenakis is) and has a deep
end feedback drone. ‘Accident’ is all about that computercrash and maybe
that’s why there is some kind of rhythm coming and going. The closing piece
‘Composition 45’ comes back to the first track and is feedback piece. Quite
a heavy duty work of guitar noise, but one that certainly has been thought
about, and that has many, even when they are only detailled, events
happening. This is noise of some very good nature. (FdW)
Address: http://www.harshhouse.com
STEREO TOTAL – HOLIDAY INNN (2 x 7″ on Bungalow Records)
LE HAMMOND INFERNO – EAST OF SUEZ (12″ on Pool Records)
Stereo Total have been around for a while and have more than several
releases ( vinyl and CD) licensed by and put out on Bungalow Records.
Bungalow are an amazing German label responsible for some amazing
compilations of Japanese Club-Pop (‘Sushi 3003’ and ‘Sushi 4004’ assembled
by Mr Le Hammond Inferno – more inna a mo’), new Chermann Discofuckfunk –
their recent ‘Ro3003’ compilation included the new classic ‘From Disco to
Disco’ by…can’t remember, sorry. And their ‘Suite 98’ is a great
international showcase. It includes the Momus remix of ‘Bilitis’
(originally composed for the film of the same name by Francis Lai. Hey,
he’s groovy, ain’t he !) (Hello David Hamilton and your jar of Vaseline)
as performed by Laila France (her full-length CD ‘Orgonon’ also with Momus
is exceptionally cool; she a French/Thai hybrid, so I guess it’s in the
jeans !). In addition Bungalow are (probably) responsible for introducing
Fantatsic Plastic Machine to the Occidentals – an absolute genius of a
composer on a par with Pizzicato Five and Cornelius. Check out Fantastic
Plastic Machine’s full-length CD of the same name. The band Combustible
Edison are also out on this label and are their major seller till now. I
don’t know their stuff yet.
Well, back to the Stereo Total (who might sometimes be described as a
mutation of Shonen Knife, The B52’s, The Buffalo Girls and someone else.)
Double 7″, which has a bunch of remixes of the title track ‘Holiday Innn’,
several of which are by Stereo Total themselves under assumed names, and
more than several of which are by some of the best freaks in the business.
The package actually opens with a medium-paced funky track by Finnish
formation Avvikko, for me a recent discovery, who’s track here, and music
in general, kick ass ! (Is there anybody out there who can tell me where to
get more of their supreme shite). Custom Drummer (Who they ? Tell me more,
please) also contribute a marvellous remix, and there’s one by Escalator &
Yukari Fresh. Yukari Fresh has a track on the compilation ‘Sushi 4004’
titled ‘Yukarin Disco’ which generates moisture in all the right regions at
perfectly silly clubs.
Don’t waste time, go and get ‘Holiday Innn’ !
Pool Records is a subsidiary of Bungalow which (I think) releases twistable
tunes on 12″ for stubborn DJ’s who don’t wish to contaminate their
amphetamine-coated paws with digital carriers.
So far they’ve put out 4 (or is it 5, I’m guessing here as I have no
release information – hint, hint – geddit ?) discs of extruded polyvinyl (a
petroleum by-product, for those eco-DJ’s with a conscience), with centre
holes created with all the precision of finest Swiss craftsmanship. There’s
one by Fantastic Plastic Machine, another by Yoshinori Sunahara and this
one by Le Hammond Inferno. Don’t know who did the other one, or is it two?
Anyway the general idea seems to be to feature a track or two by the
original artist and then some remixes. This doesn’t happen on ‘East Of
Suez’, which is described as an ‘Original Soundtrack Recording sampled by
Mr. LHI’.
The first track ‘Marrakech’ is a break-beaty sort of thing featuring a
riff lifted from “Chocolate Elvis”, which I am certain is NOT the
infectious and all too familiar horn melody which carries the track.
(Somebody buy this and tell me what the fuck this tune is, please.) Then
there’s a segue which resurfaces throughout the LP which consists of spacey
flute atmospheres. There’s more music with beats – slow trip-hop and
something else, all extremely catchy and perfect for modern, adventurous
(read ‘Not-Techno) DJ’s prepared to stick their necks out and try to change
the deluge of bass heavy same-ness which lingers too long. (Still, I
suppose it’s functional and the drugs are designed around it, aren’t they
?).
Go for it…
(I will probably do a label profile on Bungalow soon – find their catalogue
on the Internet – must be there somewhere, but I don’t have the details
with me.)
Thank you for listening. (MP)
OOPS ! FUCK ! – CORRECTION CORRECTION CORRECTION
Due to my basic incomprehension of the finely designed (yet almost
illegible) artwork wrapped around a Bake Records CD I reviewed last week, I
mistakenly attributed the work titled ‘Monotonos’ to a band called ‘Freak
vs. Man’, when of course it should have been the other way round; viz.
‘Freak vs. Man’ by ‘Monotonos’. Whacks all round ! (MP)