SCANNER- SULPHUR (CD by Sub Rosa)
Are you still there? Scanner gets bigger and bigger.
..His recent media upheaval (about Bjork sampling ‘Mass
Observation’) once more kept his name in the pages of
the big magazines. In March this year there was a
concert, and this CD is the result of that. Where to
start? The bad recording quality. ..it sounds like
recorded in the back of the auditorium, with rhythms
sounding hollow (and not dancey at all) .The telephone
tap? I really can’t decipher what they are about. I
wished Scanner would concentrate on a story per track,
building small radio-like plays. The thing that really
turned me off was the fact that it is dedicated to Lee
Newman (half of Greater Then One and many other house
names, who died in August) .No doubt Scanner knew her
(it’s a small London world after all) , but now it is
more like name dropping. I’d rate this -5. // Address:
Sub Rosa -P.O. Box 808 CM -1000 Brussels -Belgium
CM VON HAUSWOLFF -RAYS OF BEAUTY (CD by Sub Rosa)
Hauswolff is a busy man: as an executive producer for
some of Fylkingen’s new CD’s (see elsewhere), his works
with Phauss, label boss for Anckarstrom and the
Elggaland/Vargaland project. Some of his previous work,
formerly released on his own Radium 226.05 label, is
now available again on this CD. Two long works (around
23 minutes) and two shorter pieces. The two long pieces
have really low end droning sounds, slow but
disturbing. The third track has a loop of a match (or
something) repeated every 15 seconds or so, with
distant voices. The last track, as far as I can tell,
is unreleased, and again has droning sounds. For those
who love the darker Hafler Trio stuff (incidentally
Andrew McKenzie wrote liner notes) this is very highly
recommended. Address: as above
MNORTHAM -MANY RIVERS MOVE ALONG THE SURFACE OF THE
MAGNET (C40 by Isomorphic Records)
Some may know Michael Northam as a long time
collaborator in the excellent ND Magazine, or from his
collaboration work with Martin Franklin (released as a
CD by SDV in 1994) .This cassette-only released was
recorded this summer and is fascinating ambient
soundscape of resonating sounds (sources unknown) that
slowly change throughout. Reminded me of Thomas Koner,
or Arcane Device’s softest outings. It’s a pity it is
only on tape, as a wider audience should be
reached. Great package! // Address: Isomorphic -17709
108th Ave SE -Renton, WA 98055- USA
KENT TANKRED -ORDINARY THINGS (CD by Fylkingen)
As far as I know Kent is one half of the duo Guds
Soner, known from their CD in the Anckarstrom series
(actually one the least interesting as far as I am
concerned). His solo CD is released one the state
subsidised highly official Fylkingen label. As the
title suggests, most of the stuff on this CD was
recorded by using ‘ordinary things’ : found sound per
se, treated within the electronic studio to create this
combination of musique concrete with industrial
soundscapes. Every time I play this CD, something new
is revealed. A very release! // Addres: Fylkingen -P.O.
Box 4269- 10266 Stockholm -Sweden
CANDICE PACHECO -IF THEN. ..ELSE (CD by Hearts Of
Space)
Candice Pacheco is co-founder of D’Cuckoo, both are
unknown to me. According to the cover she lays down her
techno/global vision. “Groove food for intelligent
lifeforms”, it is also really tacky stated. Need I
decribe the music? Housy, yet not too much, rhythms,
catchy synths and in every track a number of sampled
voices. Sometimes entertaining, but in the end 11
repetitions of the same techno (that sounds like a lot
others in the ambient-dance field) .Never realized the
‘intelligent’ part of this music though. Don’t get me
wrong, it’s a nice CD. Address: <hos@hos.com>
ROBERT RICH & BRIAN LUSTMORD -STALKER (CD by Fathom)
Some weeks ago I spotted the current flow in Brian
Lustmord’s work, and here is a collaboration that comes
to me as a big surprise. Rich is not really known for
his industrial work, so it is a strange thing seeing
him work with one of the former industrial big-shots.
This collaboration is a bit of both their work. It is
on the experimental side for Rich and on the ambient
side of Lustmord. The latter’s trademark, being tons of
reverb put over every inch of sound on this CD is
apparent here. This is easy listening ambient, but it
goes deep, way deep. Another fine CD. Address: as with
Hearts Of Space
LIGHTWAVE -MUNDUS SUBTERRANEUS (CD by Hearts Of Space)
Lightwave’s LP ‘Tycho Brahe’ was long in demand, and
earlier this year re-issued on CD by H.O.S. That record
had a.o. Hector Zazou playing. ..Now there is this new
CD by this French-Austrian group. Although indexed as
10 tracks it is heard as one long flowing track. Lots
of synth washes, but also distant violins and guitars.
This is quite traditional space music, so not really
new or innovative , but I don’t believe that is in
demand here. Address: as above
MESMER VARIATIONS ( 2 CD by ASH International)
Releases on ASH have never really failed to interest
me. Particular favorites are The Runaway Train (I wish
it was on CD ), Aurobindo and S.E.T.I Knowledge. My
only impression of the original vinyl release of Mesmer
was that it was good to use in a mix -as an isolated
work it quickly bored me, was easily forgotten and does
not reside in my collection. Ash have now followed this
up with a 2CD package of remixes which far surpasses
the original release. The guidelines were simple.
..composers were given a copy of the vinyl release and
asked to compose something influenced by the work of
Friedrich Mesmer, animal magnetist and Mozart’s chum.
There were no further instructions and the original
composition didn’t need to be referenced at all. What a
healthy attitude to the often uninspired field of
remixing. The result is 18 tracks spread over two CDs
in perfect sequence. Put Put open the first CD with an
exceptional track -their first studio recording
apparently. Their thick shifting slabs of noise are
followed by a spacious track by Koji Marutani.
Bruce Gilbert’s piece sort of ‘happens’ as does the
track by CM v. Hauswolff. Sandwiched between these two
are a liquid contribution by Daniel Menche and a
rhythmic excursion by Drome (NUF). Track 7 is an
interlude comprised of a Mozart piano loop. The last 3
tracks on CD1 are by Rene Hassinger, Steve Williams and
Ryoji Ikeda (who wastes an awful lot of digital time by
filling it up with loads of silence in an all too long
(24’00 ) piece. CD2 contains a marvelous set with the
exception of Edvard Graham Lewis who once having made
his point irritatingly returns several times from fade-
outs.
SETI, Quest and Robert Hampson provide the glue which
binds this 2nd CD together. There is also a
contribution from Resolution. .. is this Mr. Colin
Newman by yet another name ? PITA end this set with a
seductive languid dronescape which left me floating in
space. As usual with Touch/Ash releases, great care and
attention has been paid to packaging. Mesmer’s life
story, work and meetings with Mozart have been
chronicled and I think that Kev Martin’s Isolationist
Compilation on Virgin may have finally been superseded.
Well done. .. Address: <touch@touch.demon.co.uk>