SCHIZOIDAL SECOND …MORE… (CDr by Secret Level Recordings)
KLANGKRIEG – RADIONIK (CD by Cling Film Records)
LETHE – SLEEP DIGEST (CD by Pale-Disc)
CHRISTIAN ALATI & GIUSEPPE IELASI & RUGGERO RADAELLE (CD by Sonoris)
MEMBRANA (2CD by Long Arm Records)
THE NEW BLOCAKDERS – SEINSART (CDR by Siren Records)
TECHNO UNIT 30 – AUDIOCHROME (CD by International Audiochrome)
KNURL – KHARBORUNDUMM (CDR by Panta Rhei)
THOMAS LEHN & MARKUS SCHMICKLER – BART (CD by Erstwhile)
SCHIZOIDAL SECOND …MORE… (CDr by Secret Level Recordings)
Earlier this year I received a compilation cdr by SLR and I must say that
it contained interesting music but it just missed the point somehow. In the
past few years the French dance scene has produced interesting artists with
a very particular sound. It just needs some time to just get into it. So
what about this one? It’s minimal, it’s groovy, it’s danceable. So most of
the time I wiggle my head while coding stuff and listening to this cdr. But
sometimes it’s boring and sometimes it’s annoying. These people have
potential, but they need to work to get there. So get to it, guys, and
you’ll be great. (IS)
KLANGKRIEG – RADIONIK (CD by Cling Film Records)
A new release by the Klangkrieg team is something to be pleased with.
Having seen them playing live last year, I was happy to be informed that
this CD is based on the live material. On the disc are eleven tracks with
German names referring mostly to technical activities or equipment. In some
cases the title also refers to some of the original material. The tracks
vary in length from two to nine minutes. The general atmosphere is one of
desolate industrial landscapes, filled with countless machines, all
performing their appointed duties, with drones and hisses as the basic
sounds for the pieces. On top of that other sounds are mixed and sometimes
cut. The sound is very direct and pretty dense and manipulated mainly by
filtering. This sometimes creates an amazing sonic depth. At times the
machinery seems to get too enthusiastic and overheated and finally fails.
There are parts where we actually seem to be inside the machine, traveling
through pipes and other ducts. Dare I use the word psychedelic? All tracks
have a strong blend of concrete and electronic sounds; they merge so well
that it is very difficult to tell them apart, if one would wish to do so.
>From track eight onwards rhythmic elements are introduced, even hints of
melody appear. Track eleven brings together all these influences and closes
this CD off. A must for anyone digging the more interesting drony type of
electro-acoustics. (MR)
Address: <cling_film@hotmail.com>
LETHE – SLEEP DIGEST (CD by Pale-Disc)
This Japanese project is new to me as is the label. The duo Lethe works
with electronics and strings. There is an interesting photograph on the
cover, showing an installation with a lot of speakers. At least part of the
material for the CD was probably recorded in a similar space, judging by
the acoustics that have a strong spatial quality. Most of the 12 tracks
have a similar use of sound sources: either electronic or acoustic material
is fed through some kind of equipment and played together with other
sounds. Some parts are pretty rough, but in general this could almost be
described as ambient, although of a somewhat desolate kind. The disc is not
always as interesting as it proves it can be nearer to the end. (MR)
Address: m0032108@mail.lan.ne.jp
CHRISTIAN ALATI & GIUSEPPE IELASI & RUGGERO RADAELLE (CD by Sonoris)
Sonoris isn’t exactely known as an improv label, but they make an exception
here with the work of three Italian improvisers, which are closely linked
to the super improv label Fringes.
I didn’t glance very much at the cover very much while playing this CD, so
the notion that these are two guitarists and a percussionist struck me.
Whatever they produce, its hard to pin down as guitar and percussion. They
go by a slow curve from almost silence to almost noisy, with crackles (what
sort of guitar produces crackles like a lap-top, me wonder in mild
curiosity). There those recognizable AMM influenced bits (although their
curve is usually even longer) and even a link to industrial music (the
motor like buzz in ‘Text Piece’). This makes this into a somewhat more
varied CD, and you could even wonder if the variations aren’t too much.
Myself, I thought it was ok and thought it was a well-entertaining CD.
(FdW)
Address: <sonoris.fr@lemel.fr>
MEMBRANA (2CD by Long Arm Records)
Some think that music by just women is very interesting, because they are
just women. Some think similar about music from Eastern Europa. Me I don’t
care about the colour of their hair, if their sound is good. I must admit,
there have been nice things from there, but also downright boring ones.
This one sort of falls in between. The nice thing is the total confusing
liner notes, track titles and even band names. Now let’s assume its all by
the same person(s), calling themselves either Membrana (CD 1) or John
Silence Infra-Jazz Quintet (on CD 2). I think they are the same, because
the sound is quite similar. Both CD’s are filled with fairly long pieces
that are based around sampling or looping. Sometimes a track is just like
that throughout, and nothing much is happening on that thing. Other tracks
are more lively by adding exterior noises, from radio waves to synths and
that icing make it into a better cake. Sometimes tracks are down right
boring, but some have a hallucinating character. There are overal hints to
microwave, to Oval or to Pan Sonic, but never gets too close. With some
cool editing this can be one great CD, instead of a so so double set. (FdW)
Address: http://www.avantart.com/longarms
THE NEW BLOCAKDERS – SEINSART (CDR by Siren Records)
The New Blockaders were a short-lived band in the early 80s, but they still
manage to release and re-release (and re-re-re) their old work. In certain
areas of this musical world, people are still dying to hear the anti music
by The New Blockaders. They can be easily classified as an ‘industrial’
group. High pitched, non-constant noises with thunderous rattles below. I
have no idea what they use to produce these sounds. I always associate it
with the sound of my rusty biclycle, but then highly amplified in front of
a speaker causing some additional feedback. This CDR contains two
performances by The New Blockaders from 1983, both at Morden Tower in
Newcastle, England. These recordings were released on LP, but compared to
this CD, that sounded rather dull. The era of digital sound gives us a more
clean, and thus more loud and harsh sound. No doubt TNB will attract new
fans, who are going to dig out more old recordings and the legend will live
on for man’s eternity, certainly if re-issues like this are released in
small editions like these 200 copies. But if one band deserves it, it must
be The New Blockaders. (FdW)
Address: Siren – 4-37-9 Saginomiya, Nakano-Ku, Tokyo 165-0032 – Japan
TECHNO UNIT 30 – AUDIOCHROME (CD by International Audiochrome)
Apperentely one Larry Kucharz is an ‘innovative classical composer and
minimalist pioneer’, but I’m afraid I fail to recognize the name. He has
other works too, but it’s hard for me to relate these to this new CD. But I
understand this is different. Larry offers us nine tracks of which most are
influenced by Detroit’s techno sound. Mostly minimal, emphazing drum
patterns and bass sound. In general quite static tracks, that are not
necessiraly innovating the sound of techno, but are relatively fresh
sounding. Two tracks are apperentely remixes from his early work, one is of
1970’s piano work and one a 1982 computer piece. They sound however like
the rest, ie not out of place. That means he’s either fooling us, or he is
a brilliant remixer. It’s probably the last. (FdW)
Address: <intaudiocr@aol.com>
KNURL – KHARBORUNDUMM (CDR by Panta Rhei)
Were did I miss Knurl’s missing link? From his previous works, I know Knurl
as the brother of Daniel Menche: harsh and subtle pieces of noise, with
slabs of Merzbowish trash can’s. Now, Knurl comes with a two track CDR
only, which lasts 45 minutes. And it blew my mind. Subtle pieces that fit
exactely the drone induced mind world – or is the mind inducing drone
world? Maybe played on a couple of guitar, with the odd slowed down voice
mumble and a tick on a bass guitar. Howling deep down dark ambience, a
world beneath the world, the sound recording of burning charcoal, or lava
before the eruption of the volcano. I don’t know. Panta Rhei – everything
flows indeed here. (FdW)
Address: <movknurl@interlog.com>
THOMAS LEHN & MARKUS SCHMICKLER – BART (CD by Erstwhile)
Thomas Lehn and Marcus Schmickler have maybe one thing in common: they both
hail from Cologne, one of the more vibrating cities of music. Lehn is an
improviser on the analogue synth – we have reported on his various
collaborative works before. Schmickler has an academic background and
already gave us such nice music as Kontakta, Wabi Sabi and the more rock
oriented Pluramon. But the two met in the improvising ensemble Mimeo (in
which I see Schmickler as an odd-ball, being not known as an improviser)
and started to work outside the ensemble. Two long sessions in the studio
earlier this year led to this CD. Heavy duty improv music with much
electronic sound but due to the post-production in the studio, one that is
a real challenge to hear. They place great care on the detail, and the
sound is not an endless stream of sound, but a collage in which the small
elements breath along the greater picture of each track. And each track has
it’s own character, one is soft and deals with subtle sounds and an other
is harsh, loud and seems less interested in the detail. This makes this CD
into a great manifestation of improvised music that was re-composed on a
harddisc, or vice versa… (FdW)
Address: www.erstwhilerecords.com