CHRIS HALLIWELL – FRAGMENTS AND SILENCES FROM ZERO WINTER (CDR by Sousrature)
CHRIS HALLIWELL – SHORT STORIES (CDR by Sousrature)
DISCIPLINE – DISCIPLINE (CD by Paperplane)
CEDRIC PIGOT – ^ (3″ CD by Mixer)
GOODIEPAL – BEO BIO (3″ CD by Mixer)
VERT – NINE TYPES OF AMBIGUITY (Cd by Sonig)
DEAFNESS IS NOT A GIFT (CD by Deafborn)
DEISON – DIRTY BLIND VORTEX (CD by Crionic Mind)
DJ SCUD/PHTHALOCYANINE – CONNECTED SERIES NO.1 (12″ by Klangkrieg)
ALEJANDRA & AERON/QT? (split 12″ by Fat Cat)
CHRIS HALLIWELL – FRAGMENTS AND SILENCES FROM ZERO WINTER (CDR by Sousrature)
CHRIS HALLIWELL – SHORT STORIES (CDR by Sousrature)
Two new releases from Chris Halliwell on his on own Sousrature CD, nd
one is called ‘Short Stories’ and has indeed mainly short pieces
(between 2’37 and 9’16, so what’s short). The main instruments from
Chris is the harddisc recording system on which he collages his music
together. Sounds recorded in the environment (frogs, bird calls),
real instruments (I though I recognized the odd violin), voices etc.
The first release has three long pieces, dealing with texts written
by Derek Jarman, Sylvia Plath and Chris Halliwell himself. The music
is very silent, with many ultra quiet passages, which are at times
interrupted by loud passages which arrive like a blow on the head.
The spoken texts act as instruments here. The result is a very
intense listening hour, but that results in a beautiful radioplay
like piece. Think Gunther, Meelkop or RLW with text fragments.
The CD with the shorter pieces is less demanding, but also less
coherent. Some of these pieces carry the trademarks as the other CD,
such as the beautiful ‘Dream Pathology 1’, with it’s scary sounds,
and occassional voices. But some of the tracks are less abstract,
with a soft pulsating synth sound as in ‘Soft Rupture’ or ‘The Art Of
Mirrors’, and they are a bit too minimal, formless and idea-less. So
sometimes they are stories with not many words. Of these releases I
prefer the one with the long pieces that really built up nicely and
very coherent in idea and presentation. (FdW)
Address: http://www.sousrature.freeserve.co.uk
DISCIPLINE – DISCIPLINE (CD by Paperplane)
Discipline “acknowledges the light of Sun Ra, the vision of Noel
Scott Engel, the heartbeat of Throbbing Gristle” and probably they
owe the name to the latter. Having said that, Discipline’s music
doesn’t come very close to the legendary inventors of industrial
music. On their self-titled debut Discipline likes to keep things
simple. Six of the seven tracks (the first is just a short intro
piece) are made out of repeting loops of old vinyl, which are
slightly processed by cheap delay boxes. The result is a couple of
very lo-fi pieces, which sound less boring then this description.
Hypnotic grooves with very mininal changes, but with a full sound. It
doesn’t get any close to dance music, and stays very on the loopy
side. Strangely fascinating music. (FdW)
Address: <paper.plane@virgin.net>
CEDRIC PIGOT – ^ (3″ CD by Mixer)
GOODIEPAL – BEO BIO (3″ CD by Mixer)
Two new releases by the ever growing Mixer label, this time on 3″ CD
format in a nice paper sleeve. I am not sure if it is intentional,
but these two releases seem related in approach. It sounds as if both
artists work from a laptop, even when the results are slightly
different.
Cedric Pigot from France is an installation/sound artist who is
reponsible for soundtracks for performances, films and installations.
I am not sure if there are any other releases by him, but this is my
first encounter. For reasons also unknown to me, there is only track
on the CD, but it sounds like various pieces to me. Pigot seems to
put emphasis on small sounds. Short pieces of layered drones and
interrupted by crackles and rhythms. However Pigot stays far away
from a 4/4 click ‘n cut beat and brings his own sound. Although at
times sketchy in approach, this is a very nice piece.
Goodiepal is one of those names I link to V/VM and the world of
plunderphonica, using and abusing other people’s music. Behind
Goodiepal we find Kristian Vester, who is by day a computerprgrammer
for Lego, founded by his grandfather. On his 3″ release we find four
pieces which are all based on the same original. The have an overall
similar approach, yet the smaller details differ. It’s mainly some
organ like sounds that are upfront in the mix and which seem to phase
shift against eachother and smaller sounds hidden in the background.
Somehow, somewhere, I was very much reminded of ‘Four Organs’ by
Steve Reich, so I regard this as the 21st century version of that.
Both releases move distinctively away from the clicks and cuts scene
and define their own sound. That is good news! (FdW)
Address: <mixer@staalplaat.com>
VERT – NINE TYPES OF AMBIGUITY (Cd by Sonig)
As Mouse On Mars spread their warm tones of glitchy electronica on
their tour, around the States, Japan and Europe, they are joined by
Vert, who is signed on Mouse On Mars’ own Sonig label. In his
suitcase, Adam Butler a.k.a. Vert has nine releases stretching back
to the mid-nineties. As the music of his ninth release – “Nine types
of ambiguity” – bounces into my ears, associations towards Mouse On
Mars’s 1997-album “Autoditacker” slowly appear. Not that “Nine types
of ambiguity” could be accused for being just another copy of the two
galactic mice. But the complex multi-layered sound textures somehow
do seem to be a common denominator between the two German acts. The
distorted rhythms and the chilling melodies on “Nine types of
ambiguity” are created in a jazz-funky sphere not far away from
4Hero’s “Jacob’s Optical Stairway”-project. Another characteristic
element of Adam Butler’s universe is the use of processed acoustic
sounds. Like for instance on the excellent track called “Last night
from a bus I saw”, opening with distorted piano-samples, soon after
being overwhelmed by a wash of noise, only to give way for processed
harmonica-samples. According to Sonig Label, electronic music is
“like a free horse running wild”. In that case, Mr. Butler definitely
knows how to ride it on this – his first proper full length. (NMP)
Address: www.sonig.com
DEAFNESS IS NOT A GIFT (CD by Deafborn)
DEISON – DIRTY BLIND VORTEX (CD by Crionic Mind)
Harsh industrial noise is jolly fun to make. In case you have never
done that, try it. It doesn’t require many skills or fancy equipment,
but the enthusiasm make it good for everyone. Here is a compilation
of enthusiastic noise makers from around the globe. Names I seen and
heard before (Macronympha, Death Squad, Government Alpha, Grunt,
Anemone Tube) are along here with bands like Irikarah, Cazzodio,
Narbenerde, and more. No less then sixteen present their howling
synth cum feedback orgies, shortwaves and metal percussion, like
there was never Merzbow, Whitehouse, Ramleh or what was there in
those early days. There isn’t the slightest sense of humour around
(were are the children of Nurse With Wound in this scene?) which
doesn’t make this very easy to digest, but I am sure it will find
it’s way to the youngsters who can’t afford buying the originals on
Ebay (and why should they? were those really good?). No subsitute,
but todays noise.
Of related interest might be the CD by Deison from Italy. He presents
us twelve pieces, some of which uses sound materials from others,
like Sshe Retina Stimulans, RHY Yau and remixes by Lasse Marhaug and
S. Isabella. Although this falls also in the categories of noise
(using synths, shortwave, metal), this seems to be put together with
a little bit more care. Not just the noise flood, but small changes,
interruptions, drones and an overall, of course, dark atmosphere that
is as bleak and black as the cover artwork. But overall I thought
this was a rather good release, and might be a good example for the
aforementioned youngsters. (FdW)
Address: www.deafborn.de
Address: www.crionicmind.org
DJ SCUD/PHTHALOCYANINE – CONNECTED SERIES NO.1 (12″ by Klangkrieg)
From the always scenes in Berlin the first 12″ in the connected
series. Not necessarily connected in styles with overlappes, but more
in attitudes. On this four track 12″, each remixes a track of the
other and supply their own track. DJ Scud likes the speed and
aggressiveness in music and supplies a fast track when it comes to
remixing Phthalocyanine and a rather aggressive, beatless track of
their own. Phthalocyanine on the other hand splices the rhythms of DJ
Scud into a more breakbeat piece and add some of their own drum
patterns. Chaotic and crazy that I hardly see the crowd moving their
legs, but what the fuck? ‘Heinous 45’ comes more in that direction
and is a more straight forward rhythm piece, which is more dancefloor
accesible. (FdW)
Address: www.klangkrieg-produktionen.de
ALEJANDRA & AERON/QT? (split 12″ by Fat Cat)
Another split record by Fat Cat , the thirteen in this series.
Alejandra & Aeron might be known as the founders behind the Lucky
Kitchen label. All of the work I heard by these two have a certain
cozyness, odd as it may sound for two people using laptops. Maybe
it’s the story that surrounds their recording. Take for instance this
18 minute piece on their side of this vinyl. It’s called ‘Kitchen’
and uses recordings made in various kitchens, including grandma
singing. All of these sounds are then fed through the computer, but
still capture the warmth felt in grandma’s kitchen. Alejandra and
Aeron know very well how to capture filmic qualities of sound on
tape. Great hoerspiel.
The other side takes us to a totally different world, the world of
noise via laptop, plug in and VST. Nine short pieces of total
computer mayhem by a Japanese artist under the name of QT?. He
presents us some very noisy, very clicky sounds. Nice stuff, but a
bit worn out for my taste. (FdW)
Address: www.fat-cat.co.uk