SYLLYK/KOJI MARUTANI -OTHER-WISE (CD by Digital Narcis)
Digital Narcis is a new Japanese label, and it’s owner is Marutani. This is
second published work, his first being a contribution to Mesmer Variations.
Syllyk one has a good memory may be known from a CD for Musica Maxima
Magnetica some years ago. Both artists use extensive field recordings on this CD,
Syllyk from a relation of Man and the Environment, Marutani from a more plain
interest in just surrounding sound. All 5 of the tracks are multi-layered
collages of sound. One may expect from a Japanese artist to use noise, but this
is not really the case. Only in ‘Scenes 2’ there is some feedback used, but
treated in a very subtle way. Syllyk in this form appeals more to me then the
previous CD for MMM: the sound and composition are much clearer, and are kept
away from the gothic/industrial stuff from a few years back. The music itself is
not very easy to listen, as there is happening a lot in there, so one has to keep
a concentrated listening session. But if one cares to do so, one will not be
disappointed. A very good CD. Address: fax: + 81 6 321 3792
IMPACT TEST -STANLEY BODEAN (CD by Decibel)
One of the revelations of the Throbbing Gristle tribute CD from a couple issues
comes a long with a new CD, that has one track ‘Stanley Bodean’ and clocks in at
over 36 minutes. According to the cover ‘hums, creaks, voice, whirr, rumble and
clatter’ are used by Darren en Karl. I have no idea what or who this Stanley
Bodean is, but this is some crazy stuff. The CD opens with drones, which slowly
develop with radio/short-wave sound, some background text. It is quite
industrial… there is even a drill used (which sounds like one, as the sound is
very untreated)… but without the harsh overtones. It is more rough edged, then
plain noisy. This is an interesting, dark, mysterious release, which I’m quite
pleased about. Address: <decibel@earth.execpc.com>
STEVE ROACH -THE MAGNIFICENT VOID (CD by Fathom)
Borders are there to be crossed. A few years ago I would have said about Roach’s
music some unfriendly things, referring to weak synthesizer blurring… but the
coming of ‘ambient’ brought some minds closer to each other, so Roach’s music got
a) more well-know in other areas and b) got more appreciated. A ‘void’ is
nothing, empty and silent. However do not expect some extended version of John
Cage’s ‘4″33’ , but a relatively dark toned synthesizer epos, in which all tracks
some to flow over into each other. I have some problems with the concept behind
this, as I don’t see the relation of the keyword ‘void’ can be expressed by
anything, let alone a synthesizer. Aside of all that, this is quite o.k. for late
night/dark room listening. Address: Fathom – P.O. Box 31321 – San Francisco, CA
94131 – USA
MINIMAL SUNRISE/LIVE SET DUB PROJECT (LP by Oxalis)
The label dedicated to release split LP’s only, with ‘any kind of
deviant/spacy/atmospherical/experience music. The Live Set Dub Project is side
project of SF 23, whom I know of his CD he made with Unit Moebius for Bunker.
This is less harsh techno, but goes indeed into the Dub area. Rhythms rollover
each other, get reverbed or echoed, are set into different places of the stereo
spectrum, so all aspects of dub music are there. But this quite rough edged (the
live aspect?), which makes it even more exciting. Minimal Sunrise is also into
rhythmical stuff, but goes into acid, techno and the last track on his side, even
touches industrial fields. Unlike the two previous LF’s by Oxalis, these two
sides fit together. Address: fax: + 33 1 47-4084-06
AIRLOCK
Already a lot has been said about the relation of house (and related forms of
dance music) and avant-garde, and how these apparent different music styles meet
in a shimmy dark cross-over world. We received a delightful parcel, containing 3
records by a new German label, Airlock. These three records are definitely house
music styled. Black covers with a hole in the middle, and the total lack of
information.
Drive In 01 (as the catalogue number is) has nothing but etched in the end groove
the fact that this is Drive In 01 and the label’s address. All four of the tracks
seem like processed feedback, which we vaguely remember of Arcane Device, yet not
as harsh, but more soft and very cyclical. Synths (or feedback) loop all the
time, sound effects, like echo and reverb, are added, and give this a kind of
groove, yet: danceable? Absolutely not.
Drive In 02, The Pounding, is in similar vein, yet more synthesizer oriented. The
six tracks slowly built up around loops and it is again not danceable. The
monotone rhythm is more like industrial, but without it’s harsh overtones. Drive
In 03 is by Stylish Trash and ‘X-Perts’, the a-side opens with female vocals,
sampled and looped. The rhythm track underneath shows a great interest in jungle
music with its hectic changes. The other side, ‘Soul Minded’ is also built around
rhythm, but now it stays more steady, not jungle like. This side more in darker
territory.
In all, if you are either bored with main stream dance music or mainstream avant-
garde and you like to have something more adventurous, then this label is worth
checking out.
Address: Airlock -P.O.box 110342 64218 Darmstadt -Germany
MAGAZINES
Eskhatos Number 2 features in-depth interviews with Lustmord, Lull, Glod and has
an extended review section which is well written. The first 220 copies have a 7″
by Mourning Cloak, who are also featured with an interview. Address:
Eskhatos@ix.netcom.com Liquid Lave Number 8 is a French written, small, magazine
on house and techno. Featured are Total Eclipse, Frankie Fultz, Daniel Bell. This
issue comes with a flexi disc by 202 Excited, who are performing ‘Song For The
Siren’, which is a nice techno piece with a weird break of middle eastern music.
Address: 73 Rue De L’abbe Groult -75015 Paris -France Glasnost Number 45, is a
well printed booklet about ‘mystical music’ .For me too much on gothic stuff, but
the interview with Asmus Tietchens is great, since it is not just about his
music. Also featured are Hum Projimo and Contrastate. Furthermore it contains
reviews and a catalogue of the Glasnost mail-order. Written in German. Address:
fax: + 49 40 7685726