SIGTRYGGUR BERG SIGMARSSON – THIS ONE COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (CD by FIRE.inc)
CORNUCOPIA – “.C.” (CDR by Eco Discos)
V.A. – A CROSS-CULTURAL COMPILATION VOL. 1 (CD by Isofar Vapor Bulk)
KOZO INADA/*0 – B[]/2.7K (CD by V2 Archief)
ERIC ALDEA – SUTORNO O CIPOLLA? (CD by 0101 Music)
HUGH DAVIES – WARMING UP WITH THE ICEMAN (CD by Grob)
ULTRA RED/ANNA PLANETA (split 12″ by Fat Cat)
MAPSTATION – NEW DIRECTION (12″ by Staubgold)
XINLI SUPREME – TOMORROW NEVER COMES (CD by Fat Cat)
DOMOTIC – BY BYE (CD by Active Suspension)
FROG POCKET – CARIC KILS (CD by Mouthmoth)
SIGTRYGGUR BERG SIGMARSSON – THIS ONE COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (CD by FIRE.inc)
Being one of the members of Stilluppsteypa, it is safe to assume that
Sigmarssons background is more than adequate for a solo release. He
presents nine tracks with a total duration of just under fifty
minutes. The first track seems based on organ sounds with a scratchy
loop on top. It takes a while before the subtleties of the piece open
up to the listener, but then it’s certainly rewarding. The second
track starts with high distorted sounds to which slow samples are
added, until there’s a break and the piece seems to really start.
Upon checking I discovered that we’re actually in track three now. It
takes track two more or less as an intro it seems. Similar sounds are
used to create an atmospheric track that has unexpected breaks and
cuts. Track four takes off slowly and gently, with subtle drones and
tones. A desolate ambience becomes clearer throughout the piece, that
grows staggeringly to its full potential. A true beauty. Track five
comes in with a low pulse that desintegrates completely during the
following minutes, leaving only a very soft dark drone. Very minimal
indeed, maybe a little too much. Track six starts in a similar vein,
but changes quite suddenly. Grungy digital sounds are layered into a
dense blanket of sound, that changes it colour slowly and then ends
in a very funny way. Track seven is another more ambient piece with
sliding tones and sounds. Number eight is a short organ piece again.
Track nine again features organ sounds (or so it seems), combined
with hisses and later crackles. A strange atmosphere is present
throught he whole CD, almost desolate, but not entirely, and there is
this certain feel to the music that I am not really able to describe.
Which is a good thing in this case. (MR)
Adress: www.fire-inc.demon.nl
CORNUCOPIA – “.C.” (CDR by Eco Discos)
Cornucopia is the duo of Jorge Castro and Claudio Chea from Puerto
Rico. This release on their own label was made for their European
tour of last year. The packaging is almost nonexistant-a blank cd
with “C.” on it in a clear jewel case. The music is a stark
contrast-rich, thick and at times dense. All of the material is made
from manipulated field recordings, organized in very much a musical
way. The sounds move and groove, especially in the first 10 minutes.
Some of the sources are recognizable, like water and conversations,
while others are processed beyond recognition. The single 36 minute
track crests, then ebbs away and continues on a circular route with
minute and obvious changes, buiding to another
groundswell of sound, and then suddenly dropping for an extended
quieter ending. A rocking 36 minutes of music.
Address: http://www.nullvoid.net/eco/
V.A. – A CROSS-CULTURAL COMPILATION VOL. 1 (CD by Isofar Vapor Bulk)
First of all I have to mention that the real title of this
compilation is unknown to me, because it’s in Cyrillic writing, which
I cannot read. The title above is the subtitle (I think) and seems to
cover the content pretty well. The basic idea for this CD is old:
send sound material around the world and have it (re)mixed by
different artists. In this case the mixes were actually remixed
again, to make matters even more complicated. In any case it’s a
collaboration between Russian composers and other people from around
the world, using the sound archives of Insofar Vapor Bulk from
Moscow. With 80 minutes, this is a long journey into sound with the
following artists: Roughage, Cisfinitum play Maeror Tri, The Haters
feat. Voronovski, Erinys, Streicher, Kallabris, Arkkon/Membranoids,
Leif Elggren/Alexei Borisov, E-Shak MMS, De Farbriek, Kapotte
Muziek/Alexei Borisov, ultra Milkmaids/Alexei Borisov, Cotton Ferox,
Nomuzic, Nocturnal Emissions/Psilocybeast, Vishudda Kali. A long list
of names, some of which go back for more than twenty years. The
strange thing is, that when listening to the whole, it is fairly
impossible to distinguish the ‘old’ ones from the ‘new’ ones. In that
sense the compilation is made well, with a good coherence. Most of
the tracks have a certain industrial feel about them, of course with
some exceptions, and at the same time there is enough variation to
keep the listener interested. My personal feelings about this CD are
a little mixed, because it is not really my genre and because this
music doesn’t directly appeal to me, but it does bring me in a
certain nostalgic modd, which is very nice……You’ll have to judge
for yourself. (MR)
Address: com.eudoramail@eudoramail.com
KOZO INADA/*0 – B[]/2.7K (CD by V2 Archief)
Somehow it seems that Japan keeps sending the most radical music to
the world. Luckily the world likes that, seeing all these Japanese
artists on labels everywhere. Here is a CD with two of Japans younger
generation of music makers. I saw Kozo Inada a couple of times
playing live concert (err that is, from his laptop) and everytime I
was amazed by it. He takes a relative simple course, a strict linear
event, which is taken to it’s extreme and then cut abruptly. His
releases so far (mainly on Staalplaat, Selektion and Digital Narcis)
show however a more complex picture. Inada’s sound is minimal when it
comes to sound input, but maximum when it comes to content. The
opening piece here, b[0], is a 25 minute mind blowing high end piece,
which evolves slowly. Pure sine waves that move (even if you don’t
move your heard), and sound directly inspired by Alvin Lucier. The
abruptcy of his live pieces is absent here. The second piece is
shorter, and reflects more his live set. Going from static high end
stuff slowly to a more mid range field which grows and grows in
intensity, until it cuts out. Play loud here is well recommended.
The other featured artist here is *0, who has some self-released CD
releases in minimalist, transparant covers. He has one piece, of just
under 18 minutes. *0 also deals with high pitched frequencies, but
his piece seems to me a bit less adventurous then Kozo Inada’s work
in this field. It rather stays at a static side of things, without
moving around. Only towards the end the piece seems to open up and
more happens.
This CD comes in a very nice green soft plastic case that I have
never seen before. A remarkable product. (FdW)
Address: www.v2.nl/archief
ERIC ALDEA – SUTORNO O CIPOLLA? (CD by 0101 Music)
Eric Aldea, a musician from France, was a member of bands like Deity
Guns and Bastard. I believe I heard the latter but have really no
idea what they sounded like. Since 1998 Eric produces music for dance
companies which move between electronic and contemporary music. I
believe the seven pieces on this new release are all pieces for
choreographies.
The CD opens with an extract of ‘Violatus’ for sustained drones on
strings and Klezmer like blowings on top. A strange middle eastern
feel breaths life here.
In ‘Kraft’ strings are sustained and seem to be slowly taken over by
electronics. A very minimal piece that is however worked out
beautifully. Only the interruption of a cell phone somewhere half way
through is very annoying… (at least, assuming it is not intended).
‘Nuit Blanche’ (here presented in two parts) is a more electronic
piece, that also deals with repeating patterns but then played on
keyboards. Another excerpt of ‘Kraft’ has more synths and sound a bit
kitschy with it’s strings playing a melodramatic tune. The final two
pieces are not excerpts of anything and the dreamy cello piece which
is just two minutes is very nice. Almost music for a commercial…
Although the final piece opens with electronics, but are taken over
by strings. In all a very nice CD, displaying indeed a nice
cross-over between electronics and contemporary music. Surprising
release! (FdW)
Address: www.0101-music.com
HUGH DAVIES – WARMING UP WITH THE ICEMAN (CD by Grob)
Hugh Davies was an assitent of Karl-Heinz Stockhausen and of
Cornelius Cardew in the 60s. After that he became involved in the
Music Improvisation Company, together with Derek Bailey, Evan Parker
and Jamie Muir. In 1981 he released his first solo LP, and this is
his second solo release… His music is entirely made of self-built
instruments which are not derivations of known ones, but inventions
of his own. Inside the booklet we can see them: strange constructions
with springs, wires, metal which are played with brushes (paint,
tooth) and other percussion elements. The pieces on this CD were
entirely recorded live, without any editing, any other electronics
and any overdubs. A crystal clear sound per instrument, as Davies
mostly plays one thing at a time. Sometimes the sounds jumps back and
forth like we should expect from improvised music, but a piece as
‘Porcupine’ (played on the porcupine) is kinda electronic, as it is
electronics mounted and played by hitting them. A most curious
release that is a fascinating journey through a sound world we don’t
know before. Pure electro-acoustic music. (FdW)
Address: www.churchofgrob.com
ULTRA RED/ANNA PLANETA (split 12″ by Fat Cat)
Much to my surprise I see Anna Planeta release on Fat Cat. I reviewed
their double CD way back in Vital Weekly 189. Anna Planeta consists
of Phil Todd, Dan Bird and Andy Jarvis (which I didn’t knew back
then) and they record in an abandoned Catholic school near Leeds. The
place has to electricity, so everything is recorded with acoustics
and battery powered instruments. There is no subsequent overdubs or
any other post production… Anna Planeta play two lengthy tracks
here of metallic sounding objects set against a backdrop of organ
drones and an occassional pluck on a guitar and a strum on the piano.
Needles to say that the music has an improvised character, but it
creates a nice unsettling atmosphere.
For many the Anna Planeta side will be the surprising b-side of a
record that has Ultra Red on the other side. They are more known, so
they will have to sell the record. Ultra Red deal with political
issues. Here they use samples made at a street protest against the
IMF and the world bank in April 2000. Short spoken word samples
(which content are hard to understand really) are set against a 4/4
beat. The house music part of this release is quite minimal, all the
extra’s of the music come from the crowd noise, speakers and samples
thereof. This makes it, at least for me, into a less interesting
release. The music is quite minimal and the message is what counts, I
guess. (FdW)
Address: www.fat-cat.co.uk
MAPSTATION – NEW DIRECTION (12″ by Staubgold)
Mapstation is Stefan Schneider, of To Rococo Rot and formerly also of
Kreidler, in solo mode. He has released two mini LP’s and one 12″ so
far, and now goes into a new direction with the apptly titled 12″.
Normally Mapstation is an instrumental project, but here the vocals
are from Ras Donovan, a reggae singer from Dominica who has worked
with Joseph Cotton, Dennis Alcapone, Tipa Irie and Errol Dunkley
(sorry, but whoever they are!). A nice laidback reggae rhythm
supports the vocals, and the whole thing reminded me of Basic Channel
and Rhythm & Sound, but all less dense and more open. The acapella
version is also featured here for any adventurous DJs out there,
certainly when you have two copies, so you can spin it with the
instrumental version on the b-side. On that side also a new track,
called ‘Stop’. A minimal song based around pulsations and sparse
melody lines. Less reggae though, so maybe the new direction was only
limited to one new song? The full length which will appear later this
year will tell us more. So far a nice appetizer. (FdW)
Address: www.staubgold.com
XINLI SUPREME – TOMORROW NEVER COMES (CD by Fat Cat)
Some weeks ago I reviewed a 7″ by a Japanese band, Xinlisupreme. I
wasn’t too excited about that, mainly because of the recording
quality. That has been improved a bit for their full length album,
which still finds them in Jesus & Mary Chain cum Merzbow cum My
Bloody Valentine. Huge walls of feedback with grinding drum computer
rhythms and other electronic parts that are incorporated in the mix.
I must say that this music is not really my cup of tea, but the
enduring power of hearing this for over an hour brings some
enthusiasm in me. The lengthyness of some tracks and the variety that
is here (‘Goodbye for all’ and ‘Nameless Song’ are the more quiet
moments found here) create almost a trance feel. So maybe I have to
revise my criticism into mild enthusiasm. (FdW)
Address: www.fat-cat.co.uk
DOMOTIC – BY BYE (CD by Active Suspension)
More popmusic from the Active Suspension label. Behind Domotic we
find one Stephane Laporte, who has released a vinyl only EP on Active
Suspension before. Clueless why he calls his debut CD ‘By Bye’
though. It is by no means the end of his career – I hope. Because
this is a great start. Soft melodies tick away, some spoken word
samples, an occassional hint to Oval or Autechre, but more pop
inspired then we usually find. Melody, and particular that of the
simple yet effective sort is what counts for him. Maybe the great
power of Domotic lies in the fact that he combines the world of
digitalia with the world of analogue sounds. This adds an extra layer
of warmth on these pieces. Each of the eight pieces is warm and nice.
Great stuff, again on Active Suspension. (FdW)
Address: www.activesuspension.org
FROG POCKET – CARIC KILS (CD by Mouthmoth)
Eight new tracks by Frog Pocket, who have had releases before on
Mouthmoth. It seems to me that Frog Pocket moved a little bit more to
using more guitars next to their IDM inspired music. Take for
instance ‘Come On The Arches’ which has a heavy guitar (looped?
sampled? live? who knows?) throughout a very distorted rhythm track.
Not my favourite piece though, but it exemplifies what Frog Pocket
does. The more quieter moments work better, at least they do for me.
The simple ‘Fir Faas’ for instance, with it’s almost baroque sounding
harpiscord and cracked rhythm and ‘My Little Friend’ which sound
almost like taken from a 80s guitar album but pasted with a new
rhythm. Most curious title amongst this pack is of course a piece
called ‘Felix Kubin’, with a folky fiddle and guitar; almost a
traditional so to speak. A very nice one aswell. If you want a
comparison, Frog Pocket comes close to Accelera Deck, who let’s hope
Frog Pocket will get the same name fame. (FdW)
Address: www.mouthmoth.go.to
From: “Eric @ Anomalous Records” <eric@anomalousrecords.com>
Subject: Re: Vital Weekly 310
Address: www.fylkingen.net
This is actually supposed to be:
http://www.fylkingen.se/