KERBAJ/SEHNAOUI/SEHNAOUI/ZACH – ROUBA3I5 (CD by Al Maslakh)
MAZEN KERBAJ – BRT VRT ZRT KRT (CD by Al Maslakh)
NURSE WITH WOUND – ECHO POEME: SEQUENCE NO 2 (CD by Jnana)
CURRENT 93- HOW I DEVOURED APOCALYPSE BALLOON (CD by Jnana)
ROJO & TACHAN (CD compilation by Nosordo)
ANDERS ILAR – ENKEL (CD by Audio.nl)
RANNISTO – ROTATE (12″ by Audio.nl)
DEDO – AVATAR (CD by Hronir)
VICTOR NUBLA – EMPURIES (CD by Hronir)
SCANNER – 25 (CD by Bette)
BRUCE ARNOLD/TOM HAMILTON – DISKLAIMER (CD by Muse-Eek)
URSEL SCHLICHT/BRUCE ARNOLD – STRING THEORY (CD by Muse-Eek)
CHARLIE CHARLIE – LA RESPIRATION DES SAINTES (3″CD by Antboy Music)
OSCOTARACH (2LP compilation by Deafborn Records)
KEITH BERRY – A STRANGE FEATHER (CDR by Twenty Hertz)
XIPHOID DEMENTIA – EMBALMED IN PURITY (CDR by Existence Establishment)
STICKER CLUB – SONG TIME TWO (3″CDR by No Ground Processes)
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHANGE VS. DANIEL HOPKINS (3″DVD-R by No Ground Processes)
KERBAJ/SEHNAOUI/SEHNAOUI/ZACH – ROUBA3I5 (CD by Al Maslakh)
MAZEN KERBAJ – BRT VRT ZRT KRT (CD by Al Maslakh)
The country of Lebanon doesn’t pop up regularly in these pages, but it did just in Vital Weekly 480, through the reviews of a CD by Franz Hautzinger and Mazen Kerbaj, as-well as a CD recorded in Beirut. From this distance it’s hard to guess to what extend there is any sort of music scene in Lebanon, which would cover the music normally featured in Vital Weekly, but these two releases surely fit very well. The Lebanese word Ruba’i means quartet and it’s a trio of Lebanese musicians and a guest percussionist, hence the name Rouba3i5. Mazen Kerbaj plays trumpet, Christine Sehnaoui on alto saxophone, Sharif Sehnaoui on guitar and the Norwegian Ingar Zach on percussion (on an other occasion Le Quan Ninh was their guest). The two lengthy cuts here were recorded live, with no overdubs or edits. This is something that can be heard, since sometimes it seems that the four of them are searching for the right spot and tension fails here and there. However most of the times, they are on top of things and tension is certainly there. It’s there that they display their qualities as improvisers, and they play somewhere between the modern and old kind of tradition. Their techniques are that of the instruments as objects, although occasional the scraping of the guitar with a bow can be heard. Quite some intense playing going on.
On the same label there is a solo CD of Mazen Kerbaj on his trumpet. On the cover it says ‘no cuts, no overdubbing, no use of electronics’, and especially the latter is hard to believe. In some pieces it seems like Kerbaj is playing his instrument with a fan or some other sort motorized gadget, but it might also be paper or metal objects rubbing and scratching against the trumpet, which give this sort of electronical sound. You could wonder if fifteen tracks, with a total length over fifty minutes is a bit too much, but Kerbaj shows here, more than on his duo CD with Hautzinger, a very talented trumpet player that can easily match the best work of Axel Dörner, and offers plenty of new techniques to play his instrument. Watch him as he conquers the improvisation world. (FdW)
Address: http://www.almaslakh.org
NURSE WITH WOUND – ECHO POEME: SEQUENCE NO 2 (CD by Jnana)
Why spend say 150 words to say about this release what could say in one word. Brilliant! On his brand-new release for Canada’s Jnana records, Steve Stapleton works with voices only, which is, as far as I know, a first for Stapleton. On a single, 45 minute long track he utilizes Amatine Steiner’s and Isabelle Gaborit’s French singing, humming and breathing creating one of his trademark high quality collages of sound. The results are soothing but uncanningly so at the same time. Inspired by the movie Last Year At Marienbad, Alain Resnais’ cult horror flick from 1961, the music would form an instant classic soundtrack to that movie. Again Steve Stapleton proves that, despite his enormous output of music, he is still capable of being an innovator in a field that is too often clouded by shallow computer -treated music. And it comes in a downright eerie cover as well. Essential! (FK)
Address: http://www.jnanarecords.com
CURRENT 93- HOW I DEVOURED APOCALYPSE BALLOON (CD by Jnana)
On 18 and 19 June 2004 Current 93 played their first-ever Canada shows at the suitable setting of the St George the Martyr Anglican Church in Toronto. On the first night (disc one) recent compositions were played, the second night (disc two) featured a radically different performance concentrating on rarely performed Current 93 songs. Centering on David Tibet’s declamation/singing (an acquired taste), Current comprised of Michael Cashmore, John Contreras, Graham Jeffrey and Simon Finn (see the review of his solo album elsewhere). Even though the two shows are different from each other, they share the magical folky atmosphere of Current’s atmospherically correct instrumentation utilizing piano, cello, acoustic guitars and chanting. The cover is rather disappointing; apart from its hideous design, it doesn’t have any pictures of the shows or a track listing. Despite that, the Apocalypse Balloon is a welcome addition to Current’s catalogue and definitely essential for fans. (FK)
Address: http://www.jnanarecords.com
ROJO & TACHAN (CD compilation by Nosordo)
Scandinavians Nosordo label releases this compilation in co-operation with the Spanish magazine Rojo – global village anyone? As far as I can see and hear there isn’t a theme of any kind connected to this CD, so that this is just a well-packed bunch of laptop artists that also like to tinkle on their guitars (‘file under: experimental electronica/electro acoustic/neu folk’). This means that alongside the introspective guitar doodling of Ljudbilden & Piloten, we find Henrik Rylander harsh rhythmic Pan Sonic like grooves. From the rockmusic of Tuk to the glitches of Greg Kowalsky (Osso Bucco) or Conduo Orchestra. From a radioplay set to rhythmic music from DJ Rupture to the more or less serious composed music of Son Of Clay: it’s a true hotchpotch of styles, but they all remain in the world of alternative popmusic, be it with guitars and drums or with laptops. Filled with seventy-seven minutes of music, this is a true guide of what’s going on in the world of less difficult, yet still firmly alternative music. One to get and investigate, and also with Kristine Barrett, Det Svenska Folket, Tsukimono, Kama Aina, Luis Maurette, Cineplexx, The Idealist and Gros. (FdW)
Address: http://www.nosordo.com
ANDERS ILAR – ENKEL (CD by Audio.nl)
RANNISTO – ROTATE (12″ by Audio.nl)
The release ‘Enkel’ by Anders Ilar on Audio.nl comes as a great surprise for me. I’ve heard his previous album on Shitkatapult and, as much as I remember, it was much more ambient oriented than this one. ‘Enkel’ actually joins 2 previously released EPs plus a bonus track, and is quite a lot beat oriented, I wouldn’t say dance (even when sometimes it is very dance-friendly, as in ‘Centimeter’ or ‘Tenfold’), but definitely up-beat in a minimal techno fashion. But I like this sound of Anders Ilar much more compared to the more atmospheric sound on the Shitkatapult album, which didn’t leave such a great impression on me before when I listened to it. Now there are some great darker 4/4 beats, deep and minimal at the same time. I didn’t know Ilar makes these sounds, that’s where the surprise comes from and, as said before, it is a positive surprise. The sound is fully present, which is something I like. Very nice music for relaxing or just listening in these too hot summer days.
Antti Rannisto aka Rannisto is from Finland and is a new name for Audio.nl, a new name for the world even, as they say. He operates in the same or similar, let’s call it – ‘minimal techno for listening’ style. But despite the listening aspect (which these days I like much more), there is also a dance side in this music, as in the second track ‘Rotate 2’ and elsewhere, but djs should be careful with what they’ll mix it. Rannisto’s sound is kind of more transparent, sparse and a bit more dry compared to Anders Ilar. And not so fully present (which is something I don’t like), a kind of basic minimal sound, a bit absent towards the end, nowhere to go. Do I mind? Just a little, but it’s done in the best ways of this kind of music, as Plastikman and such… And as Audio.nl charmingly say: We just love them Scandinavians… But of course we do. (BR)
Address: http://www.audionl.com
DEDO – AVATAR (CD by Hronir)
VICTOR NUBLA – EMPURIES (CD by Hronir)
Two releases from Barcelona, one by the already well-established Victor Nubla and one by Dedo, a group around Victor Nubla and Pau Torres. Together they play sampler, voice, clarinet, organ, guitar, kalimba and computer, and they receive help from various people contributing voices and Guillermo Madrigal on sampler and turntable. This is music that is hard for me to relate to. It’s a bit experimental, especially in the use of rhythms (even at times trip-hop like) and samples, but the clarinet playing on the other hand is a bit folkmusic like, and so is some of the female singing. This odd combination makes this is into a pretty varied CD and that is of course a good thing, but it’s also something that limps on too many feet, without making a decision of which direction to go, more experimental, more folk direction or perhaps more popmusic with traditional spanish music.
For his solo CD, Victor Nubla, he uses a live recording from almost exactly three years ago, July 4th, 2002. ‘The music was created with a portable MCO in room number 3003 at Hotel Riomar, in Sant Marti d’Empuries, Girona, between March 28th and April 2nd’, it says somewhere. I have no idea what a MCO is, I assume some sort of sampler or computer. He samples his sources from radio, even recognizing a Dutch female voice in there, but also classical music and everything is held together with an ongoing rhythm that only sees small changes, which are as minimal and subtle as possible. The thirty-five minutes flow by nicely, but are not excellent. Just fine, sturdy good quality experimental music. (FdW)
Address: http://www.hronir.org
SCANNER – 25 (CD by Bette)
The recent ‘no’ against an European constitution from France and The Netherlands may have put a darker light on the European unity, but last year there was euphoria when the community was extended to twenty-five countries. This deemed a good opportunity for the British Council to commission a new anthem reflecting the new Europe and they asked Scanner to compose one, not to replace the official European anthem (‘Ode To Joy’, by Ludwig Van in case you forgot) but to merge all existing anthems into one. A short and majestic piece, anthem-worthy material. To look serious before the football match or to celebrate official occasions. Also Scanner included some extra, longer versions of his own piece, which breath the same solemnly atmosphere, of which one, ‘Intercontinental’, is the lightest version and even has a marching rhythm. Quite a charming CD for a good thing (if I’m allowed to express a little political view here). (FdW)
Address: http://www.britishcouncil.org/brussels-europa25.htm
BRUCE ARNOLD/TOM HAMILTON – DISKLAIMER (CD by Muse-Eek)
URSEL SCHLICHT/BRUCE ARNOLD – STRING THEORY (CD by Muse-Eek)
Two further releases in the Muse-Eek series of duets and both deal with strings. ‘Disklaimer’ with the strings of Bruce Arnold and the electronics and synths of Tom Hamilton. The latter released ‘London Fix’ on the same label (see Vital Weekly 410), which was quite alright. Arnold not just plays guitar, he also adds super collider to the scene, a difficult piece of music software, me thinks. I am sure Arnold is a most qualified player of computer techniques and so is Tom on his synths, but I had great problems with their duet. The computer and electronic parts are alright, but not the guitar parts. Arnold plays this most of the time with his ebow, feeding it through pretty standard guitar effects, which makes this playing very much old-fashioned, seventies sounding and unfortunately not very imaginative, and what is really unfortunate that the guitar is so very much upfront in the mix most of the time. A tiring affair.
The appearance of the same Bruce Arnold on the other duet CD makes me worrying about the musical content, but luckily this is a much more interesting affair. Ursel Schlicht is a pianist/composer ‘and sometime musical feminist’. The guitar playing is here much more open than on the other one, and so is the balance between the computer treatments, guitar and the more extended piano playing by Schlicht. More than on the other one, the contributions of Schlicht are audible and there is no hierarchy in sound. Although still quite traditional in approach, much nicer than the other one. (FdW)
Address: http://www.muse-eek.com
CHARLIE CHARLIE – LA RESPIRATION DES SAINTES (3″CD by Antboy Music)
Music released by Antboy Music is the corners of hardcore improvisation and the duo of Charlie Charlie is no different. They use pretty low-fi equipment, including walkmans, speakers, dictaphones, radio, objects, microphones and cheap concrete sounds. Charlie Charlie is interested in the ‘deformation of the reality of sound… to create a sound that defies the origins of the materials they use’. In ‘La Respiration Des Saintes’ this results in a heavy, thirteen minute sound collage of sound. Radio sounds swirl in and out of the mix, and there is banging on metal pipes, fences and an outburst on a distortion pedal. Although this is quite an alright piece, it’s a bit too short to say something decent about Charlie Charlie, perhaps other than: why not added a second piece to it and give a better understanding what they are about? Now it’s a pretty noisy version of musique concrete, that should go down well with those who love Merzbow circa ‘Ecobondage’. (FdW)
Address: http://www.antboymusic.com
OSCOTARACH (2LP compilation by Deafborn Records)
Following last week’s release by Spherical Disrupted, now we get a 2LP set with four bands, each sharing a side. The set opens with Spherical Disrupted who does what they also showed on their CD, reviewed last week: dark ambient soundscapes with slight touches of rhythm. The strangest piece is ‘SPH 265 HII’ which sounds like an astray on a metal plate, a pure musique concrete piece that however doesn’t sound too good and doesn’t fit the roster.
Skalpell hail from Zürich and exist since the early 1995 and have produced anything from harsh noise to dark ambient (their previous CD ‘In Between’, reviewed in Vital Weekly 318 was quite loud, but not well received here). The two tracks on this double LP however fall in the category of dark ambient, with dark waves of an ocean-view by night in the first track, whilst the second is a likewise dark, but held together by a minimal rhythm.
The other record starts out with Carsten Vollmer, of whom I know nothing. The six tracks are from scratch – literally. Scratching methods on the computer that is, rather than scratching from vinyl. Most likely he made his source material in Itunes, by sliding up and down the cursor, and builds his tracks from that. Pretty noisy stuff going on here, that is however sometimes too long to hold ones interest. Hidden Technology is likewise unknown to me, but they are active since 1999. They like their music to be ambient, using field recordings. Everything is thrown into the electronic blender, making samples, adding reverb. However they end with shorter samples set to a background which sound like early Lustmord, but then in a digital way. Nice retro sound at that. Not everything on this double set is great, but if you want to invest in discovering new names, then this is a must have. (FdW)
Address: http://www.deafborn.de
KEITH BERRY – A STRANGE FEATHER (CDR by Twenty Hertz)
You have been warned before: Keith Berry is an upcoming name in the world of drone music. This new work (or if you are fast, two works, since the first 100 copies come with a free CDR) follows his releases on Trente Oiseaux, Authorized Version and Crouton Music (see Vital Weekly 416, 450 and 468) and this new one will further strengthen his position in that musical field. Also as noted before, Berry uses field recordings and computer treatments to create his music. Although he may arrive at similar music as say Monos, Ora or Mirror, it differs from them, since Berry’s work exists in the digital domain unlike the others. Whereas they sound much more analogue, Berry uses the digital techniques to arrive at similar results. In that sense he is alike the label-owner of Twenty Hertz, Paul Bradley, who works in a similar way. Over the course of ‘A Strange Feather’, Berry occasional leaps into total silence, with just a single sound stirring everything up again and gliding back into this dark mass of sound, of an unidentifiable nature. The bonus disc is a twenty minute piece, ‘Turn Left A Thousand Feet From Here’ is one long piece of darkness, less refined than ‘A Strange Feather’, more single minded, but setting deeply in your brain. Not with much innovation, but with a great, subtle impact. (FdW)
Address: http://www.twentyhertz.co.uk
XIPHOID DEMENTIA – EMBALMED IN PURITY (CDR by Existence Establishment)
The name Xiphoid Dementia is new to me, and so is it’s creator: Egan Budd. The whole thing looks grim, very dark with all the ‘wrong’ touches: that of a pitch black world in which life is no fun at all. The crowded world of the darker than life industrialists, the world of Cold Meat Industry, Old Europa Cafe (even when both labels are not often present in these pages) and Ant-Zen. So far the complaining, because the musical content may not be a surprising new light on the world of ambient industrial, Xiphoid Dementia executes his stuff with great care. Occasionally he leaps into the mighty world of noise and distortion, but most of the times he covers his sounds with tons and tons of reverb but it evokes the right atmosphere: abandoned industrial sites, post war landscapes and other such imagery that connects with sci-fi movies. And with a length of almost eighty minutes this is almost the length of a soundtrack. Those who love aforementioned labels or seek the right connection between the raw Maeror Tri and the more refined Troum, this might be right up your alley. Limited to 120 copies, in a DVD box with likewise alienated graphics – as said: nothing new under the sun, but nevertheless executed with great care. (FdW)
Address: http://www.existest.org
STICKER CLUB – SONG TIME TWO (3″CDR by No Ground Processes)
THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHANGE VS. DANIEL HOPKINS (3″DVD-R by No Ground Processes)
The man behind Sticker Club is Rory Phillips, who is a DJ ‘at a variety of club nights worldwide’, but mostly at a club called ‘Trash’ in London. He is also a member of a band called Pups, who released a CD on Tomlab. That makes the tunes on Sticker Club’s ‘Song Time Two’ (perhaps his second release?) better to understand, as the tunes could fit very well that label, save may for the fact that the eight short sketch like pieces are maybe a bit too simplistic in approach. Maybe he uses a single groove box and a sound effect or two but that’s it. That may be a bit too easy in approach, but the tunes themselves are captivating enough.
The other new release by No Ground Processes is a neat 3″ DVD-R by video artist Daniel Hopkins and music group The Development Of Change. The latter are an instrumental two piece, guitar and drums, and firmly stay in the areas of post-rock. On ‘Clean Billy’ they play their best tune and Hopkins shows the world as seen outside a car. It’s however images that one saw before. ‘Arch-e’ is less structured, both music and film, and follows more a random idea. Nice but not as good as ‘Clean Billy’. And that’s all folks. Maybe a bit short, but one certainly gets the idea. (FdW)
Address: http://www.noground.co.uk