TEAR CEREMONY – RESIN (CD by Simulacra)
The first release on their own label, but certainly a band with a history.
The 11 pieces to be found this CD show their skill in producing a fine
piece of ambient music. Synth washes play an important part, but added are
fine slices of feedback, waterpots and flutes. Also radio sounds have been
added, such as in ‘Prague Frequency’, which gives it an unsetlling
atmosphere. Each composition is genuinely different then the one before,
thus creating a varying CD. Slowly unfolding patterns and textures form the
core of each track around which it happens. Points of reference are no
doubt: TUU, Vidna Obmana, A Produce. (FdW)
Address: <simulacra1@aol.com>
TWILIGHT CIRCUS – BIN SHAKER DUB (CD by MRecords)
You are no doubt aware that Twilight Circus is the solo outing by Legendary
Pink Dots/Download bassplayer Ryan Moore. If you except the same kind of
thing here, then you are all wrong. His solo interest lies in creating
heavy laid-back dub/reggea music. This third CD is a genuine step forward.
More dark, less reggea, more dub, more experiment and fitting the modern
digi-dub scene. If this was on Incoming it would sell more, and if it was
Zion Train he’d play more live out there. But he’s not of all that, so he
needs some very warm support. My favourite this summer. (FdW)
Address: P.O.Box 488 – 6500 AL Nijmegen – The Netherlands
NEW ORDER – VIDEO 568 (12″ by Touch)
How daring! In many ways a controversial release. This piece by New Order,
clocking in at over 22 minutes, was recorded in the early eighties at the
opening of the now closed Hacienda club. To followers of New Orders, and
among them you’ll find me, a missing link recording. When ‘Blue Monday’ was
released in 1984 I was as shocked as I was puzzled. As a genuine lover of
everything coming from the Factory Records stable, I felt betrayed by the
disco song of New Order, but admitting at the same time liking it a lot.
Basically this long live piece is what came just before ‘Blue Monday’: a
long pulsing rhythm and the boys and girl having a good time on synths,
syn-drums, echoes and reverb. Quite psychedelic, and probably more fun then
thrroughly composed, but in its energetic feel an authentic document.
One step beyond is the short track on the b-side, which was recorded when
the Order was another division. One of the few instrumental pieces, that
sounds frigthenly up to date… and adding probably more controversy to the
whole packaging… (FdW)
Address: <touch@touch.demon.co.uk>
GLOBUS AND DECIBEL (CD by Freedom In A Vacuum)
Freedom In A Vacuum seems to be specialising in releasing compilations.
Sometimes with live material recorded at their annual festival, but also
more thematic in a approach. The four presented on this disc can easily be
classified as ‘veterans’ in experimental music. All four have a hugh
catalogue of recorded works, dating back to the early 80s. Who are they?
The CD opens with Brume, who is, as usual, afraid of silence. His collages
are cramned with sounds, popping in and out, left and right.
Edward Ka-spel, who helps carrying the sales this CD probably, comes up
with the 1995 version of an old song that found it’s way before to The
Legendary Pink Dots cassettes and Ka-spel solo material: Atomic Roses. Part
1 is mainly vocal, ending is psychedelic guitar blurr. The second part is
more introvert and intense. Edward still remains one of the better people
in combing pop song format with experiments.
Jorg Thomasius remains rather unknown, despite his work being better
available now. His pieces are based around electronica and sampler and have
a certain, never disapointing, quality.
Stylus is a young band of veterans: Randy Greif, Jeph Jerman and R. Kitsch.
Like on their recentely released first CD, they bring on steady dark drone,
and add a nice flavour of pseudo ethnic percussion.
In all a good compilation where artists have lenghty pieces to show case
their music. (FdW)
Address: P.O.Box 862 – Stn F., Toronto, ON – M4y 2N7 – Canada
TREVOR WISHART – MENAGERIE (CD by Paradigm)
Another fine work on a small label with eyes open for interesting
historical material. Trevor Wishart is somebody who I am not very familiar
with, other then he being part of mid-seventies improv bands and being
acustomed with Scratch Orchestra and the like. This CD has three parts. The
first are 10 pieces, as a total entitled Menagerie. Wishart asked
performance artists to built small assemblages to which he made sound
pieces. Sometimes there is an obvious relation between sound and image. For
instance ‘Spam Guitar’ (a box of strings) is accompagnied by loosely played
guitar sounds. Others are more open interpretations (or maybe it is not
clear from the images in the booklet). Most of these sounds are
electronically generated and sounds not at all as if recorded in 1975. Some
of this is quite violent stuff.
The second part of the CD is ‘Beach Singularity’. A whole bunch of wind
instruments come unannounced at the beach and play well-known pieces of
popular music, but add a twist of taped electronic sound and improv music.
Strange collage stuff is the result. But being not a big fan of this kind
of stuff, the full 20 minutes is a bit too much.
The last part is the most recent recording to be found this disc, a 10
minute vocal improvisation in the best Henri Chopin or dada tradition.
Essential historical stuff of recent musical history that is luckily being
preserved. (FdW)
Address: fax: + 44 171 609 1754
AUBE – STARRED GLEAM (CD by Iris Light)
AUBE – AQUA SYNDROME (CD by Manifold)
That happens during holiday periods: you can’t keep up with Aube. But I
recommend these two. I said it before: Aube is at his best when doing
ambient stuff, of course in his industrialized manner. Starred Gleam uses
the sound of a glow lamp and the five pieces are drony in character with in
some tracks high pitched sound stutterings. The best pieces are the opening
and closing track of this CD, each perfectely showing the skills of Aube.
Aqua Syndrome implies the source material: water. Again five lengthy
pieces, but here the variation is a bit gone. Most of these tracks are
build around drony loops and pulses. Nevertheless way better then his noise
stuff. Aqua Syndome has also a price winning package which is all
transparant with blue fluid stuff inside the plastic. Edition of 300 only
available from the label directly. (FdW)
Address: Iris Light: <kinoeye@irislight.demon.co.uk>
Address: Manifold: <manifold@manifoldrecords.com>
MINION – THE CRASH SESSION (CD by Silver Recordings)
I keep supporting this label of fine acid/techno music – no matter if you
don’t care. Minion (not to be confused with the early 80s experimental
Dutch rock band) is a collaboration between one guy of Unit Moebius
andStarfish Pool. Their lenghty dance tracks show a definite interest in
using ultra minimal dubby sound effects in the mix. Some of these tracks
are maybe a bit too long for home-listening, but will be dance floor hits
(but blah blah is not on vinyl etc.)
Unit Moebius deliver their second CD for KK and some call Unit Moebius
anarcho-punk-techno. I really can’t say… most of the tracks are as groovy
and as minimal as they can be. Minimal acid techno at their best. (FdW)
Address: <silver@net4all.be>
Address: <kknz@kkrecords.be>