KADURA – FROM THE DEPTHS OF OUTER SPACE (CD by Charnel Music)
Debut from a Japanese psychedlic rock group. There is not much to tell
here, other that besides the traditional rock instruments, Kadura also uses
Double Reed Horns and Nepal Bells. All of these tracks are pretty long (as
is common with this type of music), filled with pounding drums, wordless
vocals (or maybe it’s Japanese – in either way, not much of a clue for me)
which reminded a bit of Haino and tons of fuzzy, feedbacky guitars. The
production is drenched in reverb, which adds the obligatory space needed –
so as some Vital Weekly writers would with the right substances a damm fine
release. But even without I found this quite an interesting listening
session. Even when I fulminated against rock with vocals stuff before I
quite dig this. (FdW)
Address: <http://www.charnel.com>
BRAAXTAAL – SPEECHLOS (CD by Kontrans)
Braaxtaal is just one of the many projects from Jaap Blonk – the guy that
uses his throat to make some extraordinary music. Solo reciting dada sound
poems, with also with various musicians in various combinations. Here he
teams up with Rob Daenen on synthesizer and Theo Bodewes on various drums
things. The title piece which opens the CD is n exciting improv piece –
hauting and captivating. Filmic and like a direct blow on the face. And
this is only the start of the CD. All 11 tracks are an eclectic mix of
improvised music, popmusic, soundpoetry, jazz but all in full speed. This
CD is not the result of an improv happening somewhere but of composing and
excellent producing! I am speechless! (FdW)
Address: <wbk@xs4all.nl>
F.R.U.I.T.S – ELECTROSTATIK (CD by Exotica)
MOON FAR AWAY – LADO WORLD (CD by Exotica)
K.U.STREET SPRING – SOFT (CD by Exotica)
Three CD’s from Russia. Music from non western countries (Japan excluded)
always sound either outdated or not fully ‘there’ (meaning the grasp the
idea of a music style, but never is it). Or so it seems. These three come
from Moscow and all deal, one way or the other, with electronic music.
Exotica is an electronica label that brought us Species Of Fishes before –
who have some fame in the west already.
F.R.U.I.T.S. dwels on the minimal rhythmical side of the spectrum – with
track titles like ‘Blue Panasonic’ and ‘Sahkodelik In Red’ you should know
in which direction this lies. Rhythms are in full stereo and out of sync.
Anti dance for the random beat generation. Copy cats for sure, but as I may
have written before, sometimes the copy cats are not bad. In fact some of
these pieces are quite good, such as the ‘Sahkodelik In Red’ and
‘Suomimatrix’.
Moon Far Away is entirely a different cup of tea. A sort of etho ambient
with female vocals – the sort that Hyperium releases to stay on the hip
music scene. Probably in its sort not really bad – but not for my liking.
One way or the other there is too much popmusic involved.
A bit on the popside is also the third one, but more trip hoppy. This again
hints at dreamy music, like ‘Schells (sic) Of Ancient Seas’. The kind of
late night laidback listening. This one appealed more to me: the production
sounded better, the compositions more interesting.
The verdict is that also in Russia musicians are into new developments of
electronic music, and that even though they listen carefully to other
music, they maintain to have something that is definetely their own and
something exotic.
Address: fax: + 095-9558225
SKETCH – ABEYANCE (2CD by Mold)
Wow what a package: on beautiful recycled paper, full colour printed
enveloppe with cards and booklet (all with an organic/geographic
reference). But what about the music inside? Sketch apperentely had
releases before on R&S/Apollo, which I didn’t know because I’m not a
dedicated follower of that label and operate, to put things bluntly, in
ambient dance areas. The two CD’s seem to fall apart in two distinct
styles. One is more the up-tempo rhythmic one and the other has tracks that
are more… organic. These flow around simple sound sources, but are, for
me at least, more deep and mysterious. The dancy CD was less interesting,
even though I hasten to admit well entertaining. Both these CD’s do not
contain a new insight on either ambient or dance music – they seem to
operate where a lot of the ambienists left the development a few years
before the next hype came in. Oh well – entertainment is o.k. (FdW)
Address: <thboe@online.no>
EVAN PARKER / LAWRENCE CASSERLEY – SOLAR WIND CD Touch TO:35
Evan Parker is a famous saxophone player who is around for quite some time
already. He has been playing with a number of different people, mostly in
the improvised music areas. On this CD he is working together with Lawrence
Casserley who is taking care of all the signal processing (effects). It has
been recorded at STEIM in Amsterdam, january this year. Evan Parker is a
briljant musician who is capable of producing the most beautiful sounds.
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that they are made with a saxophone. And
after processing they sound even less recognizable as such. The result is a
quite “relaxed” CD with six tracks which are very nice to listen to. Long
delay times, lots of dynamics, drones and other piercing stuff. For me it’s
the sound of wind in all its various aspects, from a windy afternoon breeze
to a thunderous storm. (RM)
Address: <touch@touch.demon.co.uk>
Correction:
In last week’s review I said that the ‘Door & Sigh’ piece was by Pierre
Schaeffer, but it’s the other Pierre – Henry. Thanks Pita for being a
carefull reader!