NOISE FACTORY 2 (CD by Stein Sein)
There is an interesting concept behind Noise Factory: an annual workshop in
which 16 musicians take part during 10 days. In five small studio’s they
work on new pieces together, some of which end up on a CD. The cover says
‘the best tracks’. Let’s see. NF Entrance harks around arpegiated synth
and a tinkling piano thing, being filled with weird sounds. In some tracks
the boys (it seems no girls involved) seem more then on the first edition,
to explore the sampler, like in ‘Maintain’ or ‘So Oder So’. And were it
does, there is less improv and more music involved. Take a track called
‘Triphop’: carefully bult from a sampled rhythm with in sync along – not
the next 12″ for Mo Wax, but vaguely grasps the idea of tiphop as a sort of
mind expanding music (and hey did someone bring a Rapoon CD or bring his
own tabla?). Overall I must say this Noise Factory has indeed good tracks
and in general comes off better then the first one. Although I admit at the
same time, I liked the cover artwork of the first one better… (FdW)
Address: Fax: + 49 40 487620
FRANCOIS TETAZ – THE MOTIONLESS WORLD OF TIME BETWEEN OR THE DRUNKEN
TAXICAB OF ABSOLUTE REALITY (CD by Dorobo)
The name Tetaz pops up on many Dorobo releases – either as a co-composer or
technician. Here he presents 4 long pieces for Behaviour Part 6: Square
Dance. Part 1 opens with something that is like an opened microphone in
front of window with a noisy street far away. You expect any load of noise
to drop in – but it doesn’t happen. It gradually fades over in track 2 and
there is a high picthed tone and an odd crackling surfacing and that piece
ends with something that could easily by by Oval or Mego. The high pitches
take over control with more cracklings, but not for long as dark tones wave
in again. Gradually more regular synths come in and the piece looses abit
of it’s powerful nature. In the last 8 minutes of the thrid piece there is
a randomness involved that makes it kinda structureless. But that’s only
this one section, as the fourth piece is again in dark mood. The music as
captured on this CD could easily be classified as a dark Mego release, or a
raw Trente Oiseaux one. But it’s not, it’s great listening music from
downunder. (FdW)
Address: <dorobo@werple.net.au>
KYBORG – SWING (12″ by Rastermusic)
The second slab of vinyl on Rastermusic and the second these boys. To
translate the title of their first ‘Laufwerk’ I would say ‘mechanism’, but
one that needs oil to give a less stuttering rhythm. But it’s probably part
of the trick. The second on the first side is a bit normal techno/acid
thing, but I’m not sure if we a floor-filler here. The 15 minute
‘Electrosex’ on the b-side is a more minimal techno affair, and is along
Basic Channel lines – less their fuzzyness. The last one is an attempt at
electro-pop music. O.k. (FdW)
Address: www.rastermusic.com
ANGELS OF LIFE IN A PSYCHIC WASTELAND (CD by Eerie Materials)
The sound of P.C. – no no not the personal computer but political
correctness. Eerie Materials figt their way in life for the freedom of
Mumia Abu-Jamal, and mention a whole bunch of webpages of animal liberators
and taoist anarchists. The whole thing is an eclectic view on music, euh
sorry noise. That’s what the cover states – but for me it is music. It’s
captured on a carrier thhat can hold sound – enough reason to call it
music. And the a-capella voices of Charming Hostess can’t be no standards
be classified as noise. There is a fair portion of sampler oriented
madness, for instance initiators Kingdom Scum or Stock, Hausen & Walkman,
but there is also a vast amount of guitars to be found here, something in a
noise setting, but also punk or folk music. And that’s what makes this into
a very nice compilation: the folky punk element of bands like Transkaakko
or Suonihiuksisto are not everyday inside my digital entertainer (except
for those I find myself in nostalgia playing the total The Ex backcatalog).
I am sure a good cause is celebrated – but I don’t care about politics in
music. Great CD. (FdW)
Address: http://www2.sbbs.se/hp/eerie
DANIEL MENCHE – FIELD OF SKIN (CD by Soleilmoon)
The latest offering by Mr. Menche shows a firm step in a new direction. I
might be mistaken, but it seems as though Menche moves into the field of
thick drony sounds (to avoid the dreaded ambient word). The title of the CD
is it’s programm. The skin (human) is the operating field of Daniel. He
rubs contactmicrophones over his body, which is sometimes covered by dirt
or salt. The results are fed through a whole bunch of sound effects, which
are sometimes noisy, but, and here is an example, are less violent. And
this creates a much greater depth in his music. Many of his tracks are
lengthy, but still has not the idea (as with many other so called
industrialists) that it is boring; on the contrary, one is drenched by his
massive and taken right down into the volcano. Menche takes the musique
concrete history to a logic extreme. (FdW)
Address: www.soleilmoon.com