NOISE MAKER’S FIFES & LUC VAN LIESHOUT – CORPS(E) (2CD by NMT Productions)
An interesting double CD of a collaboration between Noise Maker’ Fifes (who
seems to be reduced to one person, Geert Feytons) and former Tuxedo Moon
member Luc van Lieshout. Disc one has three pieces composed for dances, all
three inspired by more or less violent visual artists: Mapplethorpe,
Caravaggio and Francis Bacon. The first piece starts out with musique
concrete rumblings, including the sound of a xerox machine which fade over
into a jazzy saxophone thing. That seperated pattern is repeated throughout
this piece (taking wild shapes at times). The second piece quickly shapes
into a brass band playing, with joyeus, almost mediaval music, with crowds
cheering. But underneath creeps the dissonance which rises later on, when
drones take over control and distant wind instruments kick in. The third
piece (in collaboartion with Micheal Prime, Emma O’ Bong and former NMF
member Af Ursin) starts out electronically, with various frequency shapes,
but follows the seperated form of the first track. This a strange affair…
it sounds as though Luc van Lieshout and NMF are not working together, but
more seperated, and past various parts together. The result is not bad, but
limps a bit uneasy. Plus there is of course the visual effect which lacks.
Maybe the seperations do make a visual sense, which we do not know.
The second disc has additional recordings, all decomposed by Geert Feytons.
He uses the same soundmaterial as offered on disc one. Indexed as 1 track,
but in 14 parts. The first part for instance takes the entire second track
of disc one, but has a much more droning character, and takes a new shape.
A shape that is closer to the ‘original’ NMF sound. Many of the wind
instruments are drenched with reverb and altered beyond recognition. This
whole piece has a more organic flow than the three pieces on the first
disc. Speaking purely about the listening experience, I’d say the second
disc is more enjoyable then the first one. But many it has to do with the
visual aspect which is altogether absent here. Nevertheless this is a fine
release. (FdW)
Address: <in.flux.skynet.be>
STEVE PETERS – EMANATIOS (CD by OO Discs)
Music created with the use of feedback is not something very new. Be it
ultra loud, like Whitehouse, or soft, such as Arcane Device ‘Also Sprach
Zarathustra’, a lot has already been said in the genre. So the disc offered
by Steve Peters doesn’t be looked upon as something innovative, but that is
altogether maybe not necessary. The ten tracks are of an austere beauty,
each simply envelops before your ears. It creates much more an environment
(these were composed for an exhibition of paintings), then just music. It
could be easily ignored (and maybe that is what is usually done with
feedback) aswell as sawolled by careful listening. This CD could be placed
in minimal sections at your local record dealer, and while there check if
they still have the much underrated ‘Envoi In Cumin’ by Arcane Device and
you’ll find striking similarities. Sound designed to fill spaces. Beautiful
sound. (FdW)
Address: <cellioo5@aol.com>
DARREN BROWN – NONFICTION (CD)
Former member of Boy Dirt Car and Impact Test releases now under his own
name. And a true step forward. Gone are the days of the rock format, and
welcome are the wastelands of drones. Three relatively long pieces and they
circle around a vast amount of drones, played on guitars, samples and
keyboards. There is a lo-fi edged rawness to be found in here, an uneasy
and unsettling atmoosphere. Maybe the atmosphere of reality, nonfiction. In
the title piece there is a sudden outburst of a riot, with its dark tone an
frigthing piece, even without knowing what the riot is about. Brown
continues with his music, where we had to say goodbye to Eric Lunde, as
there are some striking similarities. No wonder perhaps, since Eric was
also a member of Boy Dirt Car. A true compelling release. (FdW)
Address: 3292 Wedgewood Loop – Coeur D’Alene, Idaho 83815 – USA