UNENTITLED (Compilation CD by These Records)
Compilations seldom give a very good view of what the involved artists stand
for. That’s one reason for buying this CD, since it gives three bands around 20
minutes each to prove their point. On the other hand the three involved are so
well-known that they hardly need an introduction. The CD opens with
zoviet*france’s ‘Eleven Drops’ and this is the most easy piece music on this CD.
For those following the career of zoviet*france know that in the past 3 years
the band switched to making a kind of experimental dance music. This long track
is built around constant drones and cymbals and drums being hit (with added
delay) .Not really dance music altogether but interesting chill out music.
Totally different is Jim O’Rourke. To my knowledge his first studio piece since
his 3″ CD for Metamkine.
This is true electro-acoustic music. It starts out with what sounds as shortwave
and after an abrupt silence, it is built up slowly with acoustic instruments,
such as percussion, clarinets (multi-layered) and piano. The piece end in
drones. Final piece is by The Hafler Trio, who use droning sounds that constant
change, but keep on droning. A strange ending though, it seems like the tape got
wrapped somewhere. This piece is not as ‘ambient’ as some of the other recent
Hafler Trio pieces, so for a change that’s good to hear. In all: a very good
compilation, even though a general theme is lacking and these artists don’t need
no introduction through compilations. Address: These -P.O.Box 4412- London SW8
2XJ -UK
UTOPIAN DIARIES: ANCIENT LIGHTS AND THE BLACK CORE (Complation CD by Sub Rosa)
Yet another compilation with only a few bands, but with a theme. As far as I can
tell this deals with ancient forms of shamanistic rituals and trance music.
Scorn opens the CD with one their excellent dub oriented tracks, that starts out
slowly, but gets in a great dub like groove. I must admit I am not familiar with
Seefeel’s music. but the three
tracks here show some interesting procession on relatively few sound sources.
David Toop recorded some group healing in Venezuela and even given it’s
documentary character it’s an interesting thing to hear. Back to 20th century
drug induced shamans we get to Timothy Leary. His voice was recorded and set to
music by DJ Cheb I Sabbah, and even without noting what he has to say, it is a
nice, soft, maybe even ambient piece of music. An excellent compilation, which
reminded me of the old Touch compilations. Address: Sub Rosa -P.O. Box 808- CM
1000 Brussels -Belgium
CHRISTINA KUBISCH -SECHS SPIEGEL (CD by Edition RZ)
CD’s with recordings of sound installations in general lack the visual element.
After reading the booklet, I can’t exactly tell what Kubisch’ installation was
about. It has some to do with mirrors resonating sound. The whole CD (1 track –
40 minutes) consists of light droning sounds, like non offensive feedback. This
is truly pleasant thing to hear as a music piece in itself. I can imagine that
if this was sold as intelligent ambient, the sales would have been bigger then
it (probably is now) .by being presented as the result of an art presentation,
in one of the most luxurious digipacks I came across. An excellent CD.
Address: Edition RZ -Leibnizstrasse 33 -10625 Berlin -Germany
MICHEAL GIRA -DRAINLAND (CD by Sub Rosa)
When the Swans were popular I was not into them, as I wasn’t into rock music,
and The Swans were, even in all their extremity, a rockband. Yet their
uncompromising approach to music and the business made them into a band that I
like for their attitude. On this solo CD you’ll find 10 songs, intensely sung by
Gira, with guitars, drums and organ sounds. Still not my favourite kind of
music, but as far as I can hear straight from the heart. Address: as above
ITINERAIRE (CD by Selektion)
Not a group, nor a compilation. Because your truly is involved I will not go
into a subjective review, but into an objective description. The project was
started in 1988 by Frans de Waard, who handed out raw material to Asmus
Tietchens. The results were too few to release in any form (LP or CD) , so it
was decided to invite two more people to
continue the processing started by Tietchens. First Achim Wollscheid (SBOTHI)
worked on the material and after Giancarlo Toniutti. After that the same process
was repeated using an object, for graphic material. The whole project was
shelved for some three years, because no label was interested in releasing it
(mainly due to the demand for the cover) . Ultimately Selektion, who used to
release the material by SBOTHI, decided to put it out, but adding also a fifth
person, Bernard Gunter, to the project. On this CD you’ll find the material in
reverse order, starting with Gunter’s ultimate piece to De Waard’s basic sound
material. The cover consists of pictures of the various objects. Both visually
and musically a project of treating acoustic objects into pieces of music and
image. Address: Selektion – Hohenstaufenstr. 8- 60327 Frankfurt – Germany