Mike Svoboda: Phonometrie links Satie to Cage

Trombonist and Composer Mike Svoboda is presenting his personal vision on the work of Erik Satie with the release of his new album “Phonometrie”. The record offers both Svoboda arrangements of Satie-pieces, as well as Svoboda-originals written especially for inclusion in the context of a Satie-project. Eschewing the over-played “hits”, “Phonometrie” was inspired by a remarkable quote from the French enfant terrible: “Everyone will tell you I am not a musician. That is correct. From the beginning of my career I immediately considered myself a phonometrographer. My works are pure phonometry." Mike Svoboda has taken on the challenge of making this claim transparent and to uncover parallels with the work of John Cage and the Dadaist movement. In line with what Satie would probably have enjoyed himself, his own pieces have not been written in a spirit of pleasing, but are providing for necessary contrasts. “Phonometrie” is out now on Wergo.

To realise “Phonometrie”, Mike Svobodoa has called for the assistance of well-established Stefan Hussong and still relatively unknown Anne-May Krüger. While Hussong’s Accordeon has featured on a plethora of albums and by record companies like Mode, Thorofon, Col Legno and (again) Wergo, 1978-born singer Krüger is making her recording debut here. Next to providing vocals, she will also contribute barrel organ, toy piano and melodica – not only adding a youthful touch to the music, but also a timbral depth to its arrangements. A collaboration with broadcaster Deutschlandfunk, “Phonometrie” is still hot and fresh, having been recorded only last year.

Next to his many simultaneous CD projects, Mike Svoboda will soon start teaching "contemporary music projects” at the Hochschule für Musik in Basel, Switzerland.

Homepage: Mike Svoboda
Homepage: Wergo Records
By Tobias Fischer, published 2008-04-03

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