David Tibet: Announces Roadburn Line-Up
David Tibet of Current 93 has provided details on the program of the final night of the Roadburn Festival, which he has been asked to curate. "I am delighted and ecstatic to announce the full line-up of the artists playing at the day I was invited to curate at the Roadburn”, David Tibet exclaimed, “Appearing at the show will be: ÆTHENOR, BABY DEE, CURRENT 93 RICKIE LEE JONES, and SKITLIV." All projects appear to have been first choice for Tibet, with the sole exception of Skitliv, a new project by Mayhem vocalist Maniac and Shining's front man Niklas Kvarforth on guitar and backing vocals, which filled in the void left by OM – who had to pull out after their drummer Chris Hakius left the band. To Skitliv frontman Maniac, the request to appear at the Roadburn was an extremely pleasant surprise: “I can't even begin to describe what taking part in David Tibet's special day at the Roadburn Festival means to me. I can genuinely say that I have admired David and Current 93 for many, many years, and the idea of working with them has been a long held dream. (...) Performing in that line up will be an honour. Watching them perform will be one of my life's great pleasures."
Xavier de Maistre: The Piano should have been a Harp
French Harpist Xavier de Maistre has completed an album of works by Claude Debussy as the first installment of his relationship with Sony BMG Masterworks. The announcement comes only two months after he signed with the major record company in the first place – another sign of confidence the label has invested in the harp, after bringing Catrin Finch to the fore in the year 2003. “NUIT D’ÉTOILES” is a collection of Debussy-piano originals, almost all transcribed for the harp by Xavier de Maistre himself. The repertoire includes some of the composer’s most famous pieces, including “Two Arabesques” and “Clair de lune” from his “Suite Bergamasque”. Xavier de Maistre will also be accompanied by guest star Diana Damrau on some tracks, turning “NUIT D’ÉTOILES” into a meeting of two bright new stars from the label roster. De Maistre stressed that, in his opinion, quite a lot of Debussy’s piano music might originally have been created with the Harp in mind.
Daniel Menche: Names "Glass Forest" his last CD
American sound artist Daniel Menche has let it be known that his long-awaited, often-delayed and regularly asked-for album „Glass Forest“ is now finally being released on Important Records – and that it will be his last CD ever. „It's been on my discography for two years and still it is not out“, Daniel Menche stated almost exactly a year ago, when talking about „Glass Forest“, „The original label that was going to release it is having financial difficulties (...). Glass Forest is a very strange and different recording. Massively layered sounds vibrating all over the place. Almost drone - almost drums but really neither. Very organic and lively sound. Neither can you sleep to it nor can you run with it. Another creature of mine that is alive on its own ready to run into your skull and plant some trees in there....or something like that.““Glass Forest“ will constitute a work in its own right, but also acts as a companion release to „Body Melt“, also out in Important Records. The label concurred with Daniel Menche's bipolar characterisation of the record: „Glass Forest displays a glistening sound world that finely textured with the most delicate of raw organic sound and chaotic electronic noise. Not at all extreme as with Menches previous work but rather a more subtle presence can be heard here on Glass Forest.“
William Basinski: Enters the same "River" twice
William Basinski has announced the re-release of his early 80s-work „The River“ on his own imprint 2062 Music. Originally published on German label Raster-Noton, „The River“ had been out of print for many years, haunting blogs and magazines as a classic and working up growing demand. Now, William Basinski has remastered the original tapes for a perfect take at „one of his favourite pieces“. „The River is the culmination of my shortwavemusic experiments“, William Basinski elucidated in his announcement, „a 90 minute meditation recorded live with microphones in the studio at music laboratories in Brooklyn in 1982. All of the material on the loops came from the airwaves, so this was my experiment in recording 'the music of the spheres'.“ The result was a dark and ominous, yet somehow consoling and atmospheric composition, which stretched out over two CDs and kept returning to a haunting motive glowing on top like a nightly rainbow. Anyone who enjoyed listening to „Shortwave Music“, another recent re-issue, will love „The River“, even though its more secluded and monomoodal approach requires concentrated listening throughout. Quick movers will be rewarded, as William Basinski promised: „I will sign the first 100 copies ordered!“
John Cage & Hans Otte: Orient meets Occident on Live Disc
A musical meeting of two composers, seminally influential on the sound of the piano in the 20th century, is now available through German label Wergo. „Orient Occident“ features works by John Cage and Hans Otte, both mainstays of the new music scene on two different continents and in different positions. The CD features eight of John Cage's Piano sonatas, his „Interlude #1“ and „Gemini“, juxtaposing them with excerpts from Hans Otte's „Book of Sounds“ and „Book of Hours“. Performed by Philipp Vandré on „regular“ piano and Elmar Schrammel on a prepared model, „Orient Occident“ was conceptualised by Ingo Ahmels – a close friend of Hans Otte and the man behind the multimedia project „Hans Otte: Klang der Klänge (Sound of Sounds)”. In that book/CD/DVD combination, Ingo Ahmels portrayed the composer and tireless organisor shortly before his death. To coincide with his 80th birthday, he also set up a concert to bring together Otte and some of his influences on the same night. That concert is now the basis to „Orient Occident“ which Wergo aptly calls „a quiet hommage“.
Carl Stone: Debut reissued, Guelaguetza in Austin
American Electro-Acoustic composer Carl Stone has informed us about his busy schedule over the upcoming months. Plenty of good news are included, as Stone's album „Al-Noor“ (Intone, 2007) is still garnering impressive sales and iTunes customers being granted the pleasure of downloading a free bonus track to that record over at the Intone site. And then Stone's long out of print debut from the early 80s is making a comeback: „I'm happy to announce the reissue of my first recording, Woo Lae Oak, which originally came out as an LP on the Wizard label (curated by Joan La Barbara) in 1983.“ Carl Stone reported, „Forced Exposure has called this reissue a "stunning drone work, rescued from oblivion, and an absolute minimalism classic." Unseen Worlds in Austin is the label that has put it out. This release was remastered for CD, with original artwork and new accompanying notes by Phill Niblock.“ „Woo Lae Oak“ is already available in either digital or physical form. The Austin connection,meanwhile, is proving to be a fruitful one, as Carl Stone is preparing for a moutwatering performance at the Austin Museum of Digital Arts.
Funk D'Void: Reveals his Influences on „SCI.FI. HI.FI Vol. 4“
Lars Sandberg aka Funk D'Void is joining a league of illustrous acts by presenting the next volume of Soma Records' „SCI.FI. HI.FI“ series. Originally born in Scotland and now residing in Barcelona, Spain, Lars Sandberg has been a steady member of the Soma Records' crew since he released his first 12 inch „Jack me Off“ with them twelve years ago. After publishing his third full-length, „Speed Freak“ in 2004, he is now back with a Dub-infused mix which presents his own work as a remixer alongside artists like Ski Oakenful, Artec, Alex Moran and King Britt. Even though Sandberg mainly focusses on other people's tracks for „SCI.FI. HI.FI Vol. 4“, the album has a warm and pulsating vibe to it not dissimilar of his own music. Alex Moran's „Earth Women are Easy“ is dubby and dreamy, „Joe Mull's „Klangfarben“ spaced-out and krauty, while the Francois Dubois treatment of Dirt Crew's „Deep“ takes things into House-territory. All in all, „SCI.FI. HI.FI Vol. 4“ is is a drifting collection which displays all the skills which have caused others to call Funk D'Void "a true music connoisseur, a partyman and a DJ's DJ.“ Lars Sandberg has also been referred to as „One of the finest, sonically trustworthy and consistent selectors on the planet."
Murray Perahia: Bach Partitas with a steady hand
Pianist Murray Perahia has recuperated from renewed problems with his hand and returns with a new recording of pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach – the composer whom he famously turned to when it looked like he would never be able to play the Piano again in the early 90s. 14th of March will see the release of „Bach – Partitas 2, 3 & 4“ in Germany, with the rest of the world undoubtedly to follow soon. Pre-Press voices have been filled with enthusiasm with freely distributed and ever-critical publication „Rondo“ awarding it the highest score possible and calling this interpretation by Murray Perahia a recording of „almost philosophical seriousness and a hard to beat plasticity“. Taped at the Nalepa studios in Berlin, „Bach – Partitas 2, 3 & 4“ marks the comeback of one of the most widely applauded Bach-specialist to the limelight: Murray Perahia has not visited a studio for four years and not recorded Bach in six.
Hobnox: Festival for Music & Media heading for the big Finale
German club Tresor will host the Hobnox Festival, Germany's competitive event for creative culture with an urban twist. On 28th February, one project from each of the three categories will be awarded an „artistic development package“ worth 25.000 Euros. For the past months, artists from the fields of music, movies and „urban culture“ have fought for votes on the Hobnox website to make it into the top three and for a trip to Berlin on the night of the finals. After the public has decided, a jury will cast a „professional“ ballot with regards to the performances and screenings at the Hobnox Festival. Members include directors like Hans Weingartner, journalists like Davide Bortot (editor-in-chief of Europe's biggest HipHop magazine „Juice“) and London-based „street artist“ Dave the Chimp. What makes the award stand out from many comparable efforts is its commitment to truly supporting their artists, instead of simply tranfering the money to their bank accounts. Even though the winners are assured of being granted the stately sum mentioned above, they need to present a proposition to the Hobnox organisors of how they want to spend it – to finance a record production in the category of „music“ for example, or to cover costs for postproduction to a movie.
M.A.N.D.Y: Subtle Butt Shaking on "Fabric 38"
While currently spending time on the frosty island of Iceland, German producers Patrick Bodem and Philipp Jung have released an album as part of the prestigious series of mix-CDs courtesy of London's Fabric Club. Hailing from Berlin, the duo (working under the „M.A.N.D.Y“ moniker) presents a 25-track mash-up of some of their favourite tunes and their own work. The track list of „Fabric 38“ includes pioneering classics such as Yello's „Banana to the Beat“, relaxed but insistent minimalism like Toni Rios' „Chorizo“and the ominous analog stabs and vocoder messages of the M.A.N.D.Y track „Don't stop“ (which, of course, stops this full-length at its end). Thanks to its many cross-references, the CD can be understood as a trip into the personal history of Patrick Bodem and Philipp Jung: On „City Tales“, they revisit the days in which they got in contact with Booka Shade (the most succesful project among many of Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier) and the inclusion of DJ T's „The Dawn“ is a salute to the man who helped them to a resident spot at the Monza Club. Fabric Records openly voiced their enthusiasm about „Fabric 38“ in their extensive pre-release press release, stressing its eclectic and surprising character: „A thrilling portrayal of M.A.N.D.Y.'s sound, the effervescent mix moves in directions most unexpected, and grooves in ways previously unimagined.“
Balmorhea: Take their shoes to Rivers Arms
After its American birth in February, electro-acoustic voyagers Balmorhea (pronounced „Bal-Mor-Ay“ according to their own website) are preparing for the European release of their second album „Rivers Arms“ on 4th of March. The follow-up to their self-realised eponymous debut, „Rivers Arms“ sees the former duo of Rob Lowe and Michael Muller (now enhanced by Cellist Erin Lance and Bassist Jacob Glenn-Levin) continue their journey in a similar direction: Brittle dabbers of piano, broken banjo- and guitar chords penetrated by soft drones and interspersed with the occasional field recording set the controls for a world of harmony, tenderness and associations. The two tracks which Balmorhea have made available on their MySpace site, „San Solomon“ and „Limmat“, indicate that they may actually have treaded even softer on „Rivers Arms“, with the two tracks rising to sweet emotional hights, before coming to a gradual halt in seemingly endless fade-outs. „Rivers Arms“ is released on Western Vinyl Records, also hailing from their home of Austin, Texas.
Robert Schroeder: Returns to his "D.MO" days
One of the key figures of German Electronic music, Robert Schröder, has opened his vaults for a second time. „D.MO Vol. 2“ contains yet more tracks from his archives, covering the period between 1980 and 1983 and returning to the very first years of his career. „D.MO Vol. 2“ contains a total of 70 minutes of previously unreleased music all based on his recognisable style of groovy analog sequencer patterns, tender and hypnotic chord progressions and circling melodies. Both sides of the work of Robert Schröder are coming to the fore on this collection: While a piece like „SpringTime“ displays his sensitive, almost naive side, the floating beats of „Analogue Vibes“ are of a dark and dreamy nature, „cosmic“ in the best sense of the word and with both feet firmly on the ground: Even though he has regularly spilt his guts on the detrimental influence of Djs on the music scene (something he has now come to terms with), Robert Schröder's music has always had a rhythmic foundation, which set him apart from the often more clinical and cerebral outings of some of his compatriots – and which even saw one of his tracks being launched as a Vinyl single intended for Discos in the 80s. „D.MO Vol. 2“ (on Spheric Music) now revisits these times on eleven compositions and is both a present for the „fans of the old days“ and for anyone interested in a representative summary of his early years.
KRAAK Festival 2008: Avantgarde and Boogie meet at church
After nine editions away from the big city lights, Belgium's internationally loved event for unconventional music, KRAAK, is moving to the country's capital in its celebratory season. The KRAAK Festival 2008 will feature styles like classical avant-garde, improv, skiffle, weird punk, (weird) boogie rock, boogie punk and a hearty dose of guitar-driven music. The purposely leftfield character of the artists implies almost by default that the surprise element will be huge – from the sizeable line-up, only Sean Meehan has popped up on our radar before, the Silver Apples had their moment of fame in the 90s with their electrified pop harmonies and then of course, it hadn't slipped out attention that Marshall Allen was a long-time companion to Sun Ra. Other than that, the KRAAK Festival site does a great job at briefly introducing the artists and building up anticipation in advance of the event, which is due to take place on 1st of March at the Recyclart and only a stone’s throw away in arts centre Les Brigittines. As the organisors put it: „A desecrated music club and a renovated church, that’s just what we need!“
Lang Lang & Rolando Villazon: Merchandise for real fans
Some time ago, people might have cracked jokes at the mere thought of it, but now it has turned into a reality: Universal Music, home to some of the most pretigious classical labels, is selling classical merchandising off its homepage in Germany. From now on, afficionados of classical music can show their support for their favourite artists just like any pop- or rockfan. Ladies can proudly sport their Lang Lang girlie shirts, their boyfriends can chill out wearing Rolando Villazon T's, protect themselves using the Deutsche Grammophon umbrella in times of rain or place their aching „derriere“ on a cushion carrying the DG logo after a long night at the opera. The Deutsche Grammophon is also offering a leather-clad organisor to remind its owner of upcoming concert visits (as the website informs us, there are only few copies left, so place your order quickly!).
Al Margolis & Denman Maroney: Interpretations at the Roulette table
Sound artist and productive force of the NY underground Al Margolis and „Hyperpianist“ Denman Maroney are inviting the initiated and the curious to an evening of new music – in the true sense of the word. On 13th of March, the two will perform new works at the Roulette (the self-declared home of experimental music) as part of the „Inventions series“. On the occasion, Al Margolis will be accompanied by an ensemble of friends, all of which are loosely clustered around the labels he either single-handedly manages or helps to run: Pogus, Mutable Music, XI Records and Mutable Music. The cast will include Al Margolis himself (manipulating prerecorded sounds and sampling), Lisa Barnard on vocals, trombonist Monique Buzzarté (who is about to release new material of her own on Deep Listening very soon), Tom Hamilton contributing electronics and Jacqueline Martelle on flute. The music will meet the video work by Katherine Liberovskaya, whose previous collaborational partners have included Phil Niblock among others. Denman Maroney (pictured) will perform a solo concert, but his „hyperrealist“ technique implies that he will sound like a small-scale orchestra nonetheless.
Partner sites
