VITAL WEEKLY 28 Week 7 Number 28 SYLLYK/KOJI MARUTANI -OTHER-WISE (CD by Digital Narcis) Digital Narcis is a new Japanese label, and it's owner is Marutani. This is second published work, his first being a contribution to Mesmer Variations. Syllyk one has a good memory may be known from a CD for Musica Maxima Magnetica some years ago. Both artists use extensive field recordings on this CD, Syllyk from a relation of Man and the Environment, Marutani from a more plain interest in just surrounding sound. All 5 of the tracks are multi-layered collages of sound. One may expect from a Japanese artist to use noise, but this is not really the case. Only in 'Scenes 2' there is some feedback used, but treated in a very subtle way. Syllyk in this form appeals more to me then the previous CD for MMM: the sound and composition are much clearer, and are kept away from the gothic/industrial stuff from a few years back. The music itself is not very easy to listen, as there is happening a lot in there, so one has to keep a concentrated listening session. But if one cares to do so, one will not be disappointed. A very good CD. Address: fax: + 81 6 321 3792 IMPACT TEST -STANLEY BODEAN (CD by Decibel) One of the revelations of the Throbbing Gristle tribute CD from a couple issues comes a long with a new CD, that has one track 'Stanley Bodean' and clocks in at over 36 minutes. According to the cover 'hums, creaks, voice, whirr, rumble and clatter' are used by Darren en Karl. I have no idea what or who this Stanley Bodean is, but this is some crazy stuff. The CD opens with drones, which slowly develop with radio/short-wave sound, some background text. It is quite industrial... there is even a drill used (which sounds like one, as the sound is very untreated)... but without the harsh overtones. It is more rough edged, then plain noisy. This is an interesting, dark, mysterious release, which I'm quite pleased about. Address: STEVE ROACH -THE MAGNIFICENT VOID (CD by Fathom) Borders are there to be crossed. A few years ago I would have said about Roach's music some unfriendly things, referring to weak synthesizer blurring... but the coming of 'ambient' brought some minds closer to each other, so Roach's music got a) more well-know in other areas and b) got more appreciated. A 'void' is nothing, empty and silent. However do not expect some extended version of John Cage's '4"33' , but a relatively dark toned synthesizer epos, in which all tracks some to flow over into each other. I have some problems with the concept behind this, as I don't see the relation of the keyword 'void' can be expressed by anything, let alone a synthesizer. Aside of all that, this is quite o.k. for late night/dark room listening. Address: Fathom - P.O. Box 31321 - San Francisco, CA 94131 - USA MINIMAL SUNRISE/LIVE SET DUB PROJECT (LP by Oxalis) The label dedicated to release split LP's only, with 'any kind of deviant/spacy/atmospherical/experience music. The Live Set Dub Project is side project of SF 23, whom I know of his CD he made with Unit Moebius for Bunker. This is less harsh techno, but goes indeed into the Dub area. Rhythms rollover each other, get reverbed or echoed, are set into different places of the stereo spectrum, so all aspects of dub music are there. But this quite rough edged (the live aspect?), which makes it even more exciting. Minimal Sunrise is also into rhythmical stuff, but goes into acid, techno and the last track on his side, even touches industrial fields. Unlike the two previous LF's by Oxalis, these two sides fit together. Address: fax: + 33 1 47-4084-06 AIRLOCK Already a lot has been said about the relation of house (and related forms of dance music) and avant-garde, and how these apparent different music styles meet in a shimmy dark cross-over world. We received a delightful parcel, containing 3 records by a new German label, Airlock. These three records are definitely house music styled. Black covers with a hole in the middle, and the total lack of information. Drive In 01 (as the catalogue number is) has nothing but etched in the end groove the fact that this is Drive In 01 and the label's address. All four of the tracks seem like processed feedback, which we vaguely remember of Arcane Device, yet not as harsh, but more soft and very cyclical. Synths (or feedback) loop all the time, sound effects, like echo and reverb, are added, and give this a kind of groove, yet: danceable? Absolutely not. Drive In 02, The Pounding, is in similar vein, yet more synthesizer oriented. The six tracks slowly built up around loops and it is again not danceable. The monotone rhythm is more like industrial, but without it's harsh overtones. Drive In 03 is by Stylish Trash and 'X-Perts', the a-side opens with female vocals, sampled and looped. The rhythm track underneath shows a great interest in jungle music with its hectic changes. The other side, 'Soul Minded' is also built around rhythm, but now it stays more steady, not jungle like. This side more in darker territory. In all, if you are either bored with main stream dance music or mainstream avant- garde and you like to have something more adventurous, then this label is worth checking out. Address: Airlock -P.O.box 110342 64218 Darmstadt -Germany MAGAZINES Eskhatos Number 2 features in-depth interviews with Lustmord, Lull, Glod and has an extended review section which is well written. The first 220 copies have a 7" by Mourning Cloak, who are also featured with an interview. Address: Eskhatos@ix.netcom.com Liquid Lave Number 8 is a French written, small, magazine on house and techno. Featured are Total Eclipse, Frankie Fultz, Daniel Bell. This issue comes with a flexi disc by 202 Excited, who are performing 'Song For The Siren', which is a nice techno piece with a weird break of middle eastern music. Address: 73 Rue De L'abbe Groult -75015 Paris -France Glasnost Number 45, is a well printed booklet about 'mystical music' .For me too much on gothic stuff, but the interview with Asmus Tietchens is great, since it is not just about his music. Also featured are Hum Projimo and Contrastate. Furthermore it contains reviews and a catalogue of the Glasnost mail-order. Written in German. Address: fax: + 49 40 7685726 Vital Weekly is published by Frans de Waard and submitted for free to anybody with an e-mail address. If you don't wish to receive this, then let us know. Any feedback is welcome . Forward to your allies. Snail mail: Frans de Waard -P.O.Box 11453 -1001 GL Amsterdam -The Netherlands All written by Frans de Waard.