\ / | ----- /\ | \ / |== |== | / | \ / Week 42 \ / | | / \ | \ /\ / | | |/ | \ / Number 196 \/ | | / \ |--- \/ \/ |__ |__ |\ |__ | contents: ETANT DONNES WITH MICHAEL GIRA - OFFENBARUNG UND UNTERGANG (CD by DSA) JONATHAN COLECLOUGH & ANDREW CHALK - SUMAC (CD by ICR) CHARLEMAGNE PALESTINE - SCHLINGEN-BLÄNGEN (CD by Newworld) PAPA BOA - TETE A QUEUE M.F.COTE - COMPIL ZOUAVE (CD's by Ambiances Magnetiques) NOISE KILLS PUNK DEAD (Compilation CD on Opulence! Records) THE SCOTT FARKUS AFFAIR - SORROWS LEARN TO SWIM (CD on Opulemce! Records) MIL MULLIGANS - CAUGHT IN THEIR TYEETH (CD on Corn Chopper Records) RETRO-A.K.A. - SYNAESTHESIA (CD on Korm Plastics Introductionary Paperbacks) KAPOTTE MUZIEK - 5IVE (CD-R on Bake Records) plus announcements ETANT DONNES WITH MICHAEL GIRA - OFFENBARUNG UND UNTERGANG (CD by DSA) Another new CD by two French brothers with yet another celebrity, Michael Gira. Formerly known as The Swans and currently as Angels Of Light. Also involved (not on front cover however) are Mark Cunningham (of Mars and Raeo) and Saba Komossa (from the group Delkom). They perform a poem here, which was written by one Georg Trakl. The only thing I know of this writer is that he was born in Salzburg in 1887 and died during the first World War (in 1914). That's what is written in the bio, but nothing of the sort of things he wrote etc. Maybe that's in the booklet, since the package has space for a booklet, but my copy doesn't have it. I assumed it would be no problem, since I understand a little bit of German. I was wrong. It's not that Gira's German is badly pronounced (it sounded more like American speaking Austrian to me), but my attention got quickly lost - even when I tried to follow the lines of the poem. I guess I am not fit for this. Quickly I start to regard the voice as an instrument, equal to all the other sounds used. I am sure this is not a valid way of 'consuming' this, but it's a valid way of listening and appreciating this for myself. So all romantic talk about war, destruction and revelation are lost on me. Having said that, I do think this is a very enjoyable CD for what I make of it: beautiful music that fits well a text that I may not completely grasp (but hey do you understand every word of an opera?) (FdW) Address: JONATHAN COLECLOUGH & ANDREW CHALK - SUMAC (CD by ICR) Of course I keep forgetting what I already reviewed in the pages before, but according to the press-thing that comes with this CD, I wrote some nice words about it before. About a year ago, I wrote about the LP version that it's one of my favorite pieces of dark drone music from last year (I do remember I was late getting a copy). That LP had one side and lasted maybe 20 to 25 minutes. Maybe I wrote something that said 'this should be on CD', or something similar, but who on earth could have realized it would be this massive: 71 minutes! Of gorgeous long tones, waving flutes sounds and earthly rumblings. This kinda like a particular blend of the softer Organum, think 'Ikon' or 'Submission'. Hauntingly beautiful. Oh yes, some remarks to this release. It's limited to 500, which is 300 more then the original LP, and its the first release on Colin Potter's label in many years and the first CD on his label. Let's hope he will be re-issuing some of his old tapes (in particular 'Intergration' compilation). (FdW) Address: ICR - The Watertower - Cop Lane - Penwortham, Preston PR1 0SR - UK CHARLEMAGNE PALESTINE - SCHLINGEN-BLÄNGEN (CD by Newworld) Good ol' pal Palestine may need no introduction. The forgotten son of minimalism is back, through excellent CD's on Barooni and concerts (with his grand piano, organs or with tech minimalists Pan Sonic). Many of the works released are in fact older works - works that had been shelved for whatever reason. 'Schlingen-Blängen' is no exception. It has been a work in progress for many years and was premiered in Holland in 1979 and recorded almost 10 years after in the same small church in Holland. The Holland trio is not completed, because, au contraire to what one may have expected, its not released by Barooni, but by the US New World, again 10 years after. The work is a 71 minute drone of clustering organ sounds. The booklet says something like 'that it is hard to describe because so little happens in it', which is true for the fact that it's indeed hard to describe, but I found that a lot is happening. Sometimes small changes, but some appear to be radical too. This is one of those works were I know people say 'ah, you press a few pedals down and the whole machine sets itself to work', but then again they might say the very same thing for paintings by Yves Klein or Barnett Newman. But that's of course not the issue here and arguments like those should be ignored. The simplicity of works like 'Schlingen-Blängen' defies indeed descriptions. Pure minimalism at it's very very fine best. (FdW) Address: PAPA BOA - TETE A QUEUE M.F.COTE - COMPIL ZOUAVE (CD's by Ambiances Magnetiques) An impressive debut by a new band from Montreal: Papa Boa. Four musicians Bernard Falaise, Remi Leclerc, Frederic Roverselli and Pierre Labbe assisted by seven other musicians present 12 songs that are very wild and hybrid. All band members are new to me, except Remi Leclerc, who is known for his participation in Miriodor, making a kind of Canterbury-styled music. The music of Papa Boa originated from a process where improvisation and composing techniques go hand in hand. Although of this complex process the music sounds very direct and raw. Rock 'primitivism' and improvisation make a perfect explosive mixture. The result is a very up-to-date kind of 'rock music' that is very enjoyful, sometimes reminding of Etron Fou Leloublan. Must be great fun to see them live! One of the seven collaborators on this release is M.F.Cote, who is responsible for another release by Ambiances Magnetiques. Cote plays drums and live electronics. He is composer and improviser. All these qualities can be enjoyed on this solo-album 'Compil Zouave'. Cote composed for dance, theatre and film. He is known for his work in the Bruire ensemble. He is also a first-generation member of the Ambiances Magnetiques collective. His compositions on this solo-effort are played by an ensemble of 20 musicians, Pierre Bastien and Martrin Tetreault among others. It is difficult to find out what kind of game Cote is playing here. Very humorous music, no boring persiflage's. Here is played with much musical wit with the music of Miles Davis, Chet Baker, reggae, eastern music, etc. Fake jazz, semi-jazz Call it how you like. Deconstruction may be a good name for the way Cote uses the music of Baker and others. Inventive and original where you wonder it comes from. It gives a new and very interesting light as to how reinterpret already existing music. (DM) Address: www.cam.org/~dame_cd NOISE KILLS PUNK DEAD (Compilation CD on Opulence! Records) THE SCOTT FARKUS AFFAIR - SORROWS LEARN TO SWIM (CD on Opulemce! Records) MIL MULLIGANS - CAUGHT IN THEIR TYEETH (CD on Corn Chopper Records) Well, after a long lasting onslaught of emails, I have finally received these promos for reviewing. So, I'll start with the compilation, which features (let me get this right now) 67 bands of diverse origins, although most are from the States, some from Japan and some from other countries. Most of the tracks can be seen as noise, not so much the hardcore stuff, but rather the kind of trashy late night home recording or live taped things. There's also some more experimental stuff here, but most of it seems to be in its infancy. Aside from the chickens and the burping there are actually some interesting pieces on this CD. But you have to search for them! The Scott Farkus Affair is a rock band with firm roots in the traditional rock idiom. I don't know a lot about this kind of music, but it reminds me of the Chilli Peppers and Nirvana and so on. Nothing new. The epilepsy warning on the disc of Mil Mulliganos makes no sense whatsoever to me, since they listened very well to the Police, the Pixies and bands like that. So who should be warned? (MR) Address: www.opulence.net RETRO-A.K.A. - SYNAESTHESIA (CD on Korm Plastics Introductionary Paperbacks) This is a short release (35 min.) with 9 tracks, that starts with the least interesting track of all nine. So don't stop after the first one! Just too many FX and not enough real suspense. Track two, however, is sort of heavy microwave stuff and very well done indeed (except for the 909 kick, maybe). Track three is a short and pretty rude electronic noise piece, followed by four, which is more atmospheric and builds up quite a good tension with long and drony sounds. To complete the circle, it ends with the sounds from the beginning. Number five is a dark affair with a low bass and rumbling sounds and some high twitching. All builds up to a strong tension and is then cut off, leaving the high sounds trailing. Track six is pretty rhythmic track, with a shifting emphasis and changing tones. Rather short and not the best one. The same goes for track seven, which lacks real tension. Track eight is a short one again, consisting of heavy cutups. Very nice indeed. The last one has some really interesting samples, accompanied by a faraway drone and fluttering sounds. A pretty moody affair, but sensitive and well composed. This is definitely my favorite. All in all not a bad debut, but as far as I am concerned, still a little too dependent on FCC for the sound and not always strong enough in composition.(MR) Address: www.staalplaat.com KAPOTTE MUZIEK - 5IVE (CD-R on Bake Records) This CD-R by Kapotte Muziek is a studio work by Frans de Waard, originally intended for another label, but never released there. The five tracks date from 1997 and could be regarded as 'industrial ambient' or something. All are about ten minutes long and feature the one and only MS20 (and maybe even some other synths?). The pieces build up slowly and shift between the different layers that are used, creating a sound that is for a large part built up by overtones. This resonation has a somewhat mesmerizing effect: put it on, start looking out of the window and you don't realize that 50 minutes have passed, once it's over. Weird actually: music that you're not really supposed to listen to. Still, I enjoyed it. Maybe this stuff can be used in modern esoteric therapies?(MR) Address: www.staalplaat.com 1. from: Jonathan@minya98.freeserve.co.uk Rising Sun Arts Centre, 30 Silver Street, Reading, UK. Saturday 30 Oct at 8.30 pm: 'Out of the Ether' £5/4 Otherworldly performance and sound, conjured from nowhere by theremin, trawled from dreams by computer. Dance, sounds, words and music, including 'A Buzzing in my Spirits ear' in collaboration with poets Jane Draycott and Leslie Saunders, and Harry Dawes' multi-media piece 'Theatre of the theremin.' with: * Harry Dawes (theremin, electronics & visuals) * Jonathan Coleclough (computer sound) and Geoff Sawers (lettering) * Pandaemonium Theatre. followed by... Sat 30 Oct at midnight 'Night calls' £2 Michael Prime (sound manipulation). A late night sound piece concocted from the sounds of the day. Michael Prime uses the sounds around us (including plants, traffic and plumbing) as a starting point for his manipulations. Lie back on a cushioned floor and dream. 2. From: Stephan Martin HiHo... hard to believe, but our organization XHPONOZON exists since 5 years ! For that reason we will have a big party: 12 november 1999 E-Werk Erlangen - videos from our festivals - photos - live performances - record stands and more... For detailed informations contact: fon: +49(0)9180.3288 email: stephan@xhponozon.com 3. From: mit The Nursery in cooperation with Kulturhuset presents Mutation(2), an event with experimental music ranging from improv., performance, abstract beats to electronica and ambient hardcore. MUTATION(2) Saturday 30th October .14.00 - 22.00 Kulturhuset, Hörsalen. Vån 3. Stockholm Sweden. Livemusic, Installations, Bar, Performance, Dj´s, 0-Budget/experimentfilm…...... performing: Stock, Hausen & Walkman (UK) Scratchaholics (Sthlm) En Halvkokt i Folie (Sthlm) Dror Feiler (Sthlm) Tonefilm (Höör) Nils Edvardsson Rock Out (Sthlm) Department of Experimental Health (Skåne) Seamonster 1 (Huskvarna) Ates (Västkusten) EON Dans/Performance, Guillermo Allende, Ulrika Wedin, Susanne Berggren & Sub-Renegade The Dreammachine, Installation by Josefine Hinders. DJ’s film/video etcetera. info.: mitek@radiolink.net | http://www.csd.uu.se/~s95ksj/nursery3/ 4. from planetart@wxs.nl PLANETART presents REAL-AUDIO'99 Electronic audio-art festival sat. october 30 1999 16.00 - 04.00 hrs ATAK Noorderhagen 12 Enschede NL. non-stop noise, performances, installations, DJ's, VJ's, Planetart # 3 CD-release with audio from participants EC8OR (D.) HERMIT (CH) NOTO (D.) SIGNAL (D.) KOHN (B.) HYWARE FCKN'BSTRDS DJ HARDNOISE DJ OVERDOSIS JUNGLE ASSOCIATION OF AUTONOMOUS ASTRONAUTS GERT JAN PRINS C-MEN VJ'S THE HATERS (US.) 'T KOST GELD VERHALLEN / WITTE DEDIER SMIRNOV REBEL ASSAULT STROBOKOP VEGAPORNSHOW PLANETART Foundation TEL+ 31 74 2916352 / +31 6 55 830311 5. From: RRREAKTION@aol.com THIS MESSAGE IS DESTINED TO ELECTRONIC MUSICIANS ! Launched by french label (Re)Aktion, the Control Z project is open to every electronic musicians in the world, from any styles : experimental music, techno, industrial, acousmatic... The idea is to use the media Internet to make collaborate on a same work many musicians from different countries, without meeting. The principle is simple : if you are an electronic musician interested by taking part in this global project, we will provide you the sounds you'll have to use to build your part. The final aim is to create a single piece, constituted with everyone's contributions. A single track that will be released on CD by (Re)Aktion. More details on the site : http://members.aol.com/controlz2 Please transmit this message to each musicians who may be interested by this project. 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: Vital Weekly/Frans de Waard - P.O.Box 11453 - 1001 GL Amsterdam - The Netherlands All written by Frans de Waard (FdW), The Square Root Of Sub (MP, ), Radboud Mens (RM), Sister Clika (RTH), BAraka[H] (BAR), Howard Stelzer (HS), Heimir Bjorgulfsson (HB), Dolf Mulder (DM), Meelkop Roel (MR), David Cotner (DC), Rene van Peer (RVP), Jos Smolders (IS), Brian Lavelle (BL, ), Gerald Schwartz (GS), Niels Mark Pedersen (NMP), Henry Schneider (SH) This is copyright free publication, except where indicated, in which case permission has to be obtained from the respective author before reprinting any, or all of the desired text. The author has to be credited, and Vital Weekly has to be acknowledged at all times if any texts are used from it. Backissues may be found at: www.staalplaat.com and www.earlabs.org (this one includes a search engine)