RAYMOND DIJKSTRA & MATTHIAS BOSS – ‘Ins Kahle Zimmer Sinken Blaue Firne’ 7″
Those familiar with Amsterdam-based artist Raymond Dijkstra know how charming and mysterious his works are: mostly released on his own Le Souffleur imprint, they come in very limited runs, beautiful packaging with a very distinct style, like they’re from an ancient, albeit unknown century. That same elegant-timeless feel is of course reflected in his music, an extremely personal work usually around the accordion, but also unknown electronics (tapes, echoes?), voice; the feeling is always that of some kind of privilege, to enter the artist’s private room, filled with the smell of opium, crusty wallpaper and taxidermy. Here, Dijkstra is together with violin extraordinaire Matthias Boss from Switzerland, a truly outstanding player mostly known in the European improv scene, who also collaborates with drummer master Marcello Magliocchi. “Ins Kahle Zimmer Sinken Blaue Firne” is a fantastic “chamber” recording from these two masters of the screeching acoustic metal-on-metal. The title evokes the image of an exposed room with compact snow flakes falling in. Violin, organ, fork & spoon are the credited instruments here, blowing ice cold gusts into your room, or face hopefully. Imagine some sort of twisted classical music from a distant century, a gift of pure improv given to us by Dijkstra’s inimitable accordion style and Boss’ dramatic violin, this music has no time, only beauty. 33rpm 7″, comes in a silkscreened reverse cardboard cover. Edition of 100.
PICK-UP – ‘Departure’ CS
Pick-Up is the Dutch duo of Frans de Waard (electronics) and Martin Luiten (resonator guitar). Both are longtime figures in the European experimental music scene since the mid 80’s. Frans de Waard played & toured extensively with numerous groups such as Kapotte Muziek, Beequeen, Goem, Zebra/Wieman, The Tobacconists and Ezdanitoff working a wide range of musical interest, besides working at Staalplaat (1992-2003) and started his own Vital publication in 1986 (now Vital Weekly); Martin started the bands Girlfriends and Uw Hypotheekadvies and now plays with The Julie Mittens. Martin and Frans started their duo Pick-up in 2008 and worked together intensely for about two years. During this period they recorded numerous live sessions of a volatile set up in which Martin plays his resonator guitar and effects, which Frans pick-up on the spot and fed through real-time computer effects. The resulting live recordings were captured on multiple tracks and mixed together for release. Pick-up has released a 3″CDR on My Own Little Label, a LP for Plinkity Plonk and a LP for Important Records. ‘Departure’ is a farewell to that period, departing a particular phase in their history and are the final recordings from that period. Now Pick-up is on hold while trying to think of what would be the next move, as once you investigated a particular method of working, it’s time to move on, as both of them feel. “Departure” is a fine atmospheric work of contemporary experimental music, minimal electronics, sci-fi, hypnotic drones, Fennesz-like lush textures, hypnotic ring mod madness… despite the electronic nature of the music, it never loses its human side, leaving room for blues accents, in fact it seems like the guitar is left raw at times, while the laptop elaborates minimal layers around it and vice versa. Pro-dubbed imprinted clear tapes, with 3-panel full color printed covers, edition of 90.
Ninni Morgia/Silvia Kastel/Ultrillo Kushner – ‘Live At Hemlock, San Francisco’ CS
Live document from the one-off collaboration with ex Comets on Fire drummer Utrillo Kushner. This was the opening show of Control Unit’s US West Coast tour in March-April 2012. Heavy, intense, trippy, most of all, loud. Recorded by Seymour Glass. Numbered edition of 60, orange pro-dubbed tapes which come in a silkscreened plastic box. Includes an insert.