IMPERIAL MUSIC XVI
It's February. And as we topple toward the end of the world, it's nice to be distracted every now and again. Martin Küchen is here to provide with "Imperial Music XVI", an etudé belonging to the series of the same name, recorded exclusively for Bagatellen last fall, and some might call it a bitch. It's a beautiful piece, and I choose not to refer to Martin's choice of delivery as "extended techniques", a term that has come to suggest the importance of materials over process. Küchen's unqiue voice in this area is a dialect that can't be pinned to a map. "Imperial Music XVI" is played on alto saxophone: multiphonics are employed in such a way that air, harmonics and short, percussive strokes result in their own bastardized chords and a tribal feel that can't be mistaken.
Recorded by Andreas Berthling at Fylkingen, Stockholm. Two microphones captured the saxophone. No edits, cuts, or overdubs. Our warm thanks to Martin and Andreas for their time and the product of their energy.
martin küchen, imperial music xvi
Posted by al on February 7, 2006 6:13 PMVery nice piece. Bravo!
Posted by: walto at February 8, 2006 7:12 AMKüchen is the shit.
A Broken Glass, baby
Posted by: Michael Schaumann at February 8, 2006 9:47 AMVery cool. The first thing that sprang to my limited-frame-of-reference mind was Lee Konitz playing like Evan Parker.
Posted by: derek at February 8, 2006 1:42 PMFine piece! The first thing that sprang to mind referentially for me was Andean pipes...
Posted by: Jesse at February 8, 2006 4:20 PMYes, splendid stuff Martin.
Posted by: Dan Warburton at February 8, 2006 10:07 PMLee Konitz playing Evan Parker on the Andean pipes, maybe.
Were the two mics panned in the mix to give certain sounds a specific stereo position? There seemed to be a lot of bouncing from left to right speaker (unless my PC's speakers are on the blink).
Posted by: matt at February 9, 2006 1:15 AMI suspect that's part of the master plan.. maybe Martin can enlighten us!
Posted by: Dan Warburton at February 9, 2006 7:02 AMAs I understand there is this "bouncing" , simply because this pressured air is running back and forth through almost the whole of the saxophone and the two mics picked up what they could of that, positioned as they were; one almost by the bell and the other more close to the upper part of the cone - there was no post -panoration made in the mix, and actually there was no mix, just a little change regarding the db(up) in the mastering was done.
Haven't been able to .listen. yet, but I just recently got the two Exploding Customer albums on Ayler Records and love the Glenn Miller concert already. I'm sure I'll love the Tampere just as much as soon as I can listen to it.
Posted by: Mwanji at February 10, 2006 2:32 AMThis piece is absolutely beautiful.
Posted by: Alexander at February 10, 2006 8:39 PMWhat a pleasant surprise!!
Posted by: Captain Hate at February 11, 2006 8:35 AMTotally awesome.
It's interesting that, although it's completely acoustic and with no production tricks, to hear this played live would be a completely different experience, since there wouldn't be the panning effect discussed above.
Posted by: mwanji at February 11, 2006 9:25 AMthere would if you sat very very close to his saxophone :)
Or if it were mic'd as is and sent to a PA.
Posted by: jpmf at February 11, 2006 5:47 PMThis was fun!
Posted by: Oscar Elfstrand at February 13, 2006 5:04 AMMartin ! I love you !
Posted by: Ingar Zach at February 14, 2006 9:21 AMmartin, l love you more!
Posted by: antboy at February 14, 2006 9:51 AMAww, you soppy fuckers! Save the kisses for the wife!
Posted by: Dan Warburton at February 14, 2006 10:04 AMthe word Kuchen in arabic means rough and Martin has nothing to do with that, after watching your solo in Beirut i knew that i was hearing one of the most unique voices on this instrument , thanx martin for this beautiful piece. raed
Posted by: raed yassin at February 18, 2006 5:26 AMWow. Unbelievably impressive. I can't even imagine how all of this comes out of the saxophone. Amazing. Is it just me, or is this a substantial breakthrough on the instrument? I have heard it approached in many ways, but this is ENTIRELY new to me.
Posted by: cary ralston at February 23, 2006 2:12 PMexcuse my ignorance but the link to the mp3 seems to be broken. is this a limited edition download?
Posted by: Ian at May 17, 2006 10:39 AMyeah, they're limited releases, normally just a month.
Posted by: jf at May 17, 2006 4:53 PM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................