Longbox
LBT039
I could be wrong, but I have this idea that at least one of this trio appeared on at more than half of the releases I’ve heard over the past year. It certainly seems that way. Not that it’s a complaint as all three have made some fine music recently and “Zurcher Aufnahmen” is another.
The six untitled pieces, to a certain extent, are of a type: long tones manipulated by Kahn (percussion, analog synthesizer) and Korber (guitar, electronics) anchored by Weber’s bass. It’s the latter that’s something of the salient point there. In some recent work in this field, I’ve been picking up the slight whiff of a new tendency, that of using the more traditional sound capacities of acoustic instruments in an eai setting. Kai Fagaschinski’s clarinet is one example; Weber’s bass playing is another. Virtually throughout this recording the bass is quite recognizably a bass, bowed or plucked, and it’s a lush, extremely attractive effect. On the first track, beneath a high haze of electronics and stroked metal, he provides a steady, slow pulse, one that begins to fan out into echoing throbs before melting into deep, arco moans. It’s an approach that’s picked up with some adjustments in the following work, the plucking in a higher register, Kahn softly, rapidly, beating some metal, Korber’s contribution grittier. But the tolling quality of Weber’s bass, attacked with subtly increasing roughness as the piece progresses, is up front. If I have a nit to pick with the release, it might be that there’s a little too much self-similarity in the cuts, though there’s certainly enough variation when listened to closely. Had the disc been titled, “Six Variations”, I wouldn’t have batted an eye. It’s a minor quibble really, as the pieces are almost uniformly strong. They range from about four to nine minutes in length and, choosing a favorite, I’d opt for the longest one, also causing me to think that I’d like to hear this trio stretch out into substantially longer time frames. On this one, driven toward the end by a lovely combination of acoustic and electricdrones, they open a door or two into a far wider space, one I’d love to hear explored.
There’s been a whole lot of good music emanating from Switzerland over the past few years. Here’s some more.
Posted by Brian Olewnick on January 14, 2007 8:17 AMThis, and Adam Sonderberg will confirm if I'm wrong, marks the final release on Longbox, which has been a great label I've followed assiduously since Adam first sent me his early stuff about 5 years ago. It's a great way to go out - but, as you say Brian, we are suffering from Kahn / Korber overdose somewhat in our little corner of the world. I'll have to go back and do some careful relistening before deciding where I'll put this on the list (not that anyone's asking me to choose a top ten), but right now, after two good listens, it sounds very good indeed.
Posted by: Dan Warburton at January 15, 2007 9:00 AMbrian, thanks again for the thoughtful consideration of this publication. we are all quite happy with how it turned out.
dan is correct - i am taking a break from producing records. i will put more energy into curating concerts / events in the chicago area. folks around here are very receptive and the results are more immediate and satisfying. as for the label, all the usual suspects will remain fully stocked with releases and the website will continue to be updated with sound samples and event notices so please check back often.
Mr. Sonderberg, how about getting a paypal cart for this up?
Posted by: damon Smith at January 15, 2007 11:05 AMappologies in advance as i know this is a forum and not an online marketplace.
copies of this release are available from our friends at: erstdist, sound 323, and/OAR, a-musik, and metamkine, amongst others.
the shopping cart at the longbox site is currently down but i can take direct pay pal orders. please email through the site if you're interested.
many thanks.
"we are suffering from Kahn / Korber overdose somewhat in our little corner of the world."
i don't remember having released *that* many records over the last year...
Posted by: tomas at January 15, 2007 3:50 PMNo, but how many is that altogether Tomas? I can count 10 since 2005 and a couple of downloads (talking of which - haha - have yet to hear the Shiflet and Schurer). That's not bad going man! Good records are like good bottles of whisky - you can easily get pig sick if you drink three or fourin quick succession. And my "job" is the musical equivalent of one of those guys who has to review pubs for the Good Beer Guide. Always wondered how you land a job like that, come to think of it.
Posted by: Dan Warburton at January 15, 2007 10:06 PMyou should get your antidote ready then, cause there's a couple more thing coming your way in the next few months...
Posted by: tomas at January 16, 2007 3:16 AMThe only good cure for a hangover is "hair of the dog" - more of the same!
Posted by: Dan Warburton at January 16, 2007 6:13 AMI listened to this three times tonight in between frantically trying to finish writing something (its coming Dan, its coming!) and avoiding silly fights at IHM, and its a very fine piece of music indeed, a nice start to 2007.
Thanks for the disc Adam. As I told you privately recently I think its a big shame that you are taking a break from Longbox, though I do understand your reasons why. Thanks for a nice back catalogue. Well worth investigating if anyone hasn't already done so.
Posted by: Richard Pinnell at January 16, 2007 2:05 PMHO and I think we need lots more Tomas Korber releases very soon :)
Posted by: Richard Pinnell at January 16, 2007 2:07 PMKorber and Weber are badly over-recorded. Let's hope they're not putting anything else out soon, especially not with that Wolfarth guy...
Posted by: will at January 17, 2007 11:59 AMI suspect the above post is a joke and Will is in fact Will Guthrie with tongue pushed far in his cheek :)
Was listening last night to a splendid LP featuring Adam Sonderberg, the split Mouths / Haptic outing on Entr'acte (Mouths = Jon Mueller, Jim Schoenecker, Haptic = Adam, Steven Hess, Jonathan Chen). Well worth hunting out.. have you heard this one Brian, Richard? Right up your alley.
And I suspect it is Will Benton of Formed,with a tongue in cheek reference to the Mersault release that will drop soon.
Posted by: Jesse at January 18, 2007 10:37 PMyeah, thought that was obvious, but in case it wasn't, his name points to his site. coffee time, DW! :)
Posted by: jon abbey at January 18, 2007 10:46 PMMake mine a double espresso Jon! Yeah, well, you know, what with Tomas Korber who became Tomas, or was it TK, and Tadeusz who posts as TADK, forgive me if I can't spend a couple of hours a day trawling around IHM to memorize everyone's pseudonyms! Thought it could have been WG (a Cathnor artiste) posting a little snipe at Richard Pinnell (Cathnor generalissimo), who I believe is also due to release some Korber music before long.. but then I realise that Will G usually posts under the name of Antboy, not that he couldn't have TWO pseudonyms. Awfully confusing, if you ask me; why can't people just provide their real names? If you're afraid of doing so because you want to post something controversial or insulting, send your message to the person privately; if you're not ashamed of standing up and being counted and saying it how you think it is, do so!
Yes, looking forward to more Mersault. Goes very nicely with a bottle of wine of the same name. WELL NOT the same name actually, because that's spelled Meursault, but there's nothing wrong with adding an extra U now and then. Ask Mark Wastell :)
Meanwhile Jon, have you heard the LP I mentioned above? Sweet!
Coffee time kids
warburton: " Haptic outing on Entr'acte (Mouths = Jon Mueller, Jim Schoenecker, Haptic = Adam, Steven Hess, Jonathan Chen)."
dan, it's joseph mills and NOT jon chen on this record. chen is not in haptic but joe has played with him many times in the past. i'll echo abbey by suggesting that coffee first, computer second. : )
very glad you like the record.
Gaaaah, that's it. I'm taking the weekend OFF.
Thanks boys for fact checking. It's important and you should never forget to do it. I suppose next I'll have Mueller telling me Werner Moebius is also featured on Mouths.
"There’s been a whole lot of good music emanating from Switzerland over the past few years."
This is very encourageing, especially coming from such a well respected music demograph, Ollie.
Posted by: uli at January 21, 2007 8:07 AMDW--Was listening last night to a splendid LP featuring Adam Sonderberg, the split Mouths / Haptic outing on Entr'acte (Mouths = Jon Mueller, Jim Schoenecker, Haptic = Adam, Steven Hess, Jonathan Chen). Well worth hunting out.. have you heard this one Brian?
Just received this today...sounding very good so far...
Posted by: Brian Olewnick at March 14, 2007 4:03 PM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................