Organum - Omega

David Jackman is an artist who occupies a place apart in the experimental music scene: it's difficult to categorize his works or guess his moves.
“Organum” is a solo project that exists since over two decades, transforming itself or adding new implications in the course of time.
In 2006 David conceived a trilogy of compositions related each other by a common shape as well as by a spiritual/sacral attribute representing their guideline.
This trilogy, beginning with “Sanctus” (issued by Robot Records) and continuing with “Amen” (on Die Stadt), reaches the end with “Omega” (on the German label again) made up of three segments, each having a duration of 15 minutes.
The structure of the tracks is quite similar, almost identical: the first starts with a church organ that creates a whirling drone 14 minutes long, whereas the fifteenth is a minute of silence that introduces to the second track. This one resumes the hypnotic atmosphere till the fourteenth minute, then another pause and so on for the third piece.
Differences among the parts are recognizable in intensity and depth of the resonances and undulations, but what rules is a persistent repetition of the scheme until the end. An end that leads to the beginning.

Label: Die Stadt
Cat. #: DS101
Format: CD
Release date: 2007

Tracklisting:
01 - Omega I (15:12)
02 - Omega II (15:12)
03 - Omega III (15:12)

Other releases of the trilogy:

Sanctus (2006, Robot Records, RR-35)

Tracklisting:
01 - Sanctus I (10:59)
02 - Sanctus II (10:59)
03 - Sanctus III (10:59)
04 - Sanctus IV (10:59)

Amen (2006, Die Stadt, DS95)

Tracklisting:
01 - Amen I (20:01)
02 - Amen II (20:04)








Links:
Organum
Die Stadt

Roger Doyle - The Ninth Set

The electro-acoustic vision of Roger Doyle leaves traces of its passage, this time by resuming an interesting project realised in two albums, dated 2002.
The third volume in the "Passades" series continues the scheme of the previous eight compositions or “sets” (this explains the title of this work, a set built on five sectors).
The first two parts could be merged in one (very quiet) long suite where Doyle’s processed electronics fills the listening space and the transformed voices of Mary Costelloe incidentally break this continuous flux.
The climate changes in the third and fourth part, more fragmented, not so linear as the previous ones, with different electro-acoustic sources which interfere.
The final sector leads again into a sedate atmosphere, deprived of sudden impulses, closing the work as it started.

Personnel:
Roger Doyle: electronics
Mary Costelloe: transformed voices

Label: Die Stadt
Cat. #: DS103CD
Format: CD
Release date: 2007

Tracklisting:
01 - Part 1 (15:22)
02 - Part 2 (14:35)
03 - Part 3 (16:17)
04 - Part 4 (14:28)
05 - Part 5 (05:45 )

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Other releases:

Oizzo No

Label: Dom Bartwuchs / Artware Production
Cat. #: DOM BW 03 / ARTWARE 04
Format: CD
Release date: 1992

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Charlotte Corday

Label: Dom Bartwuchs / Artware Production
Cat. #: DOM BW 04 / ARTWARE 05
Format: CD
Release date: 1992

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Operating Theatre - Rapid Eye Movements

Label: United Dairies
Cat. #: UD011CD
Format: CD
Release date: 1992

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Charlotte Corday And The Lament Of Louis XVI - Passades - Volume 1

Label: BV Haast
Cat. #: CD 0304
Format: CD
Release date: 2004

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Passades - Volume 2

Label: BV Haast
Cat. #: CD 0505
Format: CD
Release date: 2005

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Baby Grand

Label: BV Haast
Cat. #: BVHAAST 1505
Format: CD
Release date: 2006

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Tracks appear on:

VV.AA. - Ohren Des Kaiser Hirohito















Label: Dom
Cat. #: DOM CD 77-14/15
Format: 2xCD
Release date: 1992
track: Arm In Arm (Pt. 1), Arm In Arm (Pt. 2)

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VV.AA. - Terra Serpentes















Label: World Serpent
Cat. #: WSDCD 016
Format: 2xCD
Release date: 1996
track: Dark Scenery Court Games

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VV.AA. - In Memoriam Tarkovsky















Label: Insofar Vapor Bulk
Cat. #: IVBCD08
Format: CD
Release date: 2002
track: Mr. Foley's Final Moments

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Links:
Roger Doyle
Die Stadt

John Duncan / Kontakt Der Jünglinge / C.M. Von Hausswolff - Untitled

A collection of live performances by three important names of the sonorous exploration, three tracks from previously unissued material.
This CD is related to the Die Stadt night on the 18 October 2007 in Brussels.
Microtonal atmospheres by John Duncan, acoustic sounds processed by Tietchens and Köner (Kontakt Der Jünglinge), ambiance recordings manipulated by C.M. Von Hausswolff.
Different perspectives but great overall effect.

Label: Die Stadt
Cat. #: DS104
Format: CD
Release date: 2007

Tracklisting:
01 - John Duncan - Live At The Compound (24:25)
02 - Kontakt Der Jünglinge - Montreal Solution 1 (18:45)

03 - C.M. Von Hausswolff - Circulating Over Square Waters (Framed Nature) (15:15)

Links:
Asmus Tietchens
C.M. Von Hausswolff
John Duncan
Thomas Köner
Die Stadt

Asmus Tietchens & Richard Chartier - Fabrication

In 1999 Microwave/Staalplaat published Richard Chartier’s “Post-Fabricated”, as a result of analog recordings started one year after.
In 2005 this work was re-constructed as “Re'Post'Postfabricated”, with new sounds created by artists like Alva Noto, Byetone, CoH, Frank Bretschneider, Freiband, Goem, Matmos, Sogar, Steve Roden, Taylor Deupree, Vend and, of course, Asmus Tietchens.
They received sound source files by Chartier, in order to manipulate them and create new works.
Now Die Stadt publishes these two CDs: the first is a collaboration between Chartier and Tietchens, based on original source material; the second is a Tietchens solo creation, from Post-Fabricated sounds.

Label: Die Stadt
Cat. #: DS99
Format: 2xCD
Release date: 2007

Tracklisting:
1-01 - Fabrication (51:24)
2-01 - Pre-Fabrication 1 (5:28)
2-02 - Pre-Fabrication 2 (2:57)
2-03 - Pre-Fabrication 3 (6:18)
2-04 - Pre-Fabrication 4 (4:28)
2-05 - Pre-Fabrication 5 (2:50)
2-06 - Pre-Fabrication 6 (3:30)
2-07 - Pre-Fabrication 7 (5:00)
2-08 - Pre-Fabrication 8 (3:42)
2-09 - Pre-Fabrication 9 (5:10)
2-10 - Pre-Fabrication 10 (4:21)
2-11 - Pre-Fabrication 11 (2:17)

Links:
Asmus Tietchens
Richard Chartier
Die Stadt

Fovea Hex - Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent

Here are all three parts of the series “Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent” in a limited box including: Bloom, Huge and Allure.
Quote from Brian Eno: "Some of the most extraordinary songs I've heard in years."

Personnel:


One: Bloom
2005
Die Stadt/Janet records
DS83/JR001

• Voices: Clodagh Simonds, Laura Sheeran, Lydia Sasse, Brian Eno
• Harmoniums: Clodagh Simonds, Roger Eno
• Violas, Violins: Cora Venus Lunny
• Disappeared piano: Carter Burwell
• Keyboards, Zither, Guitars, other interesting things: Clodagh Simonds, Andrew McKenzie, Brian Eno

Two : Huge
2006
Die Stadt/Janet Records
DS86/JR002

• Voices: Clodagh Simonds, Laura Sheeran, Lydia Sasse, Sarah McQuaid
• Keyboards, Harmonium, Odd Sounds, Psalteries, Chimes: Clodagh Simonds
• Glass and Treated Voices: Roger Doyle
• Keyboards: Brian Eno
• Violas, Violins, Strings arrangement: Cora Venus Lunny
• Shredded Piano: Carter Burwell
• Subaquatic Fretless Bass: Percy Jones
• Marsh Warbler & Dipper Field Recordings: Geoff Sample
• Trumpet: Hugh O'Neill
• Shifting, Sieving, Tricks of Light: Colin Potter

Three : Allure
2007
Die Stadt/Janet Records
DS89/JR003

• Voices: Clodagh Simonds, Laura Sheeran
• Keyboards, harmonium, glass, zither, odd sounds : Clodagh Simonds
• Violin: Cora Venus Lunny
• Cello: John Contreras
• Guitar: Robert Fripp
• Treated bodhrans: Donal Lunny
• Treated bass, guitar: Steven Wilson
• Piano treatments, melancholia implants, and the 17:10 waverley: north berwick express: Michael Begg
• Subaquatic fretless bass: Percy Jones
• Field recordings: Geoff Sample
• Shifting, sieving, and sleights-of-ear: Colin Potter

Label: Die Stadt
Cat. #: DS89C
Format: 3xCD
Release date: 2007

Tracklisting:
1-01 - Don't These Windows Open (03:19)
1-02 - We Sleep You Bloom (09:30)
1-03 - That River (04:24)
2-01 - Huge (The Joy Of Trouble) (07:00)
2-02 - A Song For Magda (04:30)
2-03 - While You're Away (07:49)
3-01 - Allure (10:53)
3-02 - Long Distance (07:43)
3-03 - Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent (06:47)

Links:
Fovea Hex
Die Stadt

Asmus Tietchens - Notturno

from Vital Weekly # 581:

Back in the day Asmus Tietchens once declared that none of his LPs were to be released on CDs and that he made two exceptions, 'Zwinburgen des Hedonismus/Marches Funebres' and 'Notturno'. In the first edition of his "Monographie' we read (page 126) that he 'owed him something' - the him being the person that ran Barooni, the label who made the CD version of 'Notturno' in 1992. Whatever that something was, I forgot to ask back when Mister Barooni and I met up frequently during office hours and these days I rarely bump into Mister Barooni (he moves in different circles I guess). Following 'Formen Letzter Hausmusik' and 'Hydrophonie', 'Notturno' was the third 'serious' attempt in composing more serious electro-acoustic music, and Tietchens limits himself to using the (grand) piano.
In a good tradition, say starting with Cage's prepared piano, Tietchens treats the inside and outside of the piano with objects, like an electric gastr beater, wire brush, coins and others, but unlike Cage it's for Tietchens only a starting point.
The recordings are processed in the studio, in no doubt true Tietchens style. Looping the sounds around, filtering through sound effects and synthesizers, after which they finally find their form in neatly constructed pieces of music.
To use loops as to the extent that Tietchens does is something that sets him aside from the regular musique concrete composers. At the time for many, yours truly included, this was the first introduction to the more academic music, while now, we hear a record that is certainly a great one but perhaps not so academic as we thought back then.
'Notturno' is one the best Tietchens works that one can encounter and the mastering is much improved over the first edition on CD. While many seem to think that Tietchens music is quite distant and cold, 'Notturno' combines playful melodies and sturdy processing of the material. Certainly one to get if you are only remotely interested in his work.

(Frans de Waard)

Label: Die Stadt
Cat. #: DS102
Format: CD
Release date: 2007

Tracklisting:
01 - Dritte Studie Fur Klavier (6:19)
02 - Vierte Studie Fur Klavier (5:47)
03 - Studie Fur Henry (6:05)
04 - Halbe Tanzmusik (2:14)
05 - Drei Beisetzungen In Wien (4:44)
06 - Die Kramer Im Tempel (3:20)
07 - Funfte Studie Fur Klavier (4:28)
08 - Zweite Studie Fur Klavier (7:46)
09 - Siebte Studie Fur Klavier (4:31)
10 - Ein Leben Geht Zu Ende (9:12)

Links:
Asmus Tietchens
Die Stadt

Fovea Hex / The Hafler Trio - An Answer

This is The Hafler Trio remix of “Allure” EP. It is included in a special edition of 300 copies of DS89 release.

Label: Die Stadt
Cat. #: DS89B
Format: CD
Release date: 2007

Tracklisting:
01 - An Answer (60:00)

Links:
Fovea Hex
The Hafler Trio
Die Stadt

Fovea Hex - Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent Three: Allure

from Vital Weekly # 586:

'Allure' is the third part of the Fovea Hex trilogy, following 'Bloom' (see Vital Weekly 501) and 'Huge' (see Vital Weekly 529). Fovea Hex is centered around Clodagh Simonds, who receives help by the best from the left: Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree), Robert Fripp and on previous releases also the brothers Eno and Andrew McKenzie. Again three tracks, like before, two of which are sung by Simonds, who also plays glass, harmonium, piano, beds of shimmer and bodhran treatments.
Absolutely gorgeous music, again. Folk like singing, heavenly sung, with an instrumental backing that is largely ambient related, but in 'Long Distance' has a firm percussive backing too, adding a kind of menacing backdrop.
Beautiful stuff, once again. Also part of this is, at least with the first few hundred copies, is another Hafler Trio remix, this time called 'The Answer', which is an hour long rework of whatever is done on the CDEP. I think, at least. In this exactly sixty minute piece, sounds are looped around, stretched out and fed through whatever
The Hafler Trio are using and create a drone like piece that is however a big deceptive: it's not the full hour of of monotone drone, but a work that evolves, builds up and cracks down and starts again in order to move into a new direction, getting at times louder than is usual in the recent trio work.
A fine if somewhat unsettling work. All three Fovea Hex releases fit nicely in a box that makes this a true box of beauty.

(Frans de Waard)

Label: Die Stadt
Cat. #: DS89
Format: CD
Release date: 2007

Tracklisting:
01 - Allure (10:53)
02 - Long Distance (Oblivion) (07:43)
03 - Neither Speak Nor Remain Silent (06:47)

Links:
Fovea Hex
Die Stadt