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Cicadidae . Kammerflimmer Kollektief

 

staubgold 40
2003. cd . dl . lp

"Often the music sounds like a 60s Blue Note session beamed in from a parallel universe. Dietrich Foth's saxophone unfurls smoky, hesitant lines and gentle, abstract flutterings, while Frisch provides deep, resonant throb or occasional muttered creaks with the bow. (...) Vibraphone and bass sketch the hymnal melody, joined by lush violin figures and soft digital crackle. It's exquisitely lovely. (...) There's little here that's not beautiful; there's much that's mysterious and opaque too, which gives the music its power. Recommended.“ (Peter Marsh, BBC Music Online)

“Cicadidae” is the third album by Southern German-based Kammerflimmer Kollektief. Lovingly assembled over a two year period, it very much belongs to the current tendency in contemporary music for mixing up 'played' and 'programmed' music, acoustic and electronic instruments, high culture and street culture. Within this occasionally fascinating new musical expression, it is of course possible to lay down something unique. Combining brass and string instruments, computer, drums, percussion and keyboards, this is not just an exercise in sound but rather a collective expression by musicians communicating with each other in the spaces between control and loss of control, intuition and reflection, density and transparency. The roots are everywhere; in a childhood spent listening to folk, free jazz and psychedelia as well as an occupation with the decomposition and alteration of rock, jazz and electronic music since the beginning of the 90’s, blended with the fine crackling and grinding of the digital generation which subtly underpins it.

On a technical level, the ten tracks on “Cicadidae” were created in part on the computer, and partly simultaneously improvised and recorded by the group. Sometimes the Kollektief would improvise over programmed patterns, other times it would make a programmed composition out of improvised music. During the long studio process the group took the time to experiment, embracing mistakes and errors and allowing them to sometimes guide the music forward, and making them part of a secret world of songs, drones & (quiet) freakouts. “Blood” is based on an Annette Peacock composition and endeavours to pick up on her ideas of “space”, “peace” and “silence”. Undoubtedly such notions don't seem out of place with the overall mood of this absolutely beautiful album, which we hope you'll keep coming back to.

Kammerflimmer Kollektief

The Kammerflimmer Kollektief plays music, which should not be written down, for it would scorch the paper. The project, whose music meanders between precision and freedom, has been founded in 1996 by Thomas Weber.

Up to now, the Kollektief has released eight albums in all sorts of line-ups. Live performances all over the world are realized as a trio (with Heike Aumüller and Johannes Frisch).

www.kammerflimmer.com