Aabzu "Rambo" by Audiotong

AABZU - Rambo
[AT CD05.2010]
Tracklist:

1. Mystery Of Life
2. What Would You Die For, John?
3. Heroes Never Die
4. First Blood
5. Things With Molecular Structure
6. Dream Of Freedom
7. Bullets And Bombs (Fly In All Directions As The Indestructible Rambo Works His Way)
8. Scientists vs. Rambo (A Good Supply Of Body Bags)
9. Sum Of Our Sins
10. Many Happy Endings
11. Mystery Of Life (Teho Teardo Remix)
12. First Blood (Kika Mix) feat. Mian Mian

Well, this is what I haven't surely expected, at least on that short notice. Audiotong which is a cultural outlet managed by Marcin Barski in Cracow covers a netlabel, a regular record publishing site, cultural events organiser deals with a variety of moods, styles, types and genres - free improv, noise, "laptop" music and many more.
To put out such material is really challenging, not only for a publisher which is a stance of balancing idm/post techno course with wider manner of experimentalism which this recordings deals with - which on one hand is difficult as it doesn't fit entertaing beat sounds drawer. And challenging for a listener - as this is a real eye-opener for capturing wider perspective of so called idm music which I hate to use here.
Łukasz Szałankiewicz a.k.a Zenial and Maciej Szymczuk are two guys who come from different but not completely different backgrounds. Zenial started in late 1990's with his demo scene project Pal Secam introducing a wide array of beat related sounds then evolving into the direction of self-didact conceptual sound design and sound art blending noise/drone/conceptual approach. Maciek is a guy whose amiable and elegant foreground of post techno stuff gives a background for further experimenting with sounds.
"Rambo" released after quite a while (first album was released by joined forces of Vivo and now defunct Simlog label) brings back the moods and climaxes of the genre they worked out for themselves whcih is a post techno experimentalism. Reminds me of Sutekh cramped with more experimental approach, add free form, add real joy, add corporal body movement inferiorating the listener, add art, add take-it-easy approach mingled with clear sense of structure and direction...Maturity of attaing the goals that's what most of the musicians dream of. Accomplished!

Richard Francis "Together alone together apart"

The noise resistant structure of New Zealand's Richard Francis work seems extremely independent from the flashiness of the techniques, lo-fi's or hi-fi's or whatever it takes to produce the music, giving it the shape by elaborate sound strategies.
Richard gave plenty of attention to intimacy and elusiveness of the ambient which surrounds us everywhere.
Layers of bursts and squizzz form a structure of deep focus which is an extraordinaire soundtrack for chill and setting yourself deep into thoughts.

[TR021] ROCK'N'ROLL SQUIRRELS - "Woman Power" CD-R (2007)

angry and brutal lesbian power electronics from Karelia gives an outlet to see how is the scene of such music going in these parts.
Fortunately they've mmanaged to avoid the typical traps of lesbian groups which came out of punk - there is plenty of energy which is fresh in here...much of a rock'arolla origin and punk shit.
no more
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[TR041] MAAAA - "Burning Kukkovka's Cock" MC (2008)

Actionist response:
squeamish boiling and sizzling howls of dog, feminine and brushed all with no soft
wooden clasps with yakety yak haphazardness
racket of abandoned building wiping plumbing system
encumbrance
folie
illegitimate enterprise
walk beyond the...

[TR042] ALISA-YHTYE CD-R (2009)

now we're talking... Here's an old school industrial analogue noise from St Petersburg, Russia is full throttle.
I was always wondering how the medium will survive to live up more "modern" means and techniques, but still it's alive and kicking.
The band plays since 1997 generating old school sounds with dark background of cynical frenzy: squeaks and bleeps of whimsical hysteria. Metallic feel to it. DIY ethos spat some really precious gems.

"Our faceless empires" Manuel Mota Ernesto Rodrigues Ernesto Sturm Diaz Infante Gion Robair by Pax Recordings

I haven't heard any recording with Ernesto Sturm Diaz Infante since a few years what made me welcome the cd with great pleasure. Aan in addition there's a fine line up of Manuel Mota (electric guitar), Gino Robair ( energized surfaces/voltage made audible) and Ernesto Rodrigues (viola) which is great.
It's a document of two different passages in improvised music - both represneted by european and american artists which certainly have different styles but complement each other greatly.
I guess with all the collaborations and mostly with collaborations of 3 or more people at the same time here's a need for certain type of composition and logic in it which this recording bears. As with all the Creative Sources recordings we have plenty of action: sudden twists, sizzling sonorous explorations and more free-improv style which is Sturm Diaz Infante's style - a string metal machine mechanics - style that cannot be mistaken.
There's a certain influence of concrete music what is great add - the structure is very delicate and abstract and concrete sounds are always a sort a danger in such context - might be too strong and harsh - an oxymoron.
The pieces are sure shot to enjoy - they are not too exaggerated, and most of all there's plenty of subtleness and delicacy which for me is the greatest asset - communication between musicians is just bloming. More from Pax recordings!!!

CHRIS ABRAHAMS "Play scar" by Room 40

1 THERE HE RECLINED
2 FLY THEM
3 TWIG BLOWN
4 THE SAME TIME
5 RUNNING OUT
6 BIRD AND WASPS
7 JELLYCROWN
8 LEIDEN
PRODUCED BY CHRIS ABRAHAMS
MASTERED BY LAWRENCE ENGLISH
PHOTOGRAPHY TIM WILLIAMS

www.room40.org/releases-rm437.shtml
http://www.thenecks.com/

Chris Abrahams a wizz dude from australian "jazz" band The Necks has produced an elaborate and un-charted piece which I can profoundly say has whirled my mind as hell. It contains so many juxtaposing elements that I am really surprised how all this can be one without any fragment of distorting and colliding phases.
Call it electro- acoustic piano and I will kick your ass.
Chris has really put a helluva work in this which is a praise to his organising and composing genius. It's like a continent of sound with organ introduction reminding me of Michael Mann "the Heat" soundtrack piece bursting out next into frenzy microacoustic/ laptop burst out/ afternoon tea soundtrack/ prepared piano stuff which makes again this stuff way beyond my expectations - reaching outer limits of music. More More More!!!!!