Perhaps the best album from Kreng . . . and then again, just about all of his works that I know of, is really amazing: Kreng - Grimoire
- "The less we know about Belgian sound alchemist Pepijn Caudron (aka Kreng), the better. We know his debut release LAutopsie Phenomenale De Dieu appeared seemingly out of nowhere on the Miasmah label in 2009, but other than that very little tangible information has surfaced. This sequel, the blackly monikered Grimoire simply re-enforces Caudrons shadowy legacy with a similarly dank concoction of cracked strings, creaking percussion and half-heard dialogue. Thankfully however Caudron has refined his craft in every way, from the artfully restrained layering of samples to the deliriously magickal atmosphere he manages to conjure up. There is the sense even from the first few seconds of the record that you are transported out of time and reality, and as hoarse, alien breaths croak over oily bass drones the poignant spoken words You dont belong here become an apt anchor for the entire album.
It seems almost too easy to compare Grimoire to a film soundtrack at this point; sure Caudron has listened to his fair share of chilling scores but Grimoire is more than simply homage, and maybe the clue is in the title itself. Grimoires are books of magic, the most important of which had a stranglehold on cultures both ancient and more recently than most people probably care to realize. These books have slipped into folklore and legend, and like those faded pages of incantations there is something deeply mystical and indescribable about Krengs music. Caudrons background in theatre no doubt forms a strong foundation for his compositions, but there is so much about his work that only creeps into the light after countless hours of study. These songs are best suited to moonlight, strong spice-laced liquors and the dark recesses of our painfully dull existence. Pepijn Caudron has formed a grimy, surreal ode to not only the past, but also what the future might hold, and from the sounds of it were not getting off lightly. But then were all so tired of pretty, arent we? Miasmah Recordings 2011
Not too proud to admit that I crush pretty hard on Qarin Wikström's voice. That aside, this is a crack line-up of past Jazz Picks artists and some compelling music.
Nice, talkative but peaceful modern jazz with a little folk thrown in for good measure. Boge is on alto sax, though it's really Pierre Perchaud's different guitars that drive this album. I've always liked Boge. His most recent album, a 2014 release "The World Begins Today" is also pretty good. Worth mentioning that he also performs on one of 2013's best, Nicolas Moreaux's "Fall Somewhere." Moreaux is also on "Imaginary Traveler." The two albums have some similarities.
1. Labradford - "Mi Media Naranja"
2. Aix Em Klemm - "Aix Em Klemm"
3. The Dead Texan - "The Dead Texan"
So burned out on everything even remotely jazz. Just needed some good ol' Kranky drone and melodic drift. Man that label sticks to one thing and does it so damn well. If I ever win the lottery, I'm just going to buy their entire catalog of CDs.
I was looking through the Hecker. I don't think I've ever really connected with his music before, but there's a part of me that thinks if I search through my shelves long enough I'll find a CD of his that I swear by.
I really like Labradford.
One more drone before I get back to the jazz stuff.
NP:
Roy Montgomery - "Scenes from the South Island"
-Beautiful album. Really takes me back to past days, incites vivid memories of beautiful, sublime moments during tough times.
I like Kranky too. Back when I owned a CD store,
we got in a copy of Labradford: Prazision and
I liked it. I never thought Kranky would become
as big as they are now. I think I have nearly 200
titles of theirs now.
---
Now playing: A Winged Victory For The Sullen - Atomos VII
I like Kranky too, especially Labradford and loscil.
Before release I expected the A Winged Victory for the Sullen material to be on my year end list; I have ended up still liking their debut better (which from the reviews I read places me in a minority).
NP: Labradford, Fixed::Content
Actually, that Winged Victory "Atomos" was one of the albums I downloaded today and forgot to play it. That's definitely going to be the album I either end the night with or start the morning with.
NP:
Gonzalo Levin Octeto - "Gonzalo Levin Octeto"
-One of the strongest jazz albums in 2014. Every time I hear it, I'm bowled over by how strong it is. Pretty much sails straight-ahead and works the nuances and details to great effect, especially via harmony. It would have been so easy to lay it on thick considering that five of eight slots are taken up by wind instruments, but Levin applies a light touch and gains so much more with that approach.
- "Etron Fou Leloublan (literally, Mad Shit Thewhitewolf) is a mythic seventies underground band from France formed in 1973 by Chris Chanet (aka Eulalie Ruynat, saxophone and vocals), Guigou Chenevier (Drums) and Ferdinand Richard (Bass & guitar),. This leader of the French underground shows his sense of humour and derision on a deliciously weird music. This incredible trio happily destroys all rock structures and performs a delirious music, full of humour and rhythm, similar to Captain Beefheart, Albert Marcoeur, Bourvil and ZNR. It is not surprising that Etron Fou Leloublan became the French representative in Chris Cutlers Rock In Opposition movement.
Debut album Batelages was originally issued in November 1976, and Les Trois Fous Perdégagnent - Au Pays Des a year later. Francis Grand (Saxophone) replaced Chris Chanet at this occasion. Les Poumons Gonflés dates back from 1982, and was produced by Fred Frith (Henry Cow). Les Sillons De La Terre (1984) and Face Aux Elements Déchaînés (1986) conclude the bands discography. Musea issued the 3CD compilation 43 Songs in 1993 which gathered the complete studio works of Etron Fou Leloublan. The live album En Public Aux Etats-Unis DAmérique (1979) has recently been published on the Gazul label and gives another chance to hear their tongue-in-cheek music made of subversive parodies, musical courage and weird parts." Last.fm
Comments
Perhaps the best album from Kreng . . . and then again, just about all of his works that I know of, is really amazing:
Kreng - Grimoire
- "The less we know about Belgian sound alchemist Pepijn Caudron (aka Kreng), the better. We know his debut release LAutopsie Phenomenale De Dieu appeared seemingly out of nowhere on the Miasmah label in 2009, but other than that very little tangible information has surfaced. This sequel, the blackly monikered Grimoire simply re-enforces Caudrons shadowy legacy with a similarly dank concoction of cracked strings, creaking percussion and half-heard dialogue. Thankfully however Caudron has refined his craft in every way, from the artfully restrained layering of samples to the deliriously magickal atmosphere he manages to conjure up. There is the sense even from the first few seconds of the record that you are transported out of time and reality, and as hoarse, alien breaths croak over oily bass drones the poignant spoken words You dont belong here become an apt anchor for the entire album.
It seems almost too easy to compare Grimoire to a film soundtrack at this point; sure Caudron has listened to his fair share of chilling scores but Grimoire is more than simply homage, and maybe the clue is in the title itself. Grimoires are books of magic, the most important of which had a stranglehold on cultures both ancient and more recently than most people probably care to realize. These books have slipped into folklore and legend, and like those faded pages of incantations there is something deeply mystical and indescribable about Krengs music. Caudrons background in theatre no doubt forms a strong foundation for his compositions, but there is so much about his work that only creeps into the light after countless hours of study. These songs are best suited to moonlight, strong spice-laced liquors and the dark recesses of our painfully dull existence. Pepijn Caudron has formed a grimy, surreal ode to not only the past, but also what the future might hold, and from the sounds of it were not getting off lightly. But then were all so tired of pretty, arent we?
Miasmah Recordings 2011
- Boomkat Review - Soundcloud - Kreng @ Emusers
Copenhagen Art Ensemble - "Reutersward"
My love for this album continues to grow with each listen (and I've spent a lot of time with this recording).
Pretty sure the embedded audio on my site was made a private stream, so these songs may not be available on soundcloud publicly...
http://www.birdistheworm.com/copenhagen-art-ensemble-reutersward/
Not too proud to admit that I crush pretty hard on Qarin Wikström's voice. That aside, this is a crack line-up of past Jazz Picks artists and some compelling music.
Blommor Inomhus - "Blommor Inomhus"
-The #10 BitW Best of 2012 album. A trio of vocals, trombone and piano, with guest appearances by an orchestra of their friends.
Ola Kvernberg - "The Mechanical Fair"
J Mascis - "Tied to a Star"
Ole Jorn Myklebust - "Jorba"
-Peaceful music. Myklebust's sound isn't far removed from Mattias Eick and the piano and bass of Ulvo and Hole are two parts of the Eple Trio.
Olivier Boge - "Imaginary Traveler"
Nice, talkative but peaceful modern jazz with a little folk thrown in for good measure. Boge is on alto sax, though it's really Pierre Perchaud's different guitars that drive this album. I've always liked Boge. His most recent album, a 2014 release "The World Begins Today" is also pretty good. Worth mentioning that he also performs on one of 2013's best, Nicolas Moreaux's "Fall Somewhere." Moreaux is also on "Imaginary Traveler." The two albums have some similarities.
1. Labradford - "Mi Media Naranja"
2. Aix Em Klemm - "Aix Em Klemm"
3. The Dead Texan - "The Dead Texan"
So burned out on everything even remotely jazz. Just needed some good ol' Kranky drone and melodic drift. Man that label sticks to one thing and does it so damn well. If I ever win the lottery, I'm just going to buy their entire catalog of CDs.
With thanks to PaulR:
From Wolf Fifth Archive . . .
I was looking through the Hecker. I don't think I've ever really connected with his music before, but there's a part of me that thinks if I search through my shelves long enough I'll find a CD of his that I swear by.
I really like Labradford.
One more drone before I get back to the jazz stuff.
NP:
Roy Montgomery - "Scenes from the South Island"
-Beautiful album. Really takes me back to past days, incites vivid memories of beautiful, sublime moments during tough times.
Youtube vid of album track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCmFdt0Xau4
And another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BqFCnguaRQ
we got in a copy of Labradford: Prazision and
I liked it. I never thought Kranky would become
as big as they are now. I think I have nearly 200
titles of theirs now.
---
Now playing: A Winged Victory For The Sullen - Atomos VII
Before release I expected the A Winged Victory for the Sullen material to be on my year end list; I have ended up still liking their debut better (which from the reviews I read places me in a minority).
NP: Labradford, Fixed::Content
Actually, that Winged Victory "Atomos" was one of the albums I downloaded today and forgot to play it. That's definitely going to be the album I either end the night with or start the morning with.
NP:
Gonzalo Levin Octeto - "Gonzalo Levin Octeto"
-One of the strongest jazz albums in 2014. Every time I hear it, I'm bowled over by how strong it is. Pretty much sails straight-ahead and works the nuances and details to great effect, especially via harmony. It would have been so easy to lay it on thick considering that five of eight slots are taken up by wind instruments, but Levin applies a light touch and gains so much more with that approach.
A Winged Victory for the Sullen - "Atomos"
-A very nice morning album.
Red Rodney with Ira Sullivan - Night and Day.
Kairos 4tet - "Everything We Hold"
[align=center]
irr. app. (ext.)
I Made This For Someone Else, But They Didn't Want It.
So I'm Giving It To You Instead
One of the presents I got for Xmas, it is a 4 cd box set
Batelages
- "Etron Fou Leloublan (literally, Mad Shit Thewhitewolf) is a mythic seventies underground band from France formed in 1973 by Chris Chanet (aka Eulalie Ruynat, saxophone and vocals), Guigou Chenevier (Drums) and Ferdinand Richard (Bass & guitar),. This leader of the French underground shows his sense of humour and derision on a deliciously weird music. This incredible trio happily destroys all rock structures and performs a delirious music, full of humour and rhythm, similar to Captain Beefheart, Albert Marcoeur, Bourvil and ZNR. It is not surprising that Etron Fou Leloublan became the French representative in Chris Cutlers Rock In Opposition movement.
Debut album Batelages was originally issued in November 1976, and Les Trois Fous Perdégagnent - Au Pays Des a year later. Francis Grand (Saxophone) replaced Chris Chanet at this occasion. Les Poumons Gonflés dates back from 1982, and was produced by Fred Frith (Henry Cow). Les Sillons De La Terre (1984) and Face Aux Elements Déchaînés (1986) conclude the bands discography. Musea issued the 3CD compilation 43 Songs in 1993 which gathered the complete studio works of Etron Fou Leloublan. The live album En Public Aux Etats-Unis DAmérique (1979) has recently been published on the Gazul label and gives another chance to hear their tongue-in-cheek music made of subversive parodies, musical courage and weird parts."
Last.fm
Stephan Mathieu - The Falling Rocket
(which has one of the worst bandcamp page backgrounds ever).
;-)