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Deconstructing Interference #5

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Dino Sabatini and Ancestral Voices get the remixing treatment, while Unknot continue their tampering with rhythm. These Hidden Hands give a first taste of their upcoming record, including a killer remix, while J.C. produces a darker split between different techno territories. On the other hand, even though the tone changes in the new Eschaton EP, the dystopian quality always remains present. On a different note, Jack Wright and Ben Bennett collaborate in their non-music/free-jazz aesthetic, Gary Rouzer dwells into the secret life of shrubs and Nick Millevoi goes a bit retro with his experimental take on folk/blues.
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Dino SabatiniConcentrica

In April, Dino Sabatini started a new series of releases, entitled the Opera series, under his label Outis Music. The series rejected the notion of genres existing as solitary islands, and endeavoured in bridging their diverse aspects. Now, Sabatini expands on the release of Omonimo (the first entry to the Opera series) with a couple remixes and two variations on the tracks of the record.
The presence of Howie B., legendary producer who has worked with artists such as Bjork and Tricky, makes an imminent impact, luring the listener with his light percussion and dense soundscapes. ASC takes a darker notion for “The Unexpected” crafting a bleaker, colder and more mechanic perspective. The two variations see Sabatini augmenting the ambiance of “If” with the tribal touch, setting a relaxing dreamscape, while Salis uses environmental ambiance and dramatic melodies to maximize the effect of “And It All Ends Here.”

Nick MillevoiDesertion

Nick Millevoi, guitarist of Many Arms, has now released his solo album Desetion, featuring Many Arms member Johnny DeBiase, John Zorn collaborator Jaime Saft and Secret Chiefs 3 member Ches Smith. Through Desertion, Millevoi presents a quite different tone to Many Arms. Heavily influenced by Neil Young (and especially his work with Crazy Horse) he is able to build a bridge between blues, ‘60s rock, psychedelia and free-jazz. Retaining the precision of math rock, and with an experimental outlook throughout, the group passes through psychedelic and prog rock movements, to blues-y folk rock tunes, improv fury and even abstract moments with minimalistic tendencies. It is a rare occurrence to come across an album featuring both a high-level of technical complexity, and at the same time a lot of heart.

These Hidden HandsSZ31X71

Three years back this experimental electronic duo made their presence felt with an intriguing self-titled debut album. Filled with a mysterious tone and heavy beats, These Hidden Hands explored the depths of industrial-esque techno settings with a leftfield and intelligent manner. In this process their label Hidden Hundred was also born, through which the duo put out all its following releases. Today, they are giving a first taste of their sophomore release with a track, “SZ31X71,” from their upcoming album, Vicarious Memories. The result follows the path that These Hidden Hands set upon with their debut album, but feels better defined, more elegant, with the dark vibe slightly subsiding giving way to a more atmospheric, complex and free-flowing result. As a bonus, on this EP you will also find a remix of their upcoming track by mastermind Roly Porter, taking the vision of These Hidden Hands to further extreme, enhancing the mystical sense of their music, adding a colder touch to their industrial feel, and enriching the noise and drone aspects of the work. Just what you need to whet your appetite for Vicarious Memories.

UnknotUnknot03

Unknot is the project, and at the same time the record label, of Italian DJ/producer Sciahri and Emanuele Porcinai, of Contort (as WSR). The two have created their own sonic palette comprised of grooves and melodies based on raw synthetic progressions. The main focus of Unknot is rhythm, and that remains the pinpoint of their work in this instalment. At times appearing dense and warped, as subliminal messages, subtle in their approach and low-key, they are able to mesmerize with their hypnotic calls. Unknot don’t lose themselves in this vibe however, they are also able to craft explosive moments centered around their electronic, mechanised perspective. It is a nice change of pace between soothing, introvert, mesmerizing beats and upbeat, sci-fi movements.

Ancestral VoicesNight of Visions/Remixes

Liam Blackburn (member of great duo Akkord, alongside Joe McBride) revealed his newest project, Ancestral Voices, about a year ago. This new direction for the artist saw him take his unique creative process to new heights. Night of Visions was the product of Blackburn’s musical identity, thrown through a kaleidoscope of his own making. Abstract and deeply atmospheric, and enhanced with an ominous tonality, Blackburn constructed the soundscapes with a blend of drones and a tribal-like perspective. The result was a shamanistic approach in this dark, meditative work, with the electrified presence of electronic music still vibrant.

One year later, four artists choose one track each from Night of Visions to remix. In Part 1 of this series, Swedish producer Abdualla Rashim (head of Northern Electronics label) focuses on the mesmerizing sense of “Invocations” crafting an infinite loop around the tribal rhythm section, while ASC & Sam KDC take on “Feathered Serpent,” building a new foundation for the track and inject it with their straight techno feel. In Part 2, Samuel Kerridge merges two tracks in “Sleepless Night, First Light” and “Ritual Terre,” awakening ethereal layers and mind-bending results with this vivisection, while Pact Infernal wraps up the collection on a high note with their dramatic, twisted take on “Vine of the Soul” as a sense of horror dominates the ambiance.

J.C.Mugako

J.C. has had a busy year, after following up the release of his debut album in 2015 with a couple of great EPs on his Cabrera record label, the Spanish techno producer has returned with a release on the Exhibition Design Series, featured on Svecra’s Semantica label. Mugako is an album split between two worlds. On one hand there is an otherworldly aspect of J.C., stepping into alien-like territories, using dialogue samples and spoken words, crafting moments of havoc that will surround them, or becoming devoured in a sea of dissonance in “Mairu.” But, on the other hand he does not forget his roots, adding more movement and thunderous progression with “Bixi” or the drunken groove of “Itxaso.” J.C.’s grasp on techno is very well-defined and it is no problem for the producer to step into more experimental areas or to plunge into a deep level of mysticism as he does in “Hator.”

Jack Wright/Ben BennettTangle

Jack Wright could easily be described as the king of underground improv. A veteran saxophonist and pianist, he has been active since the late ‘70s, touring the US and Europe and collaborating with a myriad of underground musicians. Tangle sees him side by side with Ben Bennett, a very talented and exciting improv musician, who in this case takes on the percussionist role. In the three long songs of Tangle Wright and Bennett explore the capabilities of their music in depth, losing themselves in a bacchian ceremony. To call this music free-jazz would be pushing it, considering that the duo explores not just the different combinations of melody, dissonance, rhythm or complexity, but the tolerance of the instruments themselves, becoming a joyous adventure in the non-music territory.

Gary RouzerStudies and Observations of Domestic Shrubbery

The title of this work and the fact that on his bio Gary Rouzer makes use of Dorothy Parker’s quote: “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity,” reveal an artist with a healthy dose of sarcasm. The main instruments that Rouzer makes use of in his work are cello, clarinet, amplified objects and field recordings. Through this majestic study, Rouzer ventures into the abstract music domain. Presenting elements of free improvisation, noise, drone and field recordings he is able to construct an all-encompassing ambiance for his music. Studies and Observations morphs constantly from one moment to the next, managing to produce instances of chamber music, big drone soundscapes, dramatic cello interludes and unique textural sounds. Who knew one could deduce that much from shrubbery?

You can check samples from the album here.

EschatonEschaton II

Eschaton is the result of the collaboration of experimental noise/electronic duo Orphx and techno/industrial menace Ancient Methods. With Eschaton II, the project expands on the apocalyptic tendencies that were first revealed with Eschaton. At times deeply disturbing, producing a dystopian nightmare made of steel and flesh in “Those Who Obey” and “No Other Gods Before Me,” and then upbeat and energetic with “Deus Irae” and “Answer My Prayer,” the two faces of Eschaton are depicting two sides of the same coin. A world devastated and in flames, too late to be salvaged.