Dafeldecker, Kurzmann, Drumm, eRikm, Dieb13, Noetinger

DAFELDECKER, KURZMANN, DRUMM, ERIKM, DIEB13, NOETINGER (Charhizma, 2003)

Werner Dafeldecker: bass, electronics
Christof Kurzmann: computer, clarinet
Kevin Drumm: guitar, synthesizer
eRikm: electronics
Dieb13: turntables
Jérôme Noetinger: electroacoustics devices

The first release on clarinetist and laptopper Christof Kurzmann's Charhizma imprint in 1999 teamed him up with Polwechsel's Werner Dafeldecker on double bass and electronics and guests Kevin Drumm, Christian Fennesz, and Jim O'Rourke. On this follow-up album, with the same garish fluorescent (green this time) cover art by Fineder and Winkler, Dafeldecker and Kurzmann are joined by Drumm, eRikm, Dieb13, and Jérôme Noetinger on various electronic devices. Sourced from concert recordings from Berlin, Graz, and Vienna in 2000 and 2001, the five tracks are mixed together to form a continuous 48 minute arc of music that disappears down a hole only to return eight minutes later with the obligatory ghost track (yawn) to round off the total CD duration to exactly one hour. The dark, woody tones of Dafeldecker's bass and flutters of Kurzmann's fragile clarinet fit well with Noetinger's lo-fi electronics and Dieb13's gritty turntablism, and Kurzmann's affection for techno is evident from time to time in his fondness for gently clicking loops. The album is sedate but not without touches of humor, notably from Marseille DJ eRikm's prepared piano and shotgun samples.(from AMG)

HERE

Clare Cooper - Hammeriver

Clare Cooper: concert harp
Chris Abrahams: grand piano
Tobias Delius: tenor saxophone, clarinet
Werner Dafeldecker: double bass
Clayton Thomas: double bass
Christof Kurzman: lloopp
Tony Buck: drums

PRESS RELEASE
Australian harpist Clare Cooper formed Hammeriver in Sydney in 2003 as a vehicle for dynamic investigation into the music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda – composer, harpist, pianist, organist and bandleader.
When Cooper moved to Berlin in April 2007, she created the band anew with previous collaborators from Australia; Clayton Thomas, Chris Abrahams and Tony Buck, and inviting Berlin-based musicians and friends Werner Dafeldecker, Tobias Delius and Christof Kurzmann. All seven musicians were interested in approaching jazz from a new and unusual angle – stretching and dissecting its powerful energy.
This collective experience of the diverse personnel also encompasses electro-acoustic improvisation, musique concrète, psychedelic rock and reductionism. But instead of conflicts, they create a music that transforms and transcends their influences – singularly original, unexpected and rich.
This very special recording documents a day of music in the Saal 3 recording studio in the grand old East German radio station.
The first piece on the album, Ohnedaruth (Second Stabbing) is an exploration of Alice Coltrane’s Ohnedaruth from the album A Monastic Trio (Impulse 1968). Cooper created a graphic score that broke down what she identified as the essential elements of the music, but also allowed for movement and improvisation inspired by the original recording.
First Free, DD and Heartbreaker showcase the immense potential of the group’s improvisational language. All three pieces are edits of free improvisations.
E is based on a simple score by Cooper. All musicians are playing in, on and bending around the note E in any register – maintaining a consistent energy for the full 13 minutes – the challenge being to innovate and shape with (seemingly) limited tools.
The fact that there have been several years between the recording and release is no mistake for Cooper, “There are too many impulsive releases out there. I prefer to wait, to listen with space and distance, to hear if there is something living in the sound, something that travels beyond the day the music is recorded or performed. I hear something very alive and joyful in this recording… I’m happy to return to it again and to share it”
2010 HAMMERIVER