The Squid's Ear Magazine


Dietrichs: No Bahdu (Relative Pitch)

An uncompromising and electrifying studio set from father-daughter duo Don and Camille Dietrich, whose ferocious blend of distorted tenor saxophone and overdriven cello pushes sonic boundaries through four intense improvisations, merging free jazz, noise, and amplified effects into a blistering, high-voltage assault of raw energy and experimental fire.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Camille Dietrich-cello

Don Dietrich-tenor saxophone


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UPC: 5904224874117

Label: Relative Pitch
Catalog ID: RPR1226
Squidco Product Code: 36115

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2025
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded on February 8th, 2023, by Larry Alexander.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Here before you are four electrifying improvisations that extend the possibilities for the saxophone/cello duo. The Dietrichs follow up their harrowing live set Catch the Leaves with this studio session which is no less the sonic assault! "Don Dietrich on distorted tenor saxophone and his daughter Camille as the cellist from Hell, in short: the DIETRICHS.... Cacophony through and through and to the blood. Klingon throat cleaner instead of chamomile tea."-Rigobert Dittman, Bad Alchemy



"Father-daughter acts are rare in the music world and within the underground experimental noise music realm, there might be only one such amalgam. Father Don Dietrich (tenor sax) and daughter Camille Dietrich (cello) is that unique phenomenon, and while it's an intriguing point of curiosity, it wouldn't mean much if the racket they make wasn't at least as intriguing.

Happily, it is. Don Dietrich is a long-time veteran of the noisy improvised music scene, as he made his name as a founder of the pioneering free jazz/noise rock combo Borbetomagus. Thus, Camille didn't acquire a punk rocker mindset to her cello as a form of rebellion against her parents, it's just built into her DNA. Using their virtuosity as well as ingenuity in the way electronic enhancements are used, the 'Dietrichs,' as they logically go by, take both the instinctive and intensive up to the highest level, attributes in abundance for their 2023 live happening Catch the Leaves.

Now comes the studio follow-up No Bahdu (Relative Pitch Records), which likewise contains absolutely no compromises nor concessions. Even denser and Inexorable than Leaves, the Dietrichs also expertly leverage the use of the sound-altering effects available to them.

Sometimes it's hard to discern if a certain wailing sound is coming from a cello or a saxophone. It's not only like that during "No stones" but at times, the cello scrapes make a racket that resembles an overdriven electric guitar. The song takes a brief breather only to catch its breath and scale up the cliffs of cacophony once again. Camille's heavy metal ambitions come even further to fore on "No cones," but so does Don's. Infernal and unrelenting, it's a symphony performed in hell."-S. Victo Aaron, Something Else Reviews


Get additional information at Something Else!

Artist Biographies

"Having grown up exposed to her father's playing since birth Camille Dietrich has been in a unique position as a musician, being subjected to a method of free playing that takes most artists years of exploration to locate. Yet as a cellist Camille has not grown up a copy of her father, and while she shares his unforgiving intensity in her playing, there is an individual confidence and playfulness to how she approaches her instrument [...]"

-Pica Disk (http://www.picadisk.com/pica042.html)
7/7/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Don Dietrich is a saxophonist and founding member of New York City based improvisational group, Borbetomagus. Recently, he has become involved with the noise/free jazz "supergroup" The New Monuments (with C. Spencer Yeh and Ben Hall)."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Dietrich_(musician))
7/7/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. No Stones 10:11

2. No Cones 09:30

3. No Bones 13:24

4. No Bahdu 10:11

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Duo Recordings
New in Improvised Music
Recent Releases and Best Sellers

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Relative Pitch.


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