Beins, Burkhard

structural drift

Label: Edition Kunstlerhauser Worpswede Country: Germany

"Music by improviser Burkhard Beins has been reviewed before, mostly of course when it dealt with improvising with others, but there have been a small number of solo releases too. Structural Drift is a three piece suite which he recorded at the Kunstlerhauser Worpswede, where he did an arts residency in April and June of 2009. He brought along with e-bowed and propelled zither, analogue synthesizer, E.T., looper, igniters, chimes, wood block, steel band, fire and stones. Apparently no drum kit, or perhaps he considers that too much of commonplace that he chooses not to mention it. Well, perhaps he just didn't have it with him, if I listen to these three pieces. Beins, the trained percussion player, uses in his work on the kit a lot of sustaining and resonating materials, and they appear here too. The drones that arrive from the zither, in combination with the analogue synthesizer waves form long tone sounds and on top Beins adds charming little bells, chimes and wood blocks. Perhaps just as he would do when playing the drumkit in a combo of improvisers. He does this with much elegance here, especially in 'drift 2', this works out very well. A very well made CD, that has nothing, or not much at least, to do with improvised music, but all with composed music of a highly meditative nature. If you like Jason Kahn sonic explorations in this area, then this Structural Drift is no doubt one to have as well."-Frans De Waard, Vital Weekly