Wastell / Marhaug

Kiss Of Acid

Label: Monotype Country: Poland

"I had hired a tam-tam, 36" Paiste, to take to a solo concert in Paris. There was some confusion over train tickets and I regretfully never made it out of London. So, I had to make use of this instrument that I had paid for for the weekend. I hastily contacted THE recording engineer of the period, Graham Halliwell (wonderful musician too, yeah, you know that!), and we quickly arranged a session at the acoustically perfect Old School, Norfolk. Hours were spent perfecting microphone placement and recording volumes and subsequently some tastey tam-tam music was committed to tape.

Then what to do with it?

Lasse and I had crossed paths a few times over the preceding years; noteably a concert together in Trondheim, Norway with Michael Duch and a show I had organised for him at Sound 323 with Ronnie Sundin. I suggested (pleaded?) that he might like to work with the tam-tam material and he agreed.

Time passed, composition was cast. Lasse completed the task admirably.I intended to release it on my label, Confront. Never happened (can't remember why ?!?!). We offered it to Ideal. Waited a couple of years. Never happened .... (we still love you Joachim!). Offered it to Touch (pretty sure Mike never listened to it). Time passed, slowly ...

Lasse had passed it onto Mr. Maker, Jakub Monotype, and he said yes ... AND meant it. AND he made it happen. AND printed covers. AND manufacured cds ... AND compiled press releases ... AND sent it to reviewers .... AND sent it to distributors .... wow!!! Good man!!

In recent years Lasse Marhaug has almost become synonymous with Scandinavian Noise. From his "camp" in Trondhem, Norway, he's been launching release after release with brutal and often "witty" noise both under his real name and with groups such as DEL and parts of the Origami Republika projects. Lasse has also worked with some of the "legends" such as Merzbow and Aube, and played before Einstürzende Neubauten on his GB-tour.

London-based sound artist and composer Mark Wastell builds enormous atmospheres on the Tam Tam with very little actual movement. Wastell's music is dark, deep and beautiful. Slow movements build up sonic pulses that are able to take over rooms and buildings. He has collaborated with many people including Rhodri Davies, Bernard Gunter, Evan Parker, Mattin, Tony Conrad, Keith Rowe, Otomo Yoshihide, Derek Bailey, John Butcher, Toshimaru Nakamura, Joachim Nordwall, Lasse Maurhaug, Max Eastley and Burkhard Beins.

Then, BANG! Five years after recording ... we get a deal."-Wastell & Marhaug