Non Credo

Reluctant Hosts

Label: No Man's Land Country: Germany

"A collaboration between Kira Vollman and Joseph Berardi. Unlike Humdrum, their other collaboration which deals strictly with the voice and percussion in a more or less improvisational expression, NON CREDO takes advantage of the duo's multi-instrumental abilities and focuses them in a structured song form or instrumental piece. Non Credo uses a variety of layers, textures, and rhythms that blend together for a cohesive, if quirky, mood. The voice is used at times as another instrument in this layering process, or it may come to the forefront delivering lyrics that have a seemingly simple, almost nursery rhyme quality, but which, upon closer inspection, reveal a dark, disturbing twist. The music is the result of an eclectic assortment of influences, from film soundtracks to Saturday morning cartoons, traditional Latin rhythms to Salvation Army brass bands. All material is written, arranged, performed and recorded by Vollman and Berardi in their home studio."-No Man's Land

"Released in 1988, Reluctant Hosts was the first album by the duet Non Credo (Kira Vollman on vocals, bass, clarinet, and keyboards; Joseph Berardi on percussion and keyboards). This is a collection of avant pop songs dominated by cold 1980s synthetic sounds (keyboards, drum machines) that are balanced out by Vollman's warm, almost operatic voice. Comparisons would have to include Kate Bush and Anna Homler. The conventionally structured songs fall mostly within the three- to four-minute range, but the writing and arrangements include lots of departures, including some very original use of the voice, dissonances, and aesthetic contrasts between childlike innocence and angular melodies. The occasional use of clarinet and accordion also brings an original touch. Highlights include "Why?," the creepy "Looking in the Window" ("I see you, Mr. Thomas, I see you," warns Vollman), and "Agnes' Lament." The music on Reluctant Hosts is typical of the late-'80s European avant pop of bands like Zero Pop, No Secrets in the Family, No Safety, and many other acts recording for Rec Rec or No Man's Land at the time. Non Credo would produce a second album in 1995, including more improvisation and eschewing regular song structures. For the 2001 CD reissue, No Man's Land has added 13 tracks recorded in 1987-1988, including compilation contributions and some unreleased music for a radio play, gathering on one disc all of the duo's early material."