The Squid's Ear Magazine


Machinefabriek: Amalgaam (Zoharum)

Based on a series of improvisations on a very hands-on hardware setup, with an old tone generator, effects pedals, dictaphones, contact mics, &c., Machinefabriek (Rutger Zuydervelt) took these recordings into the studio to compose these four works, 2 brief pieces and the 2-part, intricate "Amalgaam", in an absorbing album of dramatic texture & sound.
 

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Personnel:



Rutger Zuydervelt-composer, performer


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Label: Zoharum
Catalog ID: ZOHAR 197-2
Squidco Product Code: 29280

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2020
Country: Poland
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold 3 Panels
Recorded and edited by the artist between 2017 and 2019.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Amalgaam is a raw and unpolished album. Which doesn't mean that it's blunt or trite. The grainy, textural sounds on this record have a fleeting, cinematic quality to them, combining spaciousness with a sense of intimacy - at times interrupted by noisier outbursts. The album is based on a series of improvisations on a very hands-on hardware setup, with an old tone generator, effects pedals, dictaphones, contact mics, etc. This material was then mixed and edited into the pieces on this album, while retaining the liveliness of the source material. The only deviation is 'Metallic (Edit)', which is an older track that originally appeared on a Japanese compilation tape, but - especially in this newly edited form - seemed to fit between the Amalgaam pieces perfectly."-Zoharum



"Background/Info: Rutger Zuydervelt set up his Machinefabriek project in 2004. Hailing from The Netherlands, this artist has released a countless number of productions featuring many collaborations. Amalgaam is his newest work, which has been introduced as 'based on a series of improvisations on a very hands-on hardware setup'. He used an old tone generator, effect pedals, dictaphones, contact mics ao. The noises were originally recorded and next mixed and transformed in the studio.

Content: Machinefabriek stands for experimental music and that's what Amalgaam simply stands for. You clearly can see the improvised way of working, mixing numerous noises creating a truly sonic patchwork. The album features 2 shorter cuts and 2 elaborated ones holding you in their grip for 11- and 15 minutes. Next to the experimental/industrial influence, the album also reveals a dark-ambient touch, which is hanging over the work.

Notice by the way the track "Metallic" is an older cut that was originally released on a compilation. As the cut fitted with the global approach of "Amalgaam" it has been simply re-edited.

+ + + : If you're into experimental music and you like improvisations, Machinefabriek is for sure a project you have to get on your radar. This new work will fulfill your expectations, Rutger Zuydervelt is operating as an experienced sound architect in the genre. From self-created noises to pure electro-acoustic work, this album will especially catch your attention by its longer cuts. "Amalgaam I" and "Amalgaam II" both are efficient track and I especially like the way both cuts evolved into a crescendo.

- - - : The experimental side however remains difficult to be accessible for non initiated music freaks.

Conclusion: I often have some reservations with prolific artists, but Amalgaam is worthy of examination for experimental lovers."-Inferno Sound Diaries, Side-Line


Get additional information at Side-Line

Artist Biographies

"Machinefabriek is the alias of Rutger Zuydervelt. Rutger's music combines elements of ambient, noise, minimalism, drone, field recordings and electro-acoustic experiments. His pieces can be heard as an attempt to create sonic environments for the listener to dwell in. Finding tension in texture, tone and timing, the result can be very minimalistic at first glance, but reveals itself upon closer listening. The devil is in the details.

Rutger was born in 1978 in Apeldoorn (The Netherlands) and now resides in Rotterdam. He started recording as Machinefabriek in 2004. After a series of self released cd-rs, his official debut Marijn was issued in 2006, with great critical acclaim. Since than, a solid stream of music was released on labels such as Type, Important, Home Normal, 12K, Entr'acte, Dekorder, Miasmah, Consouling Sounds, Experimedia and Staalplaat. He performed all over the globe, from Canada to Israel and from Russia to Japan.

Rutger collaborated (on record and/or live) with numerous artists, such as Steinbrüchel, Jaap Blonk, Aaron Martin, Peter Broderick, Frans de Waard, Mats Gustafsson, Steve Roden, Gareth Davis, Stephen Vitiello, Michel Banabila, Dirk Serries and Dead Neanderthals, amongst many others.

He frequently works with film makers, like Makino Takashi, Mike Hoolboom, John Price, Paul Clipson and Chris Teerink, for whom he composed a soundtrack for his documentary about Sol LeWitt. Rutger also recorded the music for the Canadian drama The Cold and the Quiet from 2014. Furthermore, his music was used in Edward Burtynsky's Watermark, the drama Stone (with Robert DeNiro and Edward Norton) and Josh Fox' influential Gasland and Gasland Part II documentaries. Besides films, Rutger also composes music for dance pieces, like Alix Eynaudi and Kris Verdonck's EXIT (premiéred at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin), Alexander Whitley's The Measures Taken (for the Royal Opera in London) and Beheld (for Candoco Dance Company), and multiple pieces by Spanish/Dutch choreographer Iván Pérez. Then there's Rutgers installation work, in which the dialogue with the environment plays an important role. He did projects for Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, NAi (Dutch Architecture Institute), the new Armando Museum MOA, Sounds Like Audio Art in Saskatoon (Canada), the Into the Great Wide Open Festival, Netwerk in Aalst (Belgium) and children's museum Villa Zebra in Rotterdam."

-Machinefabriek Website (http://www.machinefabriek.nu/about/biography)
3/27/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Intro Tape 1:32

2. Amalgaam I 11:37

3. Metallic (Edit) 5:43

1. Amalgaam II 15:30

Related Categories of Interest:


Electro-Acoustic
Improvised Music
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Electronic Forms
Field Recordings
Solo Artist Recordings
New in Experimental & Electronic Music

Search for other titles on the label:
Zoharum.


Recommended & Related Releases:
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