The Squid's Ear Magazine


Lindvall, Johan: Giraffe (Edition Wandelweiser Records)

Fourteen pieces for solo guitar from Norwegian composer Johan Lindvall, sparse yet warmly spaced pieces that focus on the individual notes or simple chords in intimate ways, meditative yet warmly evocative; two sections are presented in multiple movements, with "five songs for voice and guitar", Rasten singing words written by Marianne Moore; lovely and refined.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Fredrik Rasten-acoustic steel string guitar, voice

Johan Lindvall-composer


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UPC: 4011778040996

Label: Edition Wandelweiser Records
Catalog ID: EWR 1803
Squidco Product Code: 25913

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2018
Country: Germany
Packaging: Cardstock 3 page foldover in vinyl sleeve
Recorded on June 19th, 2017, by Fredrik Rasten

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"An enchanting set of fourteen pieces for guitar and occasional voice, performed by Fredrik Rasten.

It's always difficult, for me, to write about music "like" this, work that's at once spare, seemingly simple and very affecting. The choices made to arrive at that apparent simplicity are hard to determine, easy to appreciate. Apart from a set of five short works for voice and guitar, utilizing words from Marianne Moore, the music by and large consists of single notes or small, tonal chords suspended in space, allowed to glisten there momentarily, followed by another, forming a thin, transparent sheet which air surrounds and light permeates. Calling it calm or contemplative, while accurate, doesn't do the music justice; as with much of Antoine Beuger's music, there's an intimacy that's almost uncomfortable. One almost feels as though intruding on a private session, though it's plenty warm and welcoming enough to dispel the notion. It's all lovingly played by Rasten, whose approach almost necessarily recalls that of Cristián Alvear; if you've enjoyed the recordings from Alvear, you'll enjoy this.

The song suite stands apart, haunting and riveting. Softly sung, with sparse accompaniment, I was reminded a little bit of David Grubbs with the Gastr del Sol of some 20 years ago, a similar hesitant delicacy. As much as I enjoy the entire release, these five works are my favorite--a wonderful approach to song-form, a direction I'd love to hear pursued.

Very fine work overall, highly recommended."-Brian Olewnick, Just Outside


Get additional information at Brian Olewnick's Just Outside

Artist Biographies

Fredrik Rasten, guitarist / improviser / composer "I am a Norwegian guitarist (b. 1988) working in the field of experimental music, both improvised and composed. My main focuses are exploring and utilizing the acoustic possibilities of the steel string guitar, motivated by a fascination for the almost tactile experiences of acoustic phenomena. The last months I have been working extensively with intonation, with an extended concept of consonance as a point of departure, both in solo work and in duos with trumpeter Torstein Lavik Larsen and bass player Jonathan Heilbron. I have also had the lucky opportunity to take lessons in this field with composer and violist Catherine Lamb.

Other music that I am inspired by includes wandelweiser music, traditional british folk and early music."



"Fredrik Rasten works with acoustic guitar and in exploring the possibilities for putting this instrument in new musical contexts. With extensive use of preparations and different non-tempered tunings, he creates warm sounds in gradual development. He also includes subtle use of the voice to make interfering thick timbres and tonalities in combination with the guitar. A goal for the music is to open a room for details that invites the listener inside the musical material in an active and exploring way.

He is also playing composed music, especially related to quiet / Wandelweiser music and Just Intonation music, and has performed pieces by Johan Lindvall, Antoine Beuger and Catherine Lamb."

-Fredrik Rasten Website (http://fredrikrasten.com/)
3/13/2024

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

"Johan Lindvall is a Swedish pianist and composer based in Oslo, Norway, born in 1990."

-Squidco 3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Et Cetera 0:59

2. 21 Nocturnes 14:34

3. Circumstanes, Can Excite I 3:47

4. Circumstanes, Can Excite II 1:32

5. Circumstanes, Can Excite III 0:49

6. As Though It Had Shut Its Eyes 6:10

7. Quite Fast 1:20

8. If Not In Love Already 2:23

9. Five Songs For Voice And Guitar: Alone 1:23

10. Five Songs For Voice And Guitar: Buffalo 1:20

11. Five Songs For Voice And Guitar: Silence 1:28

12. Five Songs For Voice And Guitar: Giraffe 2:21

13. Five Songs For Voice And Guitar: Traps 1:47

14. Afield 2:33

Related Categories of Interest:


Compositional Forms
European Improvisation and Experimental Forms
Guitarists, &c.
Unusual Vocal Forms
Solo Artist Recordings
New in Compositional Music

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Edition Wandelweiser Records.


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The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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