Blending two of the most unconventional voices on the planet--Ute Wasswerman and Jaap Blonk--with percussionist Michael Vorfeld, also on string instrument, light bulbs and electronic devices, Wasserman adding voice, whistles, kutu wapa, frog buzzer, and mirliton, and Blonk adding electronics; wonderfully eccentric while impressively informed and masterfully executed.
Format: CD Condition: New Released: 2019 Country: USA Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold Recorded by Rainer Robben at AudioCue Tonlabor, BerlinRecording dates March 12 and 13, 2018
"You hear nothing from mister Jaap Blonk for some time and then twice in a week. Last week I discussed his solo cassette on Eh? Records, now it is time for a trio improvisation, which features Blonk on voice and electronics, Michael Vorfeld on percussion, string instrument, light bulbs and electronic devices and Ute Wassermann on voice, bird whistles, palate whistle, (Aztec) wind whistle/jaguar whistle, kutu wapa, frog buzzer, and mirliton. All three players move around in circles of improvisation, with, for me at least, Wassermann, the least known (only from his duo disc with Birgit Uhler, Vital Weekly 1009). Exactly one year ago, almost to the day I write these words, March 12 and 13, 2018, they recorded in Berlin, and Blonk took on the job of mixing and producing these into the product we now have in our hands. Blonk edited the material down in thirteen individual pieces of music, each with a title, but more important: each piece has its own character. Now, of course, much of this is pretty hard-core free improvisation with lots of hectic playing, and everyone fighting for a spotlight (so it seems), but there is also some great dialogue going between all players. What sets this a bit apart, I think, is their use of electronics. It has an odd appearance here, with drones, clicks and cracks, but it is incorporated in the music in a very natural way. The duo vocal approach is also something that works quite well. I liked the shorter approach to the pieces, not the few longer ones. The shorter pieces give the whole thing extra energy, vibrancy and a sense of urgency, which I somehow seem to miss in the longer pieces. Throughout, however, this was a great release, especially powerful in the shorter time frames."-Frans de Waard, Vital Weekly