The duo of Berlin clarinetists Kai Fagaschinski and Michael Thieke (The Magic I.D.) create rich, evolving soundscapes using tones and odd interjections in unison and in dissonance, dark works of subtle beauty in unique sound oriented compositions.
Format: CD Condition: New Released: 2014 Country: Japan Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold Recorded at Ausland in Berlin, Germany, on September 19th through the 22nd, 2013 by by Michael Thieke.
"The International Nothing is the duo project of Berlin-based clarinetists Kai Fagaschinski and Michael Thieke. Both musicians mainly perform as improvisers, but in The International Nothing they play their own compositions, focusing throughout on the resonance f the clarinet's uniquely soft and warm timbres. The interweaving of the two clarinets creates delicate sonic inter-reverberation and fluctuation, resulting in music of exquisite beauty and tension. Following Mainstream (2006) and Less Action, Less Excitement, Less Everything (2010), this is the brilliant final album of The International Nothing's album trilogy. The six tracks were recorded in Berlin in September 2013."-Ftarri
"The third release by this self-effacing duo (Kai Fagaschinski and Michael Thieke on clarinets) is very much in line with the first two, both a good and, perhaps, a slightly troubling thing. Good in the sense that what they do is so luminous and beautiful, tracing delicate lines, often with closely adjacent tones creating a panoply of ghost tones and beats, all played with extreme subtlety and sensitivity, carving out a fine area of sweet/sour tonality; it's wonderful work. Troubling, maybe, in a kind of treading water sense. I find myself wanting to hear them more steadfastly confronting song forms, something they do in one track here, "Deepwater Horizon". There, a simple seesaw rhythm undergirds some gorgeous playing, ironically, opening up (for me) wider vistas in urgent need of exploration (!). The remainder of the recording is absolutely fine and should be heard both by fans and, as ever, curious listeners just getting into the genre. It's lovely music, greatly appreciated; I just want to hear them push things more."-Brian Olewnick, Just Outside