The Squid's Ear Magazine


International Nothing, The (Fagaschinski / Thieke): Just None of Those Things (Ftarri)

Using harmonic intersections and extraneous sonic emanations from two clarinets, the duo of Kai Fagaschinski and Michael Thieke (also of The Magic I.D.) continue their long-standing International Nothing project of composed works through patient interactions of powerfully focused technique, here in their fifth album presenting a 42-minute work of delicate, dark beauty.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Kai Fagaschinski-clarinet

Michael Thieke-clarinet


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UPC: B09RP4XBJH

Label: Ftarri
Catalog ID: ftarri-215
Squidco Product Code: 31797

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2022
Country: Japan
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded in Kai Fagaschinski's living room, in Berlin-Kreuzberg, Germany, between June 21st and 25th, 202, by Michael Thieke.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"The International Nothing is the clarinet duo project of Berlin-based clarinetists Kai Fagaschinski and Michael Thieke. Since their debut album, Mainstream, came out on the Ftarri label in 2006, they've released an album on Ftarri every four years--Less Action, Less Excitement, Less Everything in 2010, The Dark Side of Success in 2014, and In Doubt We Trust in 2018--all of which have earned international acclaim. Once again, four years after their previous recording, the duo's highly anticipated fifth album, Just None of Those Things, has been released in 2022.

Both Fagaschinski and Thieke are well known as improvisers, but in The International Nothing they perform composed pieces that they've crafted and refined together over a long period. This album's one (42-minute) track, "Just One of Those Things," was likewise created in a thoughtful and unhurried way between 2019 and 2021, and recorded in the period of June 21-25, 2021.

Since the release of their debut album, the duo's music has been praised for its tremendous subtlety and delicacy, reinforced by superior technique. Amazingly, this new album, with its superb musical structure and performance, has reached even greater heights. This will surely be regarded as The International Nothing's most masterful work to date. Since the duo's first release, all their album covers (which are made of extra-thick card stock) have featured the exquisite artwork of Japanese designer tanabemse, reproduced on washi-like paper. The cover of this album is, once again, breathtakingly beautiful."-Ftarri



This album has been reviewed on our magazine:

The Squid
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Artist Biographies

"The Berlin-based clarinetist and composer/performer focuses on a subtle musicality of sound and noise phenomena. As an autodidact he has developed dubious manners on his instrument. His music is rooted in abstractness, including increasingly an insidious expressivity and a pre-melodic quality. He works on the borderline of composition and improvisation, with a preference for long-term collaborations.

His projects are The International Nothing - clarinet duo with Michael Thieke (cd: Mainstream, ftarri 2006 / less action, less excitement, less everything, ftarri 2010 / the dark side of success, ftarri 2014), los glissandinos with klaus filip (cd: Stand clear, creative sources 2005), the magic i.D. - Song Project with margareth kammerer, christof kurzmann & michael thieke (cd/vinyl: Till my breath gives out, erstwhile 2008 / i'm so awake - sleepless i feel, staubgold 2011), duo with Burkhard Stangl (cd: Musik - ein portrait in sehnsucht, erstwhile 2009), the dogmatics with Chris Abrahams (lp: The sacrifice for the music became our lifestyle, monotype 2012), here comes the sun with gunter schneider & barbara romen (cd: Here comes the sun, mikroton 2012), Kommando Raumschiff Zitrone with Christof kurzmann (cd: First time ever i saw your face, quincunx 2006), duo with Bernhard Gal (cd: Going round in serpentines, charhizma 2005), rebecca with michael renkel (cd: Rebecca [two variations], charhizma 2003), No Furniture with Boris Baltschun and Axel Dörner (cd: No furniture, creative sources 2003), and (exceptionally) solo.

Kai has been the commander of Raumschiff Zitrone from 2000 to 2006, joined by christof kurzmann in 2002. Recently both commanders have been retired and closed the legendary raumschiff zitrone which has presented concerts of countless international artists. In 2001 he co-initiated together with gregor hotz and conrad noack berlin's experimental music platform www.Echtzeitmusik.De.

Kai was artist-in-residense at quartier21 (part of museumsquartierwien, vienna) in 2004. As a result of fruitful collaborations and good friendships vienna feels like a second home for him."

-Kai Fagaschinski Website (http://kylie.klingt.org/bio.html)
3/13/2024

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

"The Berlin-based clarinetist/composer/performer Michael Thieke is equally at home across a broad range of musical environments, such as experimental song forms, collectively composing projects, improvising collectives, and music on the fringes of jazz. He is exploring the minutiae of sound, timbre and noise, with a particular interest in microtonality and related sound phenomena, and with a preference for long-term collaborations and collective work.

Some of his current Projects are: The International Nothing (with Kai Fagaschinski cl, CD on ftarri), The Magic I.D. (with Christof Kurzmann, Kai Fagaschinski, Margareth Kammerer, CD/LP on ErstPop and staubgold), The Pitch (with Boris Baltschun organ, Koen Nutters b, Morten Olsen dr, LP on gaffer), Der lange Schatten (with Håvard Wiik p, Antonio Borghini b), Voutchkova/Thieke (with Biliana Voutchkova vl), Splitter Orchester, Toulemonde/Thieke (with Olivier Toulemonde acoustic objects), Hotelgäste (with Derek Shirley b, Dave Bennett g, CD on schraum, LP on self), Michael Thieke Unununium (with Luca Venitucci acc/p, Martin Siewert g, Christian Weber b, Derek Shirley b, Steve Heather dr, Eric Schaefer dr, CD on charhizma), motif (with Atle Nymo sax, Håkon Mjåset Johansen dr, Eivind Lønning tp, Ole Morten Vågan b, Håvard Wiik p), Porta Chiusa (with paed Conca cl, Hans Koch cl), Spirit Songs (with Mike Cooper voc/g, Elio Martusciello el, Fabrizio Spera dr, Luca Venitucci acc/el.), Roman Tics (with Burkhard Beins, Luca Venitucci, CD on Cathnor), Cowards Bend The Knee (Live Music in different setups with the film Cowards Bend The Knee by Guy Maddin), Gebhard Ullmann's The Clarinet Trio (with Gebhard Ullmann bass clarinet, Jürgen Kupke clarinet) and Uli Gumpert Workshop Band."

-Michael Thieke Website (http://www.michael-thieke.de/e/biographie.htm)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Just None of Those Things 42:26

Related Categories of Interest:


Compositional Forms
Recordings by or featuring Reed & Wind Players
lowercase, reductionist, micro-improv, sound improv, onkyo sound
Duo Recordings
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
New in Compositional Music

Search for other titles on the label:
Ftarri.


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