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Ricardo Villalobos / Max Loderbauer: Re: ECM
ByOver the course of two discs, acclaimed DJ/producers Richard Villalobos and Max Loderbauer redefine a wealth of varied source material from the likes of Arvo Part, Christian Wallumrod, Paul Giger and John Abercrombie. Evoking sounds as varying minimal techno, ambient music, glitch and, in one instance, "straight" jazz, the music is never laborious, due to the range of musical textures covered, and those devoted to the label will be eager to hear the reimagining of some of their favorite artists.
The ECM albums Villalobos' selections were based on feature tracks recorded singularly, in different rooms to allow the maximum manipulation of sound. The main theme running through the record is the appropriation of ECM's classic use of silencethe delicious reverb in-between notes often being the ambient basis for most of the duo's experimentation. This is particularly true for the remix of Arvo Part's seminal Kanon Pokajanen (2000). The choral vocals are all but reduced to ghostly tendrils of soundcoruscating around the thick ambience like coils of smoke. Those of the opinion that electronic music is cold and clinical need only hear this piece, which manages to be resolutely human and beautiful through only the suggestion of sound. Almost in reversal, Tatiana Melentieva's soprano' on "Resole" pushes the vocal to the fore, backed by low-key synths and granular glitch beats that sound like Supersilent at its most subdued.
Wallumrød's canon is give particular focus throughout the set. "Reblop" kicks off the album, establishing its core; the Cage-ian percussiveness of the piano melody matched by the spliced sounds of drum kits creaking, and snippets of broken harp melodies showering the melody figure like confetti. The duo is unafraid to play it straight though, toying only slightly with bassist Miroslav Vitous' composition on "Reemergence"almost as a statement that both these men possess an astute knowledge of ECM jazz.
And it is this knowledgemore fittingly, lovethat can be felt with these experiments. Each track is treated with respect and in keeping with the label's aesthetic, yet unafraid to push boundaries, which is what Re:ECM does in abundance. It lacks the academic coldness of similar recording on the Raster Noton label and feels more mature then neoclassical stylings of electronic composers like Deaf Centre. Hopefully, this recording will work as a two-way streetgiving jazz fans an insight into experimental electronics and vice-versa. With an appearance scheduled, along with Wallumrød at this year's Unsound festival, here's hoping that this experiment isn't a one off. It would be exciting to see what recordings the duo turns its hands to next.
Track Listing
Tracks: CD1: Reblop (source: Christian Wallumrød Ensemble, Fabula Suite Laguna (2009)); Recat (source: Christian Wallumrød, The Zoo is Far (2007)); Resvete (source: Alexander Knaifel, Svete Tikhiy (2003)); Retimeless (source: John Abercrombie, Timeless (1975)) ; Reemergence (source: Miroslav Vitous, Emergence (1985)); Reblazhenstva (source: Alexander Knaifel, Blazhenstva (2008)); Reannounce (source: Louis Sclavis, L'Imparfait des Langues (2007));Recurrence (source: Wolfert Brederode Quartet, Currents (2007)); Requote (source: Christian Wallumrød, Fabula Suite Laguna (2009)). CD2: Replob (source: Christian Wallumrød, Fabula Suite Laguna (2009)); Reshadub (source: Paul Giger, Ignis (2000)); Rebird (source: Rava/Bollani/Motian, Tati (2005)); Retikhiy (source: Alexander Knaifel, Svete Tikhiy (2003)); Rekondakion (source: Arvo Pärt, Kanon Pokajanen (1998)); Rensenada (source: Bennie Maupin, The Jewel in the Lotus (1974)); Resole (source: Alexander Knaifel, Svete Tikhiy (2003)/Amicta Sole (2005)); Redetach (source: Christian Wallumrød, Fabula Suite Laguna (2009)).
Personnel
Ricardo Villalobos: electronics; Max Loderbauer: electronics.
Album information
Title: Re: ECM | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: ECM Records
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