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And yet a few more releases very worthy of your time and effort.
Bichi - Notwithstanding
Released on Thomas Knak's Hobby Industries label, 'Notwithstanding' sees the sometimes Blue Foundation member further refining the sound that surfaced so convincingly on his recent EP's. A bit like Telefon Tel Aviv sans the overwrought soul-searching, 'Notwithstanding' is largely instrumental, with Wilner taking in a commendably broad spectrum of styles ranging from the pitter-patter of 'As You Glimpsed The Line of My Shoulderblades', through to the grin-inducing swirl of digital delight that is opening track 'Layers of Generation Without Number'. When there are vocals, Wilner opts to bring in collaborators, with the breathy female tones of 'Whirl' thawing the clicking electronica perfectly, whilst elsewhere the lack of tacit human input renders splintered symphonies like 'Broken City' so delicious. A lovely listen; notwithstanding 'owt.
Jasper TX - I'll Be Long Gone Before The Light Reaches You
Only a handful of releases in and Lampse have already established themselves as purveyors of the most gorgeous blue noise imaginable; a fact which is forcibly asserted by this deeply enjoyable album from Sweden's Jasper TX. With a vibe initially remeniscent of the warm shimmering guitar manipulations of Fennesz, Jasper TX (aka Dag Rosenqvist) coaxes finely textured and fathom deep compositions from a relatively sparse aural palate, resulting in a sound which has the scope of Sigur Ros coupled with the raw ebb of Jelinek and Tape. Opening with what at first seems a textbook excursion in layered rustles and machine lint, the album kicks off with 'Blown Out to Sea, I'm Never Coming Back'; wherein this slightest of foundations is slowly furnished by distant sea swells of diffused soundscape detritus and heart-flushed bass to make a post-rock influenced sound which will thaw all but the coldest of emotional husks. Similar in its effect is 'Braille', where through static ruptured digital shards, a fragile sense of glowing optimism emerges, rewarded at the end by a stunning piano melody which coaxes the ear straight into the border-line drone of 'Letting Gon (The World Is Coming to an End)'. Possessing a similar monochrome outlook to Norway's Deaf Center, Jasper TX proves on the likes of 'Help The Die' and 'Rounds' that the grandest of gestures are best realised through the most personal of compositions. Stunning.
Mountains - Mountains
The sound of Mountains emits via instrumentation from the worlds of americana, folk and modern classical music given a subtle electronic filtering mixed with shimmering field recordings. Often sounding like classic Apollo era Brian Eno recorded during a tropical downpour, while at others bringing to mind the glorious sun-drenched layering of genre-master Fennesz, this album evokes the feeling you had as a child when opening boxed presents only to find another box insideand then another ... until you finally reach the gemstone kept heavily under wraps. Housed in a unique styled digipak, this album transcends all usual superlatives and is a definite highlight of 2005 to date. Essential purchase.
Hauschka - The Prepared Piano
Having graced the recent Karaoke Kalk compilation with one of its undoubted highlights, Hauschka (aka Volker Bertelmann) returns with his second album 'The Prepared Piano'; a daringly candid musical letter to his obvious one true love... the grand piano. Although willing at times to allow other instruments into the relationship (most apparent on the percussive masterpiece 'Traffic'), Bertelmann never lets them overshadow the ivories. Evidently enthralled to the likes of John Cage and Henry Cowell, 'The Prepared Piano' seems to revel in the dusty, careworn sound of a much used steed prepard with all manner of object affecting the sublime sound, with the opening 'La Seine' a rickety marriage of clockwork sensibilities and deceptively simple playing. This sound continues throughout, with the driving rectitude of 'Fernpunkt', the lazy honky-tonk of 'Two Stones' and the quixotic marriage of glitch and piano on the closing 'Morning' of particular note. Absolutely beautiful piano music.
Jóhann Jóhannsson - Dis
Ditching the orchestral manoeuvres of his last album, Iceland’s wondrous Johann Johannsonn has instead embraced the more traditional song structure for 'Dis'; a kind of soundtrack project, but for what I'm not sure. One moment as happy as Larry, the next pondering the fragility of mankind, 'Dis' sees Johannsonn's mood-ring flashing like a disco. Opening with 'Bangkok Nordursins', Johannsonn approaches with a gleaming (if not pathos dusted) smile, taking a healthy leaf from the books of Hermann & Kleine and Mum, before dredging indie-fried riffs for '10 Rokkstig'. After this bucolic opening, the first real taste of a darker Johannson comes on the stunning 'Ja, Hemmi Min', wherein a muted exuberance leads to a sound reminiscent of Vladislav Delay collaborating with Sigur Ros. If you're not sure how that would sound, let me summarise; it's an unqualified success. Elsewhere, both 'Jardarfor' and 'Flugeldar' tickle the ivories in a fashion that will please anyone recently bewitched by Hauscka and The Boats, whilst 'Efripides Og Nedripides' makes real the intriguing spectre of a Mum/Supergrass hook-up. Featuring members ofReykjavik bands Funerals, Slowblow and Trabant as well as renowned Icelandic guitarist Hilmar Jennsson and one of Iceland's most beloved singers, Ragnheidur Grondal, this is a very different and wholly unexpected album from one of our favourite producers of the moment – check it immediately
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