Improvised Music from Japan

Improvised Music from Japan EXTRA 2006
Special Berlin Issue

OUT DECEMBER 24, 2006

(Improvised Music from Japan, IMJ-308/9)
Purchase price in Japan: 2,500 yen (2,625 yen with tax)
(Outside Japan, prices vary.)

In addition to interviews of 12 musicians/1 group residing in Berlin (Gregor Hotz, Nicholas Bussmann, Merle Bennett, Thomas Ankersmit, Ignaz Schick, Hans Strobl, Pure, Annette Krebs, Andrea Neumann, Caramel Empties, Alessandro Bosetti, Boris Baltschun, and Kai Fagaschinski), this "extra" issue of IMJ features 2 CDs with 18 tracks by a total of over 30 musicians, almost all of whom are Berlin residents: Adeline Rosenstein/Andrea Neumann, Annette Krebs/Steffi Weismann, Kommando Raumschiff Zitrone, Michael Thieke Unununium, Lucio Capece/Axel Doerner/Robin Hayward, Tunar, Alessandro Bosetti, Tony Buck/Andrea Neumann, Sink, Marzipan Marzipan, Kalkuel & Leidenschaft, Boris Hauf, Phillip Sollman, Thomas Ankersmit, Ignaz Schick/Jason Forrest, Burkhard Beins, Rechenzentrum, and blumm&tau. The interviews were conducted by Toshimaru Nakamura during a visit to Berlin in January 2005 (with the exception of the email interview of Annette Krebs by Taku Sugimoto, which took place between January and April 2006). In addition to discussing their musical activities, the artists share many of their thoughts about the Berlin scene. Their candid views reveal the dynamism that has characterized that scene since the late '90s. Berlin musician Nicholas Bussmann was in charge of the selection of artists for the accompanying CDs, and the result is an ideal compilation for those who want to know more about today's Berlin scene. Through the words and music of musicians on the scene, this issue explores the current situation of improvised music (and related genres) in Berlin.


Interviews

All interviews by Toshimaru Nakamura in Berlin, January 2005, except Annette Krebs interview, by Taku Sugimoto by e-mail, January-April 2006.


Track list of attached CDs

Disc 1

  1. Adeline Rosenstein / Andrea Neumann - Pas Perdus (2:23)
    Adeline Rosenstein: voice
    Andrea Neumann: inside piano, mixing board

  2. Annette Krebs / Steffi Weismann - Le Vol (3:46)
    Audio short version of an audio-visual performance by Annette Krebs and Steffi Weismann
    Annette Krebs: idea, Soundplant, objects, composition
    Steffi Weismann: idea, objects, voice
    Nicolas Galeazzi: voice
    Agnes, Ralph, Vicky, Victoria: Mac OS X voices

  3. Kommando Raumschiff Zitrone - Roger (7:14)
    Kai Fagaschinski: clarinet
    Christof Kurzmann: lloopp

  4. Michael Thieke Unununium - Schaum (3:38)
    Luca Venitucci: accordion, prepared piano
    Derek Shirley: double bass
    Eric Schaefer: drums
    Michael Thieke: alto clarinet, alto saxophone, clarinet, zither

  5. Lucio Capece / Axel Dörner / Robin Hayward - Inflie (7:37)
    Lucio Capece: bass clarinet
    Axel Dörner: trumpet
    Robin Hayward: tuba

  6. Tunar - Antwort auf den Regen (8:23)
    Dave Bennett: guitar, short wave radio
    Merle Bennett: drums
    Sabine Vogel: flute, electronics

  7. Alessandro Bosetti - African Feedback: Extracts 1 to 8 (4:13)
    Composed by Alessandro Bosetti
    Recorded by Alessandro Bosetti in Ogol Leye, Pays Dogon, Mali, November 2004
    Feedbacks by Ouaganamon, Edijo, Iasera, Fanta, Gadjula Souleman Dolo, Gouioubenguyon Dolo, Yaboudou Dolo, and Tapaninju Dolo

  8. Tony Buck / Andrea Neumann - Without Title (8:13)
    Tony Buck: drums
    Andrea Neumann: inside piano

  9. Sink - Ausland 1 [excerpt] (7:43)
    Andrea Ermke: samplers
    Chris Abrahams: DX-7
    Marcello Silvio Busato: guitar, percussion
    Arthur Rother: guitar

  10. Marzipan Marzipan - Ennio (1:28)

Disc 2

  1. Kalkül & Leidenschaft - Leningrad Sunrise (13:14)
    Nicholas Bussmann: cello
    Kai Fagaschinski: clarinet
    Joe Williamson: bass

  2. Boris Hauf - It's a Dirty Job But Somebody's Got to Do It (5:44)

  3. Phillip Sollmann - Room Two (8:44)

  4. Thomas Ankersmit - Negatieve Bijdrage (5:00)
    Thomas Ankersmit: saxophone, synthesizer, computer

  5. Ignaz Schick / Jason Forrest - Blood Orchid (11:22)
    Ignaz Schick: turntables
    Jason Forrest: electronics

  6. Burkhard Beins - For Ian Curtis (3:08)

  7. Rechenzentrum - A Capitalistic Landscape (4:20)

  8. blumm&tau - Eskimono (4:34)
    F.S.Blumm: guitar
    boris d hegenbart-matsui: computer
    yumiko hegenbart-matsui: drawings

Compiled and mastered by Nicholas Bussmann


Last updated: December 16, 2006

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