Improvised Music from Japan

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

• In Japanese only
• 80 pages; 21cm (H) x 15cm (W)
• 2 CDs included
• Cover and CD design by Suzueri

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.

• Gregor Hotz
• Nicholas Bussmann
• Merle Bennett
• Thomas Ankersmit
• Ignaz Schick
• Hannes Strobl
• Pure
• Annette Krebs
• Andrea Neumann
• Caramel Empties
• Alessandro Bosetti
• Boris Baltschun
• Kai Fagaschinski

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

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

Improvised Music from Japan home page