REVIEWS
[k]
KNALPOT
( CD EP Demo)
Of
course having a brilliant weekend there last year at the incredible
3 day GONG UNCONVENTIONAL (Melkweg) including inhaling something
from another planet in a cafe which virtually put me in a coma,
I naturally want to go back as soon as possible. Seriously it
really is a great town to visit; excellent cafes and restaurants
and barely any motor traffic, then the canals and scenery..
Meanwhile, anticipating the imminent release of the Gong Uncon
DVD, this mindblowing number fell on the doormat. It's an awesome
little pile driver of a recording by an equally ferocious and
insane duo. It smells entirely of the avant and beautifully
fucked up world that is past, present and future Amsterdam,
that jewel of (and hope for) contemporary Western culture. It's
fun, it's heavy, it's tight, it's colourful and very orginal,
in fact almost indescribable. Check out the website text rather
than mine... it's all true.
"This
duo is not a project - it’s a band! KNALPOT hails from
the fertile music pastures of Amsterdam. Without a doubt it
is a refreshing and original experience. One minute there may
be low and dirty fuzz-rock riffs, the next stumbling grooves
that stutter like a rusty old engine. After that, the music
might morph into hazy clouds of chirps and swirls, a moment
of tranquility right before sonic noise improv comes crashing
down around your ears. Soon after, there might be some low frequency
rumbles to fill your stomach. Their self-proclaimed rascal style
has a modernizing combo sound that is reminiscent of 1980's
Commodore 64 computer game aesthetics.“ (by Klaus Grinsky)
KNALPOT
is the collaborative product of two interesting musicians. Both
of them are unmistakably rooted in rock music, but you can quickly
tell they are reputable musicians experienced in many musical
genres. On drums - the energetic and extroverted Gerri Jäger,
known from extensively touring avant-funk band Brown vs Brown.
Jäger is the motor of this tractor and is responsible for
all the potholes during KNALPOT’s ongoing off-road trips.
On guitar/casio/electronics Raphael Vanoli, a multi-style guitarist
operating in the fields of jazz, rock, improv, experimental
and contemporary classical music. Vanoli uses a unique setup
of FX boxes, loop machines, handyman tools and whatever else
may fall into his hands. Even though there’s only two people
on stage you don’t miss any other instrument or a singer
and despite all the technological trickery, every KNALPOT tune
is performed 100% live without backing tracks
Listen
to more on their website http://www.myspace.com/knalpot
ADVISORY - LOUD. Then look out cos they're on the way here...
_______
AUXXX
is a series of regular events at OT301 (Overtoom 301) in Amsterdam
showcasing local and international artists. We are interested
in booking and putting on events for people active in the following
areas: installation art, improvised and composed music, writing,
spoken word / rap, performance art, film / video, animation,
electronics and new media, bands and djs. We are particularly
interested in mixed bills where new combinations of approaches
are encouraged. We aim to bring together artists whose work
taps into a strong creative undercurrent running through many
genres and scenes. We provide these artists and their audience
with an open and flexible performance platform, as well as a
vibrant meeting place. The name "Amsterdam Underkurrent
XXX" reflects the city in which we are based, Amsterdam,
a "floating city" built on water, historically renowned
for its progressive outlook, a city of experiment and openness,
an international port and meeting place where new ideas can
emerge, many of which find expression through unconventional
channels and hidden paths. By tapping into these (under)currents
our events will open up new areas of dialogue and challenge
existing notions of what it means to be xxxperimental!
http://www.myspace.com/auxxxamsterdam
Knifeladder
- The Spectacle (CRYCD019)
Extreme
tribal power electronics meets industrial Hashashin wrath! Opens
with very tribal, clear cut fuzzed percussion followed by plenty
of dark, well written (and sung) lyrics and gabbling squals
of manic shenhai (reeds) over high quality processed as well
as organic drums. 'Head of the Serpent' is rememiscent of The
Stranglers darker side and 'The World Tears its Heart Out' is
a classic slow industrial stomp infused with darkly catchy refrain.
Chimera is another well sung and absorbing visitation to the
big 'n dark industrial sound Cold Meat Industry pioneered with
in the late eightees. The album picks up severely with a multilayered
wall of sound and introspective 'Harm's Way' and peaks very
nicely indeed with the concluding title track; raising the tribal
drums to a massive shamanisitic rhythm. Throw in lots of industrial
sounds, distant screaming minor keys and chanted backing vocals
resulting in a chemico-industrial wash to die for.
"Knifeladder
have been in existence in one form or another since 1998. Their
sound is the culmination of years of experimentation and independent
development. The resultant sound is a heavily percussive industrial
organic hybrid, a new meshing of electronic loops, live bass
and percussion and ethnic instrumentation to form a kind of
Organic Industrial Music. Compared to such acts as Test Dept,
Coil and Mother Destruction, Knifeladder have outgrown their
reference points to create their own niche in the genre obsessed
Industrial scene." - Knifeladder
www.knifeladder.com
