When "WriterCakebox - the Unblessed World of When (1983 - 1998)" Jester Records Trick 009 1999
Grey Disc (70:55)
The Black Death Jingle (1:23)
The Dark Abyss (2:54)
Witchwood - Excerpts (1:32)
Warfields (6:35)
Loosing Figures (3:45)
Anitra's Dance (:53)
Peer Gynt's Serenade (1:30)
Haxan (7:48)
Afterzone (4:12)
Black,
White & Grey - Excerpts (10:47)
From White to White (2:58)
Fellini's Hat (2:05)
Under X-mas Tree (3:47)
Paint the Dance (2:40)
Fragments (1:19)
Frozen Atlantic (3:59)
Beardsoup in Tangier - part I (3:32)
Beardsoup in Tangier - part II (4:32)
Asylum
(4:44)
Black Disc (77:45)
Sarood's Temple (1:14)
Fogface (:33)
Karius
& Baktus (5:27)
Death
in the Blue Lake - Excerpts (11:33)
Ghosts (6:16)
The Black Death - the Movie (4:10)
The Black Death - Excerpts (6:14)
Heart of Rage (7:11)
At the Wedding (2:16)
Peer Gynt and the Herd Girls (1:11)
Prefab Wreckage (7:05)
Evoe (2:25)
Bell II (6:29)
In the Hall of the Mountain King (1:58)
Peer Gynt Hunted by the Trolls (1:58)
Peer Gynt and the Boyg (1:46)
The Death of Ase (1:29)
Morning Mood (:40)
WriterCakebox (2:19)
Veil & More (5:30)
When is Lars Pedersen, former member of early '80s experimental/industrial pioneers Holy Toy. Pedersen began recording as When in 1983 and to date he has a back catalog of 7 albums. "WriterCakebox" is a 2 cd retrospective of those albums as well as a collection of numerous soundtrack, compilation and/or previously unreleased tracks. There's a lot to explore here with over 148 minutes of music spanning 17 years and numerous projects. I first became aware of When via the bizarre collage and pop of 1999's "Psychedelic Wunderbaum", also on Norway's Jester Records. When's previous work is in the same sort of surrealist vein, minus the psychedelic pop aspect. Anything and everything is a source for sound: orchestras (sampled and 'real'), drones, whistles, synths, footsteps, rain, music boxes, typewriters, animals, bells, acoustic guitar, dialogue, choirs, chants, noise, etc. ... the list is practically endless. Pedersen's talent really shines on the soundtrack minded collage/soundscape pieces. He skillfully pieces together cohesive and dynamic tracks, some dark and ominous, some subtle and beautiful, others cartoon like or just plain weird. The songs from the '80s (ten of which have English vocals) are hit and miss and often sound dated now due to the gear used. I prefer the more recent 'pop' oriented songs like those found on "Psychedelic Wunderbaum". The packaging for this set, as with all Jester product, is very sharp with a 10 page insert featuring full color collage artwork and brief comments on many of the tracks. Altogether, "WriterCakebox" is a fascinating journey through an artist's repertoire, an artist you've most likely never heard and should. When's past only makes me more curious as to what When's future has in store ...
Where did I get this cd? - from Jester Records to review.