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FREIBAND, "FLYING"
Freiband is the solo project of Frans de Waard, one half of Dutchexperimental duo Beequeen. For past outings under the Freiband name, deWaard experimented with Asmus Tietchens-inspired tape-scratching,adapting the techniques into a digital medium and appropriating popmusic from the 1970s and 80s to make a unique form of experimentalglitch plunderphonia. This cute little 3" CD takes this idea a bitfurther, using source material from the Beatles' sole instrumentaltrack "Flying" from Magical Mystery Tour,reducing it to its barest structure and recomposing it for metallic,glitch-y pops and rustling undercurrents of shapeless drone.
Scarcelight
I amfairly certain I never would have made the Beatles connection had thepress notes not informed me of the piece's origins. Flying is a20-minute experimental concept piece broken up into eight differentmovements, each dissecting the original material in a different way,all of them rendering the original totally unrecognizable. Track oneretains the rhythmic structure, where track two creates various layersof throbbing electronic noises in which rhythm is far from a constant.The strictly minimal sound palette and clinical digital productionreminds me at times of a Raster-Noton release, which is frequently nota good sign of musical quality, at least in my opinion. There's nothingbad about the sounds on this mini CD, but it sort of defies any kind ofcritical assessment of its quality, as it is by its nature non-musicaland a bit prickly. There are some interesting moments, such as thesixth track, where alien, reptilian syllables lick forked tongues overa looped vibraphone. These moments are brief and insubstantial,however, and aren't anywhere near as intriguing as releases byBeequeen. I could try to make this sound more interesting by ruminatingon the implicit ideas of digital technology and the decay of the systeminherent in the incipient glitch, but what would be the point? Thoseideas could just as easily apply to a steel wool-scoured CD of the lastGreen Day album, which is not exactly my idea of good music.
Scarcelight
I amfairly certain I never would have made the Beatles connection had thepress notes not informed me of the piece's origins. Flying is a20-minute experimental concept piece broken up into eight differentmovements, each dissecting the original material in a different way,all of them rendering the original totally unrecognizable. Track oneretains the rhythmic structure, where track two creates various layersof throbbing electronic noises in which rhythm is far from a constant.The strictly minimal sound palette and clinical digital productionreminds me at times of a Raster-Noton release, which is frequently nota good sign of musical quality, at least in my opinion. There's nothingbad about the sounds on this mini CD, but it sort of defies any kind ofcritical assessment of its quality, as it is by its nature non-musicaland a bit prickly. There are some interesting moments, such as thesixth track, where alien, reptilian syllables lick forked tongues overa looped vibraphone. These moments are brief and insubstantial,however, and aren't anywhere near as intriguing as releases byBeequeen. I could try to make this sound more interesting by ruminatingon the implicit ideas of digital technology and the decay of the systeminherent in the incipient glitch, but what would be the point? Thoseideas could just as easily apply to a steel wool-scoured CD of the lastGreen Day album, which is not exactly my idea of good music. samples:
