Heribert Friedl – Page 2

January 22, 2010April 5, 2010

Brussels BE 01.22.2010 – framework

January 22.10

This sunday on Framework resonance.fm : “these are few of my favorite things” by i8u
/*framework* / – phonography / field recording;
contextual and decontextualized sound activity
presented by patrick mcginley

*framework*/ broadcasts:
sunday, 10pm, london, uk on resonance 104.4fm (http://www.resonancefm.com)
tuesday, 2pm, london, uk on resonance 104.4fm (http://www.resonancefm.com)
wednesday, 12am, thessaloniki, gr on cooradio (http://www.cooradio.com)
wednesday, 3am, lisbon, pt on radio zero (http://www.radiozero.pt)
thursday, 7pm, lisbon, pt on radio zero (http://www.radiozero.pt)
friday, 1am, brussels, be on radio campus 92.1fm (http://www.radiocampusbruxelles.org)
saturday, 5pm, south devon, uk on soundartradio 102.5fm (http://www.soundartradio.org.uk)

Framework – i8u – my favorite things (Installment #3)

As mentioned in earlier installments, my interpretation of field recording based work is very broad, however, the thread I like to follow is to find artists who have mastered their unique identity through the music of sound.

For the next two editions of “my favorite things”, i will focus on a particular label based in Vienna. The label is nvo, non visual objects and it was founded in 2005 by Heribert Friedl and Raphael Moser. In 2007, nvo released : Extract, Portraits of Soundartists, a book and 2 cd’s.
The next hour will be devoted to the 1st cd’s issued as well as excerpts from the book.

Playlist + additional info below

Tracks Artists & Websites

1. Fingers pointing at the moon, Keith Berry – twoinchesofftheground.com
2. A field for recordings 2, Richard Chartier – 3particles.com
3. Live in Osaka, Taylor Deupreee – 12k.com
4. nbvto, Heribert Friedl – nonvisualobjects.com
5. Précis, Richard Garet – richardgaret.com
6. Microclimates for Paliku, Andy Graydon – andygraydon.net
7. Listen to what you see, Bernhard Günter – trenteoiseaux.de
8. Radio, John Hudak – johnhudak.net
9. In Absentia , Dean King – etoami.com
10. Provisional, Dale Lloyd – and-oar.org

Additional info:

Extract -Portraits of Soundartists nvo 011 (2007)

Introduction

Since we started the label Nonvisualobjects two years ago, many collaborations with artists worldwide have arisen, a large, growing network has evolved and an extensive body of work has been formed that we would like to explore and try to sum up. The book developed from the idea of presenting an extract of artists involved in the current experimental electro-acoustic music scene, often following a rather reduced approach in their work. We would like to present artists that work in different areas in this field of electro-acoustic music, to cover a large spectrum even in this quite specific area.

With essays, interviews, photos, drawings and other materials presented in this book, we try to look at the motivation and intention behind the sound production from different perspectives, to possibly allow for a new/extended approach to this form of music. Many of the artists involved in this project do not exclusively work with sound, but also in other artistic disciplines. In this book we would like to present these other sides of their work to allow crossreferences/crosslinks to open up new aspects of the music.

The chapters consist of collage-like contributions. Images and text should not necessarily be regarded as complete units, but are open to various possibilites of interpretation.

It was not our intention to present a discourse in theories of art and music. It was also not our wish to present a curated work on a specific topic. Instead we wanted to show very personal portraits created by the artists themselves, which describe their way of working, the methodology of their sound production and which also portray the artist’s physical and not only their intellectual environment – where one lives, things of everyday life, things of interest and inspiration.

In the fast moving times of the digital era, it was also our wish to, at least partly, hold on to an analogue medium. Should the inevitable decay of digitally stored media ever lead to the disappearance of much of contemporary art and culture, the possibility to refer to this book would still remain.

Heribert Friedl, Raphael Moser

nonvisualobjects.com

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*for general info, playlists, podcasts, or to stream the latest edition

at any time: http://www.frameworkradio.net
<http://www.resonancefm.com/framework>*

*framework is supported by /soundtransit/: http://www.soundtransit.nl *

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FRAMEWORK NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!
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your subscriptions & donations help make the production of framework possible. visit out website to find out how to become a regular donor, or make a one-time donation here: http://www.murmerings.com/donate.html. 25% of all donations go to resonancefm, without whom framework would not exist. (if you would like to donate directly to resonancefm please visit their support page here: http://www.resonancefm.com/support.)

PLUS, IN CELEBRATION OF FRAMEWORK’S 250TH EDITION, DONATE €25 OR MORE AND RECEIVE ONE OF THE FRAMEWORK250 2CD COMPILATIONS, OR €40 OR MORE AND RECEIVE BOTH!

January 21, 2010April 5, 2010

Lisbon PT 01.21.2010 – framework

January 20 & 21.10
This sunday on Framework resonance.fm : “these are few of my favorite things” by i8u
/*framework* / – phonography / field recording;
contextual and decontextualized sound activity

presented by patrick mcginley

Playlist + additional info below

Tracks Artists & Websites

1. Fingers pointing at the moon, Keith Berry – twoinchesofftheground.com
2. A field for recordings 2, Richard Chartier – 3particles.com
3. Live in Osaka, Taylor Deupreee – 12k.com
4. nbvto, Heribert Friedl – nonvisualobjects.com
5. Précis, Richard Garet – richardgaret.com
6. Microclimates for Paliku, Andy Graydon – andygraydon.net
7. Listen to what you see, Bernhard Günter – trenteoiseaux.de
8. Radio , John Hudak – johnhudak.net
9. In Absentia, Dean King – etoami.com
10. Provisional, Dale Lloyd – and-oar.org

Additional info:

Extract -Portraits of Soundartists nvo 011 (2007)

Introduction

The chapters consist of collage-like contributions. Images and text should not necessarily be regarded as complete units, but are open to various possibilites of interpretation.

Heribert Friedl, Raphael Moser

nonvisualobjects.com

~ time zone converter: http://thesaturnv.com/converter.html ~
*for general info, playlists, podcasts, or to stream the latest edition

at any time: http://www.frameworkradio.net
<http://www.resonancefm.com/framework>*

*framework is supported by /soundtransit/: http://www.soundtransit.nl *

RESONANCE FM’S PROGRAMMING IS PRODUCED ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTEERS; PLEASE HELP US TO CONTINUE BY MAKING A DONATION. CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP KEEP RESONANCE ON THE AIR: HTTP://WWW.RESONANCEFM.COM. THANK YOU! *******************************************************
FRAMEWORK NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!
*******************************************************
your subscriptions & donations help make the production of framework possible. visit out website to find out how to become a regular donor, or make a one-time donation here: http://www.murmerings.com/donate.html. 25% of all donations go to resonancefm, without whom framework would not exist. (if you would like to donate directly to resonancefm please visit their support page here: http://www.resonancefm.com/support.)

PLUS, IN CELEBRATION OF FRAMEWORK’S 250TH EDITION, DONATE €25 OR MORE AND RECEIVE ONE OF THE FRAMEWORK250 2CD COMPILATIONS, OR €40 OR MORE AND RECEIVE BOTH!

January 20, 2010April 5, 2010

Tessaloniki Gr 01.20.2010 – framework

January 20.10

This sunday on Framework resonance.fm : “these are few of my favorite things” by i8u

/*framework* / – phonography / field recording;
contextual and decontextualized sound activity
presented by patrick mcginley

Framework – i8u – my favorite things (Installment #3)

Playlist + additional info below

Tracks Artists & Websites

Additional info:

Extract -Portraits of Soundartists nvo 011 (2007)

Introduction

The chapters consist of collage-like contributions. Images and text should not necessarily be regarded as complete units, but are open to various possibilites of interpretation.

Heribert Friedl, Raphael Moser

nonvisualobjects.com

~ time zone converter: http://thesaturnv.com/converter.html ~
*for general info, playlists, podcasts, or to stream the latest edition

at any time: http://www.frameworkradio.net
<http://www.resonancefm.com/framework>*

*framework is supported by /soundtransit/: http://www.soundtransit.nl *

PLUS, IN CELEBRATION OF FRAMEWORK’S 250TH EDITION, DONATE €25 OR MORE AND RECEIVE ONE OF THE FRAMEWORK250 2CD COMPILATIONS, OR €40 OR MORE AND RECEIVE BOTH!

January 17, 2010April 5, 2010

London UK 01.17.2010 – framework

January 17 & 19.10

Playlist + additional info below

Tracks Artists & Websites

1. Fingers pointing at the moon, Keith Berry – twoinchesofftheground.com
2. A field for recordings 2, Richard Chartier – 3particles.com
3. Live in Osaka, Taylor Deupreee – 12k.com
4. nbvto, Heribert Friedl – nonvisualobjects.com
5. Précis, Richard Garet – richardgaret.com
6. Microclimates for Paliku, Andy Graydon – andygraydon.net
7. Listen to what you see, Bernhard Günter – trenteoiseaux.de
8. Radio, John Hudak – johnhudak.net
9. In Absentia, Dean King – etoami.com
10. Provisional, Dale Lloyd – and-oar.org

Additional info:

Extract -Portraits of Soundartists nvo 011 (2007)

Introduction

The chapters consist of collage-like contributions. Images and text should not necessarily be regarded as complete units, but are open to various possibilites of interpretation.

Heribert Friedl, Raphael Moser

nonvisualobjects.com

~ time zone converter: http://thesaturnv.com/converter.html ~
*for general info, playlists, podcasts, or to stream the latest edition

at any time: http://www.frameworkradio.net
<http://www.resonancefm.com/framework>*

*framework is supported by /soundtransit/: http://www.soundtransit.nl *

PLUS, IN CELEBRATION OF FRAMEWORK’S 250TH EDITION, DONATE €25 OR MORE AND RECEIVE ONE OF THE FRAMEWORK250 2CD COMPILATIONS, OR €40 OR MORE AND RECEIVE BOTH!

August 21, 2007April 1, 2010

Review – Extract, Portrait of Soundartists(nvo) 2007 – by Heinrich Deisl, skug

V. A. : EXTRACT-PORTRAITS OF SOUNDARTISTS (NVO_011)
Das Wiener Label Nonvisualobjects legt mit “Extract. Portraits of Soundartists” als formschönes Buch plus DCD akustische Fährten Richtung Mikrosounds und schickt die Ohren auf Entdeckungsreise.
Stille: Spätestens seit John Cage eine ernstzunehmende kompositorische Praxis, von David Toop und anderen kontextualisiert, eine Art Gegenbewegung innerhalb experimenteller Soundart, die zum aktiven Zuhören zwingt. Die minimalisierten Soundcluster und -flächen gehen zwar schon als eigenständige Musik durch, dienen aber vor allem als Transportmedium, um die uns umgebenden Alltagsgeräusche musikalisch bewusster wahrzunehmen.
Bislang fehlte eine österreichische VÖ mit internationaler Relevanz, die sich ausschließlich mit derartigen Phänomenen auseinandersetzt. Nonvisualobjects war 2005 vom Musiker Heribert Friedl und dem Grafiker Raphael Moser gegründet worden. Von Anfang an hatte man sich dabei auf Sounds zwischen Installation, Ambient, Fieldrecordings und Stille verlegt, die Arbeitsmethode ist programmatisch: Reduktion. Experimente e-musikalischer Prägung stehen hier an, als Fluchtlinie sei etwa Bernhard Günter genannt.
Die 22 Tracks von Richard Cartier, Nao Sugimoto, Taylor Duprée, Steinbrüchel, Asmus Tietchens, Jos Smolders und klarerweise Günter und Friedl erforschen jene Klangfelder, die sich sozusagen hinter der Musik aufhalten. Mit der aus Montréal stammenden France Jobin aka I8U ist die einzige Frau auf dieser Compilation vertreten. Wenn auch in sich recht stringent, verzichtet dieser “Beginner’s Guide” auf überbordende Theoretisierungen sondern verlegt sich auf die Personen selbst. Ein löbliches Unterfangen, wenn man endlich mal erfährt, wie eben diese Musik entsteht. “Extract” zeichnet ein vielschichtiges Portrait der Künstler und ihrer interdisziplinären Herangehensweise, die sich vor allem an der Schnittstelle zwischen akustischer/visueller Präsenz/Absenz manifestiert. Dies passiert mittels Interviews, eigenen Texten oder biografischen Skizzen, dazu kommen selektierte Diskografien. Schließlich ist “Extract” reich illustriert mit Projektfotos, Grafiken, Zeichnungen und John Hudak liefert Comics ab. Ambitioniertes Projekt.
(heinrich deisl, skug)

July 21, 2007March 30, 2010

Review – Extract, Portrait of Soundartists(nvo) 2007 – by Massimo Ricci, touching extremes

EXTRACT (2CD + book by Non Visual Objects)

The thought of having passed a whole life transferring tapes to CD and DVD only to clutch at flies at the end is enough to think of myself as a cretin but hey, one has to find something to “enjoy the passage of time”, as James Taylor would have it. Seriously, once upon a time I could only have dreamed about a honest publication containing news and pictures about artists whose music I follow and mostly respect, and that in this case are sonically represented by two CDs containing tracks that they recorded for this special occasion.
The names in question are Keith Berry, Richard Chartier, Taylor Deupree, Heribert Friedl, Richard Garet, Andy Graydon, Bernhard Günter, John Hudak, i8u, Dean King, Dale Lloyd, Roel Meelkop, Will Montgomery, Tomas Phillips, Steve Roden, Jos Smolders, Steinbrüchel, Nao Sugimoto, Asmus Tietchens, Toshiya Tsunoda, Ubeboet, Michael Vorfeld.

Every chapter presents an interview or some personal considerations by the artist about his own work and his/her relationships with other members of the same community. Most of them describe their approach and influences, others let drawings and photographs do the speaking while only a few – like Keith Berry, whose splendid track opens the first disc – report about the intimate sensations that unconsciously introduced them to certain types of withdrawn awareness. It is of course very interesting to know how these people have reached goals while still struggling to develop new means to synthesize determinate conclusions, but it’s equally nice reading about a man like Asmus Tietchens, who distances himself from most everything while being capable of producing music whose level of efficacy on the perceptive system is portentous to say the least.

The discs contain a lot of great moments, the perfect means to complement a very useful reading, and there is no actual sense in defining a “best of”. But, since you asked, Berry, Deupree, Lloyd, Roden, Tietchens and Ubeboet are the tracks that I liked in particular, and it was not an easy choice. What I really suggest is using both the book and the CDs like a breviary: open your windows, turn the volume up, let the sounds mix and read a few pages. Everything will make sense then.
(massimo ricci, touching extremes)

July 21, 2007March 30, 2010

Review – Extract, Portrait of Soundartists (nvo) 2007 – by Larry Johnson, earlabs

EXTRACT (2CD + book by Non Visual Objects)

For anyone interested in modern-day approaches to experimental electro-acoustic music, especially the more minimal interpretations, Extract | Portraits of Soundartists is a valuable, practical, and enjoyable reference. Conceived by Heribert Friedl and Raphael Moser, the release consists of two compact discs featuring compositions from twenty-two contemporary artists involved in making electro-acoustic music. The discs are housed in a 96-page hardcover book containing text and/or images from each artist. View complete artist/track listing here .

I’ve had Extract | Portraits of Soundartists in my possession for about a month now. It has accompanied me wherever I go throughout the day. Sometimes I just listen to compositions on the discs, other I times I sneak in a few minutes to read (and re-read) the essays, interviews, etc. in the book, but the most rewarding times are early mornings/late afternoons when I can sit down, relax, listen and read at the same time. It’s at these moments that things begin to come together as the text that I read and the images that I see help make sense of and give context to the intricate, abstract, and beautiful sounds that these artists are producing. I’m also humbled by what I’ve read realizing now that so much of what I’ve written and reviewed in the past is way off the mark. If only I knew then what I know now.

Describing the music found on the discs is difficult. In the broadest sense, it’s about artists exploring the seemingly infinite and non-traditional ways in which sound can be manipulated, transformed, sculptured, recontextualized, disassembled, and reassembled. Dean King summed it all up nicely in the form of a question – “how far can music be reduced and still be understood as music? (p.47)”

At a minimum, Extract certainly achieves two important purposes: First, it provides a representative, international cross-section of the many sound artists involved in composing experimental electro-acoustic music (although I would liked to have seen more female artists included). Of the twenty-two artists included, there were only five whose work I was not at all acquainted with. For the remaining seventeen artists, my awareness ranges from very familiar to just a mediocre knowledge. Richard Chartier, Taylor Deupree, Heribert Friedl, Bernhard Günter, John Hudak, Dale Lloyd, Steve Roden, Jos Smolders, Ralph Steinbrüchel, Asmus Tietchens, and Ubeboet are common names to me. Also known to me, but not quite as familiar, are Richard Garet, Andy Graydon, I8U, Dean King, Roel Meelkop, and Tomas Phillips. Now, with deference to Extract, I’ve been introduced to the work of Keith Barry, Will Montgomery, Nao Sugimoto, Toshiya Tsundo, and Michael Vorfeld.

Secondly, we get multiple viewpoints in varying formats (interviews, essays, photos, drawings) detailing the inspiration, influences, purpose, and techniques behind the process of sound construction and revealing mutual threads of interest and other commonalities. Examples are plentiful – Dean King gives a wonderfully articulate and philosophical exposé concerning his methods establishing connections and drawing parallels to literature, abstract painting, and photography. He also writes about disassembling and decontextualizing sound and how granular processing makes possible the “transformation of time.” Tomas Phillips goes into some detail about “minimalist tendencies” and the “minimizing of sound.” Bernhard Günter draws interesting analogies between photography and music viewing both cameras and audio recorders as samplers capturing visible and auditory frequencies, respectively, that can then be digitally manipulated, and the title of his accompanying track “Listen to what you see” says a lot about his methods. France Jobin (I8U) gives a short biographical essay outlining the “environmental and technological landmarks” encountered during the “creative process.” Keith Berry and Richard Chartier each reveal the importance of early childhood “sound memories” and discuss the significance of visual art in their musical development. John Hudak writes about the similarities in the creative processes of drawing and music creation. Heribert Friedl writes about his interest in combining sound art with his work in “non visual objects.” Andy Graydon expounds on the influences of music concrète, film/cinema, and environmental art on his sound work. Toshiya Tsunoda discusses his interest in “vibration phenomenon” and the role it plays in his compositions and installations. Jos Smolders labels much of his sound work as “abstract” explaining that it’s often constructed from concrete sounds, but not necessarily connected to reality, and he makes an interesting analogy between his methods and the expressionistic school of painting. Nao Sugimoto explains that “the sounds, textures, and colors of nature” are essential to his current work. In a similar fashion, Richard Garet regards his sound art as a “constant response to the complexities of the environment“ taking in everything around him and then “putting it out in different reconfigurations.“ Will Montgomery makes reference to the element of “uncertainty” in his work and speculates on the indirect influence of his interest in contemporary avant-garde poetry on his music. Steinbrüchel speaks for several artists when he says that “I feel more connected to other artists throughout the world than in my local area.” There’s a common theme of local “isolation” tempered somewhat by a connectedness with like-minded people outside their locale via collaborations made possible by the internet. Finally, more than one artist made it known that regardless of how much intent and purpose is put into a composition, among the best pieces are the ones in which chance takes over and allows the work to “unfold” naturally on its own.

My only wish now is that enough people see the worth and importance of such a dual media work like Extract that we see more of the same. A free, virtual/downloadable online follow-up to this reaching out to anyone interested would be the ideal. A fresh roster of sound artists might include names like William Basinski, Marc Behrens, Esther Bourdages, Joda Clément, Anne Guthrie, John Kannenberg, K. M. Krebs, Francisco Lopez, Stephan Mathieu. Christopher McFall, Nathan McNinch, Michael Northam, Ben Owen, Pablo Reche, Asher Thal-nir, and Sabine Vogel to name just a few.
(larry johnson, earlabs)

July 21, 2007March 30, 2010

Review – Extract, Portrait of Soundartists(nvo) 2007 – by Tom Sekowski, gaz-eta

EXTRACT (2CD + book by Non Visual Objects)

V. A. : EXTRACT-PORTRAITS OF SOUNDARTISTS (NVO_011)
The premise sounds simple. Vienna based Non Visual Objects imprint invited twenty-two sound artists to present a piece of work. Over time, two CDs worth of sounds were filed. What are more impressive though are the non-musical aspects each of the musicians offers in “Extract” project, which not only consists of the music, but a nearly 100 page book. As the two project leaders – Heribert Friedl and Raphael Moser – explain in the introduction, “We would like to present artists that work in different areas in this field of electroacoustic music, to cover a large spectrum even in this quite specific area. With essays, interviews, photos, drawings and other materials presented in this book, we try to look at the motivation and intention behind the sound production from different perspectives, to possibly allow for a new/extended approach to this form of music.” Though each of the artists is somehow tied in to the electro-acoustic and microsound scene, variety of artists included in the project fluctuates greatly. Taylor Deupree chooses to express himself with a variety of photos taken over three year journeys to Japan. Many of these are intensely personal and to get an inside scoop into his work is real difficult. On the other hand, his “Live in Osaka” piece is a rather pleasant, gliding, and ear-ringing glitch of soothing proportions. As many of the artists favour the question and answer interview scheme, so does sound manipulator Richard Garet. His contribution in the form of “Précis” is inundated with off-the-wall, distant crackles and glissando waves of buzzing. Bernhard Günter chooses to display some of his photos and his attached “Listen to what you see (audio sample of location of all Koblenz photos)” is a serene journey into oblique concoction of unidentifiable sound. John Hudak shares some of his drawings [which honestly remind me of Daniel Johnston’s better work], while his “Radio” piece is a glistening sound world full of cricket-like appropriations. Steve Roden’s distant-echo call of old, crackly records “Air Into Form/Voice Into Breath” is accompanied with a four pages of his working diary, which ultimately lets us peak into his thought process. Package ends on a high note with German audio-manipulator and visual artist Michael Vorfeld whose masterful percussive manipulations turn out to be as eerie as they are enlightening. In between all of these are contributions from Toshiya Tsunoda, Ubeboet, Keith Barry, I8U, Dean King, Tomas Phillips, Asmus Tietchens, Richard Chartier and a dozen others. In a nutshell, “Extract” fulfils its goal quite well. In showing the visual aspect behind many of these artists work, their music takes on an entirely new meaning. It’s true that the more you know someone, the more you’re bound to love them.
(tom sekowski, gaz-eta)

July 21, 2007March 30, 2010

Review – Extract Portrait of Soundartists(nvo) 2007 by BGN, WHITE-LINE

EXTRACT-PORTRAITS OF SOUNDARTISTS (NVO_011)

It is encouraging that at last there seems to be a genuine groundswell of interest in the sonic arts here in the UK, in part stimlulated, no doubt by groundbreaking tomes by David Toop, followed by his inspirational Sonic Boom Festival in London some years back, which to some extent defined the paradigm shift in public understanding and acceptance of sound art. The accompanying book/catalogue was also representative of a weighty cross- section of sound artists in the world at the time. This was followed by another thoroughly defining book, “Blocks of Consciousness” issued by Sounds323, that has quickly become a kind of ready reference manual for neophytes, would-be sound artists, and sonic art adherents alike. The arrival in the UK of artists such as Alva Noto, Ryoji Ikeda, and RLW, playing in prestigious venues such as the Barbican, Tate Modern, and Sage Centre, also indicate a subtle shift of interest into more obscure, and radical approaches to sound work. Now comes the beautifully produced EXTRACT, by specialist label Non Visual Objects, whose output over the last couple of years has cast a bright light over the genre of minimalism, with a series of exquisitely produced releases that focus primarily on the ultra-minimal, both in terms of design and presentation.
This book, rather than following tried and tested routes trawling the theoretical aspects of sound, takes a warmer, and more intimate approach by selecting sound artists who are very much “of the moment”, and gaining insights into their psyche by asking stock questions about early influences, recent influences, working methods, collaborations, connections to local art scenes, etc ,etc.
What is interesting about this approach is that it becomes a kind of census of a representative cross section of artists, which in itself reveals patterns and commonalities that perhaps may not be obvious to the layman, and are refreshingly re-assuring to others, like myself, who operate within this field. Some of these commonalities such as encounters with the sounds of air conditioning systems, heating systems, refrigerators etc in formative years are deeply interesting, as they become the catalyst for experiments in later life for many of these artists, and indicate a predisposition to the more cerebral and marginalised elements of contemporary culture.
The majority of these artists also appear to be operating in relative isolation with respect to local music scenes and the art establishment, and it is only via the internet, and their respective record labels that they have been able to connect with like-minded individuals and audience alike. Other common themes appear to be that many of these artists are also deeply interested in nature, and natural systems; they also have great sensitivity to the visual arts (many also being visual artists as well). Recurring themes also appear to be Kraftwerk, Burroughs, Cage, Eno, all in themselves highly revealing as sources and origins of inspiration, as very few of these influences are inherently “minimal” in their approach.
I have deliberately not singled out any one artist for scrutiny here, preferring to deal with EXTRACT as a product to be dealt with holistically. From a purely subjective point of view, the strength of this book lies in it’s position of defining minimalism not only as a musical/sonic genre, but as a microcosmic social network, a spiritual economy based upon the communal exchange of information, goods, and most importantly, ideas. The selection of artists in the spotlight in this publication is by no means exhaustive, and prominent figures such as Chartier and Deupree, Tietchens, Günter, Steinbrüchel, Roden, are positioned alongside relative newcomers such as Dale Lloyd, Tomas Philips, Michael Vorfeld for example. This in turn presents a wider spectrum of possibility for those interested in pursuing the work of all of these artists, and in a wider sense, stimulating interest in minimalism in general. The CD’s enlcosed within the end papers of the book will surely emerge as a “who’s who” of the genre, very much in the way that Selektion’s “Tulpas” did in the 90’s, and will be reviewed here at some later point.
EXTRACT itself is a relatively quick read (I did it in under an hour), but it’s influence, and implications will remain with me, and others for many years, I am certain. An absolutely essential insight for anyone interested in minimalism.
(bgn, white line)

July 12, 2007March 30, 2010

Review – Extract, Portrait of Soundartists(nvo) 2007 – by Nicola Catlalano, blow up

EXTRACT (2CD + book by Non Visual Objects)

V. A. : EXTRACT-PORTRAITS OF SOUNDARTISTS (NVO_011)
In solo due anni d’esistenza e poco più di una decina di produzioni la Nonvisualobjects di Heribert Friedl e Raphael Moser si candida ad un ruolo di primo piano nell’ambito internazionale della sound art. E l’uscita più recente a diventare uno di punti di riferimento imprescindibili per tutti gli appassionati del settore. Esempi di parziale catalogazione dell’universo della sound art con tendenze microsoniche sono già stati tentati in passato, si pensi alle compilation della serie “Lowercase”, ai due volumi della 12k “Between Two Points” e “Two Point Two” o in un ambito più specifico alla collana “Clicks & Cuts” o, ancor meglio, ai volumi con CD “Site Of Sound: Of Architecture And The Ear” della Errant Bodies Press e “Sound Art – Sound As Media” della NTT Publishing Co. Proprio a queste ultime due pubblicazioni può essere accostato “Extract – Portraits of Soundartists”, benché rispetto ad esse risponda ad un approccio meno teorico e sistematico. Si tratta per lo più di istantanee di singoli autori condotte col metodo semplice e pratico dell’intervista, oppure attraverso note autobiografiche, diari, disegni, fotografie, riflessioni estemporanee (in pratica l’aspetto teorico dell’operare di ciascuno viene fuori in maniera più sottile, meno diretta, andando a comporre un quadro d’insieme in maniera piuttosto obliqua). Ventidue gli artisti selezionati con criterio personalissimo ma tutto sommato aderente allo stato delle cose (ovvio che non si possa pretendere completezza enciclopedica), ognuno dei quali presente anche con una traccia altrimenti inedita. Poche le sorprese e pochi i nomi relativamente nuovi (Richard Garet, Andy Graydon, Ubeboet, I8UŠ), con una scaletta che si concentra sulle grandi firme. Poche purtroppo anche le sorprese sotto il profilo puramente estetico, sia formale sia di contenuti, dacché ormai il tipo di ricerca cui si assiste concede poco spazio all’inaspettato e alla soddisfazione uditiva, con l’eterna dicotomia tra chi riesce a cavare dalle proprie manie private qualche emozione che valga la pena comunicare anche a noialtri (Keith Berry, Richard Chartier, Taylor Deupree, Dean King, Dale Lloyd, Tomas Phillips, Steve Roden, Steinbrüchel, Nao Sugimoto, tanto per dire) e chi, con varie sfumature ed attenuanti, rimane chiuso nella sterile torre d’avorio della sperimentazione fine a se stessa (più o meno tutti gli altri). Palese manifestazione di cul de sac o, come si diceva all’inizio, manuale indispensabile (spesso, del resto, il quadro finale è superiore alla somma delle singole parti) è dubbio che lasciamo volentieri sbrogliare al lettore.
(nicola catlalano, blow up)