Nouvelles → 2001 → février

28 février 2001

[traduction française non disponible]

intro >> what a life. the last update was almost a month ago & yet it felt like about a few days worth. the releasing pace is slowing down as we prepare to release our debut compilation cd, but that doesn't mean the music is getting stale ~ much on the contrary. this week, we have three new releases right off the fridge, ready to conquer ears & minds worldwide. will you be one of the happy listeners? it's yours to decide!

044: diablatomica >>
a no type collaborator from the early days, estevan carlos aka _diablatomica_ has remained an eminently obscure figure in our roster, releasing bits & pieces of isolated beats & noises arranged into his particular brand of sultry strings of sound. since his latest album, the magistral The Progressive Works of Diablatomica [019], he has gone on to start his own record label, co-records, which is slowly but surely preparing its first compilation vinyl, hopefully to be released this year. now working on his debut cd, _complexion_, diablatomica has decided to release Tempt [044] as a taster. to top it off, this album also features remixes from an all-star cast of _matrix assimilation_, _atomes lourds_, _philémon_ & _camp_. matrix's mix even inexplicably includes a speech by noam chomsky. no time for boredom is how i would put it.

045: camp >>
if only to make the _period three_ adventure all the more puzzling, i've decided to actually end it there, & begin a new identity, which should confuse matters even more. if period three was about chaos, _camp_ is about new forms of community & collaboration (be it of one's mind with itself). camp indulges in silent politics: it speaks with no words. at once abstract, expressive, arcane & disturbingly easy on the ears, the music is a mixture of views & thoughts, celebrating the coming obsolescence of all technology & pointing out its inherent primitivism in new twisted ways. of course, some people would be quick to categorize camp Féministe [045] as house music; but it's not: it's camp music. as for it being feminist... there's _kaia wong_ singing on track 3, if you're not convinced. (she doesn't even know it!) all right, i said enough. hate it or like it, it's finally settled.

046: books on tape >>
anything straightforward, for once? no luck: you've reached The Highly Illogical EP [046], which is the debut no type album from todd drootin aka _books on tape_. after a self-released cd, _take a read on the riding_ & countless appearances on various mtv shows which i don't watch, books on tape is ready to take over the no type world as well. within a completely frantic, fast-paced approach to music, todd manages to incorporate deliriously arresting fresh jamaican grooves, to a more than effective result. it bumps, it rides, it rocks, & it never lets go. totally intelligent, totally funked up, this music screams for debunked dichotomies & onomatopeic superlatives. oh, & i'm told this is also going to be pressed to vinyl, with a slightly different tracklisting. more details when we get them; for now, it's time for pogo dancing.

an evening of nonstop music >> those in montréal on friday, march 23 (2001.03.23) will be pleased to hear that a night of fantastic music is shaping up at the casa del popolo. _james schidlowsky_ has been setting up this event where all acts mix into each other to form a continuous thread of sound. among the people present are _magali babin_, _alexandre st-onge_ & _sam shalabi_, as well as _camp_ & _yves hudon et son équipe_ (an exciting new band featuring james & members of _napalm jazz_). this is a joint presentation from muzik aktiv & no type, & you are invited to show up at this unique event. the price is 5 dollars & the music will be priceless.

the once.twice festival of sound >> okay, now the big one. the first edition of the _once.twice festival of sound_ will take place in baltimore on the weekend right after that (2001.03.24>25). the line-up should be very appealing to anyone willing to make the drive. here's some big names off the top of my head: _while_, _twine_, _dan conrad_, _backbreakerneckbrace_, _tv pow_, _andreas berthling_... not to mention no type's own _themoonstealingproject_, who organizes the event. there will also be films, & much fun for the whole family. please click here for more information, as it's no good trying to cram it all in here.

arborisation terminale live in québec >> _arborisation terminale_, a duo featuring _le chien borgne_ will be performing live on their casio pt-xx this saturday (2001.03.03) at _scanner_, in québec city. also on the bill is a mysterious "electro rock n roll" outfit named _chernobyl cha cha_. the whole shindig comes courtesy of alterflow records.

elasticlego on cd-r >> esteemed mp3 outlet tiln is now offering cd-rs from various underground electronic composers, & one of the first items on the catalogue is _elasticlego_'s album _65:56_, a beautiful mixture of strange & beautiful ambience which gives whole new meanings to the word "compelling". if you thought Blurred memories of a static child [042] was good, then this is even better: sharper sounds, more diversified material, excellent production... elasticlego's not going anywhere but up...

morceaux_de_machines in residence >> a duo formed by _a_dontigny_ & _é_dorion_ (who you may know for their _napalm jazz_ outlet), _morceaux_de_machines_ has recently been offered a residence at avatar in québec (québec). during a whole week, they will redefine post-electroacoustic improvisation as we know it & the results will be heard onto an upcoming cd on avatar's own record label _ohm_. this is happening this month! more details as they come...

live reports >> more & more, no type music is getting out of the web, & into live venues everywhere. _833-45_ recently played with _loscil_ & west coast darlings _vote robot_, & promised to submit the results if it sounds any good (what do you mean "if"?) also, jason urick tells us that the _town & country_ gig which took place last sunday (2001.02.25) was a complete success: "backbreakerneckbrace stole the show with dawn bennick's amazing video piece!" what else? the _rumble_ was amazing. 14 musicians who barely knew each other, & yet, what coherence! the whole thing has been recorded & it would be a shame if it got lost, as this is some free improv we'll remember for a very, very long time. (perhaps we should use this space to plug the hosts of the rumble, montréal's own _detention_, who just released their debut cd _warp & woof_ to mass critical acclaim.)

upcoming >> i'm not taking a breath just yet. the next three albums to be released on no type should be nothing short of bedazzling. first off comes our second overseas release (first one being _3code_), which coincidentally is also from spain: _kanito_ presents _duo#1_billar_ [047], an electroacoustic improvisation with... a billard table. then comes the long-awaited debut of the aforementioned _morceaux_de_machines_ with _cosmothérapie_ [048]. & to top it off, we are _finally_ releasing _zammuto_'s much-praised track _full martyr status_ [049], with remixes from all over the no type roster (think _eucci_, _833-45_, _diablatomica_...) something for everyone then, but that's turning into an understatement...

thought >> no type: because music is a mess.

— david

8 février 2001

[traduction française non disponible]

intro >> we were idle, you have missed us (& we you), but now we're back after a welcome new year break. & since there's a _lot_ to talk about (particularly on the live front, for once!), i'll cut right to the meat to introduce three new no type artists, who coincidentally present us today with three different approaches to minimalism in music & sound. (so, no social rant today! but maybe next time. :)

041: le chien borgne >>
gtr, a human entity also known as _le chien borgne_, operates from beautiful québec (canada), where he deliberately but not-so-delicately dissects chunks of near-silence & reassembles them in an untypically brooding, in-your-face fashion. the result may be a tough pit to break for most; but it is certainly worth your while: as these sines & clicks evolve in your headphones, things come out of your speakers, music appears which wasn't there before... it's like watching your stereo on heavy medication, coughing out drone after drone. after a first cd, _banlieux art_ (on alterflow records) which featured a cover art made out of grass (!), it's now the turn of the debut no type album, the unpronounceable but microscopically funky 23_50-lr¬n [041]. get more static for your money, & watch it dance inexplicably!

042: elasticlego >>
_elasticlego_ is dustin craig, a composer & musician fresh with recent digital releases on tiln & techNOH, as well as his own web site. an inattentive (but somehow discerning) listener may appreciate his work as a "lovely atmospheric bed of sound", but anyone who delves further will be awed out by the complex threads contained within elasticlego's music, unfolding into tone stories telling of a vague, half-remembered past. on the surface, it's a quiet place where nothing seems to happen; but beneath a child's routine, dreams & thoughts tumble & rumble. Blurred memories of a static child [042] is just this journey, rolling through a box of sound-pictures & reminescences which could be your own... & which you can make your own. elasticlego's music is about beauty being everywhere.

043: dick richards >>
hailing from musically-bubbling toronto (also home to _tomas jirku_, if that name rings a bell), _dick richards_ is another of those minimal house people. do i hear someone complain that there is more than enough minimal house on this planet? they clearly haven't heard what this individual is doing with his machines. even on cheap monophonic speakers with no "bass boost" button, dick richards delivers some of the most forbiddingly addictive grooves heard by these ears in some time, not to mention deadly sharp production skills making the whole thing a wholly exciting listen. if this were on vinyl, you'd be hearing it everywhere already. but this guy is crazy & he's releasing these 5 tracks with no type. what can you do.

live in baltimore >> no type is presenting its first show in baltimore (maryland), featuring chicago improv wizards _town & country_, as well as a bunch of fantastic baltimore freaks: _backbreakerneckbrace_ (with video by _dawn bendick_), _dan conrad & ian nagoski_, _andrew hayleck_ (who you may remember for his no type release The Paranoiac [014]), & _jason willet_. the show will take place at the world-famous ottobar on sunday, february 25. bring a mate, & smile!

explosions 2000 now on video >> the first edition of the _explosions_ music festival, held last year in montréal, is not done making noise just yet. as a special collaboration with the organizers of this festival, no type is proud to present quicktime videos of the event, featuring such noted montréal experimental musicians as _alexandre st-onge_, _monstre_ (who will have his debut cd coming out on alien8 in a matter of weeks), _women with kitchen appliances_, _suzuki kid_ & more! they make a lot of ruckus, & now you can see it all happen before your very eyes.

rumble this sunday >> this sunday (2001.02.11) at the casa del popolo (a noted vegetarian art bar in the mile end borough of montréal, famous for its solid state soup & yummy sandwiches), the _rumble_ will feature, amongst montréal avant-garde digerati (think _alex mcsween_, _sam shalabi_...), notypesters _james schidlowsky_ & members of _napalm jazz_. this should turn out to be a night of free improv to be remembered. at the time i'm writing this i'm not sure how much it'll cost to see it, but i'm assuming around $5. be there!

naw meets monolake & kit clayton >> as if that weren't enough live shows to announce, new no type addition _naw_ will be playing toronto this saturday (2001.02.10) supporting electronic music superstars _monolake_ & _kit clayton_. the event takes place at the _art system_, 327 spadina. naw is preparing his debut no type album to be released sometime this year.

my_tv_wife >> a somewhat "rock band" twist to the _audio elw_ project spearheaded by _eucci_, my_tv_wife comes to existence with new songs available for your enjoyment & download. these are beautiful things you should check out when you have a minute. or three. & then cherish for the rest of your life, for better or for worse.

requisite tomas jirku mention >> hot on the heels of two critically-acclaimed cds (_variants_ & _sequins_) & a flurry of live shows, _tomas jirku_ is keeping himself busy (just look at the "forthcoming" page on his web site if you doubt it). one of the things to look for especially is the re-release of _immaterial_, coming soon on new alien8 sublabel _substractif_. this new version will feature selected tracks from the original no type version (now deleted), reworked using all the new tricks tomas has been discovering since. i'm not even going to say "check it out" because that sort of goes without saying.

upcoming >> on the next update, no type goes pop. well, not really, but i like to think that the next 3 releases are mighty catchy things you can't miss. _diablatomica_ makes a welcome return with _tempt_ [044], a song from his upcoming debut cd, featuring a bunch of remixes to give you a run for your non-money (like in the old days!) next up is _camp_, my own project taking off where _period three_ stopped. the album is called _féministe_ [045] & that's just what it is. finally, _books on tape_ makes his long-awaited no type debut with _the highly illogical ep_ [046], a blur of fast breakbeats for modern living. or is it postmodern.

thought >> no type: we're just keeping music interesting.

— david