25.11 |cs099

Do quinteto austríaco CTRL, via Creative Sources Recordings, chega 25.11, uma proposta que tem tudo para cativar o ouvido exigente. Foi em 2005 que Gloria Damijan (piano), Bernd Klug (contrabaixo), Meike Melinz (flauta), Gabi Teufner (flauta) e Bernhard Schoeberl (guitarra), todos nascidos à volta de 1980, decidiram formar um grupo para improvisar regularmente, fluidificar processos criativos e apurar um som colectivo. A ideia de pesquisar soluções acústicas fora dos ambientes típicos dos encontros fortuitos entre músicos tem estado na base do trabalho do grupo. Sobre o CTRL, Burkhard Stangl, músico e autor das notas ao disco, escreveu que o grupo se propõe “questionar, pensar e atrever-se, de maneira neurótica, plasmática, subtil e consistente”. Neuroses e plasmatismos à parte, quanto ao mais o objectivo foi plenamente atingido, através da colocação em prática de um programa ambicioso de improvisação subtil, sem ser reducionista, rica em formas maleáveis, incessante exploradora de contrastes e aproximações tímbricas. O debate a cinco, que não sofre o mínimo atropelo ou hesitação, produz um som contemporâneo, abstracto e minimalista, caracterizado pela abundância de padrões pontilhistas assimétricos, somatório de pontos de luz e sombra em instável justaposição. A progressão, discreta e elegante, avança por pequenos passos em escala diminuta, de recorte e acabamento delicados. O som das flautas movimenta-se no espaço e paira no ar, inefável, como volutas de fumo por entre a trama das cordas de guitarra, piano e contrabaixo. Composição/decomposição, pormenor, breve instante colorido suave. Os cinco artistas sabem comunicar entre si e o projecto funciona. 25.11, bela e ousada combinação de impressões acústicas, foi gravado na mesma data, ao vivo no estúdio Amann, em Viena, Áustria. Eduardo Chagas (Jazz e Arredores)

ctrl strebt auf 25.11 (cs 099) - die Einspielung entstand am 25.11.2006 in Wien - nach dem ‚Noch-nicht‘ im Extraordinären. Gloria Damijan (Piano), Bernd Klug (Kontrabass), Meike Melinz (Flöte), Bernhard Schöberl (akustische und E-Gitarre) und Gabi Teufner (ebenfalls Flöte) spielen ihre Kammermusik selbstverständlich im Frei- und Plinkplonkstil. Es wurde zwar schon behauptet, dass Haferbrei sexy macht, aber man muss dazu aussehen wie Marty Feldman und nicht klingen wie fünf Mäuse, die in Haferflockenkartons rappeln. ‚Strg C\Strg V/Kopieren macht Spaß‘ zeugt von Humor, aber muss man unbedingt als Eierkopf den Eierköpfen gleichen wollen, die Gefummel als holde Kunst zelebrieren? Das Piano ist hier offenbar ein Saiteninstrument. Darüber komme ich aber leichter hinweg als über das ‚vergasen den Haferbrei‘. Rigobert Dittmann (Bad Alchemy)

One of those items that I find difficult to detail, as it touches so many facets of improvisation while not actually carving something definitive out of the wood of truly personal expression. But, at the same time, a very well played and recorded disc (the latter courtesy of Christoph Amann, in my opinion the “studio master” as far as capturing this genre’s nuances is concerned). Hailing from Austria, CTRL consist of Gloria Damijan (piano), Bernd Klug (double bass), Meike Melinz (flute), Bernhard Schoeberl (guitar) and Gabi Teufner (flute). The flutes are pretty venomous, excellent technique bathed in stinging modernism (not abundant in clichés for our good luck). Echoes of early Frith in Schoeberl’s style, metal scraping and string bouncing at the basis of most everything he plays on the instrument, be it acoustic or electric. The low-frequency office’s keys are handed to Damijian and Klug, whose expertise applied to the bass regions allows the music to shift towards droning territories quite often. In general, this work breaths and moves without giving particular signs of malaise, despite a not excessive quantity of innovation on the horizon. The short duration of both the single tracks and the whole CD is an intelligent choice: as soon as we’re ready to shout “OK, I’ve received the message”, a new plot is unveiled. Interesting group, on average with the huge roster of the Portuguese label; I’d like to hear them again in future occasions. Massimo Ricci (Touching Extremes)

Even if during the last year Creative Sources has exponentially augmented the number of its electronic oriented releases it's still a label mostly renowned for its electro-acoustic/improvisative rooster.
This cd is exactly located there in the free republic of improvisers: piano guitar, double bass a pair of flutes involved into the creation of nine sketches of extemporary composition. This ensemble from Vienna works in a quite traditional way even thought the ability of the players demonstrates they're really able to work together.
Considering the kind of ensemble and the way the play together it also reminded me of Civil War. If you imagine one of those recording where you have an over abundance of silence you're on the wrong lane, they cross the field of improvisation with no hesitation and that without wasting time in notes and extreme loudness, Interesting. Andrea Ferraris (Chain DLK)