Lontano

Arhiv Arhiv Objavljeno Dec 20, 2008

Izvajalec: Spaltklang
Založba: Fazzul Music
Izid: year
Ocena: 4.3/5

Markus Stauss je eden najboljših švicarskih eksperimentalnih in jazzovskih saksofonistov. Pred nastopom na festival Altrock mi je predstavljal neznanko, a po čudoviti predstavi s Spaltklang (in na eni skladbi s French TV) mi ni več tuj, temveč nekdo na kogar bo treba v bodoče biti pozoren.

Spaltklang je eden od mnogih Staussovih projektov. Vse stvari na katerih sodeluje ponavadi izda njegova lastna založba – Fazzul music. Stauss je za Spaltklang okrog sebe zbral skupino relativno mladih glasbenikov. Sam je odgovoren za večino kompozicij, medtem ko drugi pomagajo pri aranžmajih in so občasno zadolženi še za kakšno improvizacijo. Končni rezultat je zavidljiv.

Spaltklang igrajo glasbo, ki jo je zelo težko opredeliti. Lahko bi rekli, da spadajo v jazz/rock, a s tem ne bi zaobjeli vsega kar predstavljajo. Njihova glasba vsebuje še toliko elementov iz drugih stilov, na primer med drugimi klasike in avantgarde. Zame je glavna sestavina v glasbi izjemna energija in entuziazem. Glasba zveni tako sveže in razburljivo in očitno je, da skupina verjame v to kar igra. Čeprav je glasba v glavnem skomponirana, se zdi kot da svobodno teče in nima omejitev. Ko poslušam ta album, sem takoj boljše volje, vibracije so res tiste prave.

Čeprav je Markus Stauss glavni skladatelj na Lontano, ne pobere vse slave. Seveda poskrbi za neke izjemne trenutke na saksofonu, a pusti prostor tudi violini in violi. Bas in bobni so prav tako pomembni pri glasbi, sliši pa se tudi občasen sintetizator. Zdi se kot da so Spaltklang zelo usklajena enota in ta harmonija se čuti skozi ves album, ki je meni osebno eden najboljših albumov izdanih v zadnjih nekaj letih.

Pred festivalom Altrock se Spaltklang nisem zavedal, a zdaj, po tem, ko sem slišal veliko glasbe Spaltklang in Staussovih ostalih projektov, lahko brez težav trdim, da je Stauss eno najlepših odkritij in eden najbolj vznemirljivih glasbenikov. Njegovo glasbo je nemogoče opredeliti, vedno je izviren in domiseln, njegova glasba pa človeku vedno bolj priraste k srcu. Zame je Spaltklang njegov najboljši projekt, Lontano pa je glavni kandidat za Staussov najboljši album. To je izdelek, ki je zelo osredotočen, temelji na kompozicijah, je zahteven a vseeno izjemno prijeten. Pozivam vas, da skočite na njegovo stran in ta album kupite, ker je res tako dober.

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Markus Stauss is one of Switzerland’s leading experimental and jazz saxophone players. He’s been relatively unknown to me before his appearance at the Altrock festival in Italy, but after the magnificent show he put on with Spaltklang (and French TV, on one song), Stauss is no longer an unknown musician to me, but someone to watch out for in the future.

Spaltklang is one of Stauss’ many projects. All of the things he’s involved with usually gets put out by his own label – Fazzul music. For Spaltklang, Stauss assembled a relatively young group of musicians around him. Stauss is responsible for most of the compositions, while the other guys are responsible for the arrangements and the occasional improvisations. The end result is stunning.

Spaltklang play a style of music that is incredibly difficult to classify. You could put them into the jazz rock category, but that would be doing them a disservice. Their music contains so many elements from other styles as well, like classical, avant-garde and many more. The main ingredient in the music is the constant sense of energy and enthusiasm. The music sounds so fresh and exciting and it is obvious the band believes in what they are playing. Even though most of the music is composed, the music really seems to breathe freely and has no restrictions. Just listening to it makes me feel better, the vibe really is that good.

While Markus Stauss is the composer on Lontano, he doesn’t take all the glory. Sure, he provides some shining sax parts, but he lets the violin and viola have a go as well. The bass and drums also play a vital role in the music and there is an occasional synth part thrown in for good measure as well. It appears as if Spaltklang really is a tight unit and this harmony shines throughout Lontano, which for me is one of the best records released in the last few years.

Before the Altrock festival, I wasn’t even aware of Spaltklang, but now, after hearing a great deal of music both by Spaltklang and Markus Stauss’ other projects, I can safely say that Stauss is one of the best kept secrets in the music world (in general) and one of the most exciting musicians out there. His music is impossible to pigeonhole, he is always original and inventive whatever he is working on and his music just grows and grows on you. I consider Spaltklang to be the best of his projects and Lontano a really strong contender for Stauss’ best album in his extensive discography. It’s extremely focused and composed, challenging yet pleasant to listen to. I urge you to go to Markus’s site and buy this record, this stuff is really good.

Zasedba

Produkcija

Markus Stauss

Seznam skladb

1. Antipasto
2. Nachher
3. Primo
4. Der Wurm
5. 4 + 1
6. Secondo
7. Old & New
8. Berg & Tal
9. Dessert
10. Another Dance tune

Spaltklang