A PROPOS DE TALIBAM!

Duo de New-Yorkais infatigables, Talibam! (avec Kevin Shea de feu Storm & Stress, Get The People ou Puttin’ in the Ritz..) est toujours aussi impliqué dans une musique complétement éclaboussée, exclamative hilarante et épileptique!..

"This stuff is totally liberated from imposed rhythmic constraints and finds a true, natural flow of rhythms. That isn’t to say they’re above relentless, authoritative pounding as on the second piece but as that part fades a thicket of clicks, clacks, clinks clanks, thrums, dings, dongs etc. materializes against a super sparse minor key organ melody. Resolving the percussive in a (somewhat) more coherent way against a pulsing organ loop beware going nuts in the final 15 seconds. A brilliant piece. The last two pieces are also great. The first is shorter and has a droning presence along with percussive rattle that starts out friendly before getting real complex real quick. The last piece initially sounds like marbles and silverware slung down a bar through a labyrinth of beer glasses. It’s somewhat disorienting but appealingly tactile and immediate. I don’t even really hear drums anywhere in the piece, and it doesn’t matter, the two guys manage to create a rich, exciting piece out of these incidental sounds that people usually ignore in their everyday life. There's some squeaking towards the end that sounds like saxophone almost, but I’m pretty sure it’s just coming from the friction of someone rubbing a glass. Not only is this tape just a flat out brilliant and enjoyable percussive brouhaha, these guys are creating something really distinctive, complex and enthralling."

Auxiliary Out.

"The depth on the whole thing is actually pretty astounding considering their instrument choice. One track will be all rattle and crazed percussion worship and the next will be an exploration in the resonance of some crystal bowl or something, ringing about as small gestures are done above it. It is an airy and tactile psychedelia that these two subscribe to, one moment slamming down the soup can stack and the next hovering above the tree line, spatula in hand, all the while exhibiting a directional control subtle in its unpredictability but definite in its shape. Definitely one of the more difficult releases on Stunned yet, not to mention one of the hardest to describe. Not really any way of summing it all up except that there is as much there as you could ask. Real works that drone and splatter their way into some sound worlds not often explored. Also worth mentioning is that despite their lo-fi approach, the recording quality here is actually quite impressive. Every nuance is beautifully captured, giving the whole work a spacious quality that really takes into account the room being played in. One to return to again and again, thee guys will have you finding new moments of beauty forever with this one. Great artwork too, complete with J-card. Unfold it for full effect. Can't quit these guys."

Ear Conditioned Nightmare.

Hailing from New York, Talibam! has been making their presence felt since 2003 through numerous live gigs, self-released cdr's and label releases. Talibam! has toured Europe seven times since 2006 and released 15 records during this period. They have releases on Azul Discografica, Evolving Ear, Pendu Sounds, Wallace Records, Holiday Records, Thors Rubber Hammer, Ecstatic Peace, Gaffer Records, Blackest Rainbow, and others.

Talibam! Is one of the most potent and fascinating bands in contemporary music. The five plus years of interplay between Mottel and Shea has created one of the most unique and exciting live shows and some of the most powerfully recorded documents of any era. At a time when most culture sticks to conservative niche opportunities, Talibam! is interested in expansion and exploration; They manage to part the sea by not sticking to genre, aesthetic predisposition or the usual norms of what being a 'band' is. More inclined to put on a show that any and all will like, and not be stymied by 'avant' type casting, they have won over both unsuspecting and in the 'know' audiences worldwide. The energy of Kevin Shea's full steam drumming is not to be missed, nor is the primal tone of Mottel's synth run through a Marshall Half Stack

In 2008 toured Europe three times (the last tour was 6 weeks and 12 countries), released three split vinyl records on Thors Rubber Hammer (12"), and from Italy; Wallace Records (10") and Holiday Records (7") as well as two live tapes and two live cdrs.

Talibam! have kept busy in 2009. In January they were back in Europe, collaborating with Rhys Chatham and Jean Francois Pauvros in Paris, and headlining the Gaffer Records Festival in Lyon, France. In March, Talibam! performed in a major retrospective of modern dance choreographer Karole Armitage's work from the 1980's at the Kitchen in New York City. They performed a piece by composer David Linton which saw them literally deconstruct their equipment during a beautiful ballet duet performance. Immediately after, they embarked on a massive US tour playing California for the first time, joined by such acts as Weasel Walter and the Starving Weirdos.

In May they will be back in Europe for more dates in Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France and UK, and are planning a tour in Europe for the fall as well.

Talibam! is keeping busy with new releases this year. Already out in 2009 is 'The New Nixon Tapes' (Roaratorio) featuring legendary NY free jazz saxaphonist Daniel Carter. A collaborative 2xLP with nyc iconoclasts PEESSSEYE is set to drop this summer on UK label INVADA. Not to be outdone, Talibam! have readied a new studio album full of songs and pop glory wonder titled 'BOOGIE IN THE BREEZE BLOCKS' which will be out on ESP! the vanguard of independent labels from the 1960s who put out the first Albert Ayler and FUGS albums. Finally Talibam! has found a label to match its frenzy and energy.

Matt Mottel's visage should be familiar to anyone who's been going to shows in NYC in the past ten years. He's been hanging around NYC clubs since he was like 16, and dropping electric mind bombs with his synthesizer in those clubs nearly as long with folks like Awesome Color, Akron/Family, Jeffrey Lewis, Chris Taylor (Grizzly Bear), Kenny Wollesen, Chris Corsano, Ras Moshe, Cooper-Moore, Sean Meehan, and his new band Shadow Maps.

Kevin Shea's drumming and stage gymnastics have been gazed at with wide wonder through his membership in bands like Storm & Stress (Touch & Go), Coptic Light (No Quarter), People (I and Ear), Peter Evans Quartet (Firehouse 12), Kyp Malone (TV on the Radio), Tyondai Braxton (Battles)Sexy Thoughts (rcarchives.com), Mostly Other People Do The Killing (Hot Cup), etc.

A PROPOS D'ALBERO ROVESCIATO

Albero Rovesciato - Ancient Shining Drums of the Covered City c30 (Stunned no. 21)

Albero Rovesciato’s members are native to the mystic isles off Italy but now they roam Berlin, presumably because they have smashed all the percussion instruments in their homeland. All we know is we’re glad we located them with some remaining objects and intact drums, because few troupes can make us simultaneously smile with delight and scamper for cover when they rev up like this.

They emerge from the badass Italian sound collective Phonorama, so we know they mean business once they open their trick bags and begin spilling out wares of leftfield musique concrete & cybertimes junkyard gamelan. Before-and-after shots of their performance spaces provide evidence that a typical Albero live action reduces much of their tools to splinters & powder. This isn’t to imply that things are sloppy, however. Not for a second. Crystal recording fidelity on ‘Ancient Shining Drums’ benefits the wheezing-blurting-whacking fits of OCD voodoo, ensuring that we have never heard chaos sound so lean & tangible before. "

....escape from pedals and digital effects, to approach and find material contact with the instruments, to arrive at PYRAMID LEVEL.” Hand numbered edition of 100 pro dubbed & imprinted c30 tapes in blood red shells, insert card, and double-sided color jcard.