Izvođač: Spaltklang
Izdavač: Fazzul Music
Izdanje: 2006
Ocjena: 4.3/5
Markus Stauss jedan je od najboljih švicarskih eksperimentalnih i jazz saksofonista. Prije nastupa na festivalu Altrock bio mi je nepoznanica, ali nakon čudesne izvedbe sa Spaltklang (i na jednoj skladbi s French TV) više mi nije stran, nego netko na koga ćemo ubuduće morati paziti.
Spaltklang je jedan od mnogih Staussovih projekata. Sve stvari u kojima sudjeluje obično izdaje njegova vlastita izdavačka kuća – Fazzul music. Stauss je za Spaltklang oko sebe okupio skupinu relativno mladih glazbenika. Sam je zaslužan za većinu kompozicija, dok ostali pomažu s aranžmanima i povremeno su zaduženi i za poneku improvizaciju. Krajnji rezultat je za zavidjeti.
Spaltklang sviraju glazbu koju je vrlo teško odrediti. Moglo bi se reći da spadaju u jazz/rock, ali time ne bismo obuhvatili sve što predstavljaju. Njihova glazba sadrži još toliko elemenata iz drugih stilova, primjerice, među ostalim, klasike i avangarde. Za mene je glavni sastojak u glazbi izvanredna energija i entuzijazam. Glazba zvuči tako svježe i uzbudljivo i očito je da bend vjeruje u ono što svira. Iako je glazba uglavnom skomponirana, čini se kao da slobodno teče i nema ograničenja. Kad slušam ovaj album, odmah sam bolje volje, vibracije su stvarno prave.
Iako je Markus Stauss glavni skladatelj na Lontano, ne pokupi svu slavu. Naravno, pobrine se za neke izvanredne trenutke na saksofonu, ali ostavi prostora i za violinu i violu. Bas i bubnjevi jednako su važni u glazbi, a čuje se i povremeni sintisajzer. Čini se kao da su Spaltklang vrlo usklađena cjelina i ta se harmonija osjeća kroz cijeli album, koji je meni osobno jedan od najboljih albuma objavljenih u posljednjih nekoliko godina.
Prije festivala Altrock nisam znao za Spaltklang, ali sada, nakon što sam poslušao mnogo glazbe Spaltklang i ostalih Staussovih projekata, mogu bez problema tvrditi da je Stauss jedno od najljepših otkrića i jedan od najuzbudljivijih glazbenika. Njegovu glazbu nemoguće je odrediti, uvijek je izvoran i maštovit, a njegova glazba ti sve više prirasta srcu. Za mene je Spaltklang njegov najbolji projekt, a Lontano glavni kandidat za Staussov najbolji album. To je uradak koji je vrlo usredotočen, temelji se na kompozicijama, zahtjevan je, a opet izuzetno ugodan. Pozivam vas da skočite na njegovu stranicu i kupite ovaj album, jer je stvarno tako dobar.
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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.
Postava
Markus Stauss: saksofon
Stephan Brunner: bas
Oliver Vogt: violina, viola
Rémy Sträuli: bubnjevi & sintisajzer
Produkcija
Markus Stauss
Popis skladbi
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
