Frank Schulte Switchbox – Berg Du – Berg Ich (CD3008)

Improvisation as a game. Switchbox is a concept by German sound artist Frank Schulte: an international ensemble of improvisers who don’t just play freely, but are guided in real time by Schulte’s “game play conduction”. He sets the rules, switches between musicians and combinations, and shapes the overall form like an editor. Berg Du – Berg Ich (“Mountain You – Mountain I”) was recorded live at the Moers Festival.

The line-up is a meeting of the international experimental scene. American vocalist Anna Homler brings her voice and toy instruments, Michael Moore plays reeds, Swiss cellist Martin Schütz plays his electric cello, Axel Otto works the sound table, David Shea plays sampler, and Tony Buck, drummer of the Australian cult trio The Necks, adds drums and electronics. The result is a constantly changing collage of voice, acoustic instruments, samples and electronics, sometimes playful, sometimes dense and noisy, and always surprising.

This is a must for fans of John Zorn’s game pieces, of electroacoustic improvisation and of the experimental side of the Moers Festival. Released on Moers Music. When you buy here, you’re buying directly from the label, and we only sell originals.

The Side Story

Frank Schulte is a German sound and media artist who has worked for over 30 years between composed and improvised music, with dancers, actors, writers and performance artists. Switchbox is one of the intermedia concepts he developed, where sound art, ambient music, improvised music and electronic music collide. Over the years he has worked with many musicians from the Moers catalogue, including David Moss, Lauren Newton, Phil Minton, Chris Cutler and Otomo Yoshihide.

The musicians on this album also connect to other Moers releases. Tony Buck formed the band Peril in Japan with Otomo Yoshihide, who plays on Richard Teitelbaum’s Cyberband (CD3000). Later he played with Ned Rothenberg in The Fell Clutch (Rothenberg’s Double Band is on CD2074 and CD3006). Cellist Martin Schütz worked often with Butch Morris and played in a trio with Barre Phillips, and Richard Teitelbaum recorded the album Shift with him.

Personnel

• Anna Homler (USA) – vocals, toy instruments

• Michael Moore (USA) – reeds

• Martin Schütz (CH) – cello

• Axel Otto (D) – sound table

• David Shea (USA) – sampler

• Tony Buck (AUS) – drums, electronics

• Frank Schulte (D) – concept, editing, game-play conduction

Details

• Format: CD

• Label: Moers Music

• Catalog no.: CD3008

• Recorded: Live at Moers Festival

• Price: €14.00