What Kristina Fuchs and her companions did with ‘Linden’, taking old Dutch folk tunes as a starting point for improvisation, so do Schmoliner and Kakaliagou with their project ‘Nabelöse’. Intheir case they use old Greek and Austrian folk tunes and tales. This duo started their collaboration in February 2016 during a shared artist in residence stay in St.Johann, Austria. This stay turned out very fruitful and already in June 2016 they recorded material in St. Johann that is now released by the Berlin-based label Corvo. Schmoliner and Kakaliagou know each already for many years. Both are part of the trio PARA. Both are active in a variety of projects on improvised and contemporary music. The opening track ‘To be given up‘ opens with a very long, slowed down intro before Kakaliagou starts to sing a Greek ‘bluesy’ song.
A very fine and delicate interaction between Kakaliagou on French horn and Schmoliner on prepared piano. Also the title track ‘Nabelöse’ is based on a Greek song and is of a similar beauty. Both ‘Goldgefühlter Lippenrand’ and ‘Schlangenfrau’, have repetitive patterns played by piano and prepared piano at the core. Supplemented by sparse improvisations on French horn and voice, that remains at some distance. With their extended techniques they create very soulful music, showing that the sound spectrums of French horn and (prepared) piano, make a beautiful combination. Although the music unfolds on an abstract level, melody and song-format are continuously suggested in most of the improvisations. — A surprising album. (DM)
Re√iew: NABELÓSE (Vital Weekly #1081)
What Kristina Fuchs and her companions did with ‘Linden’, taking old Dutch folk tunes as a starting point for improvisation, so do Schmoliner and Kakaliagou with their project ‘Nabelöse’. Intheir case they use old Greek and Austrian folk tunes and tales. This duo started their collaboration in February 2016 during a shared artist in residence stay in St.Johann, Austria. This stay turned out very fruitful and already in June 2016 they recorded material in St. Johann that is now released by the Berlin-based label Corvo. Schmoliner and Kakaliagou know each already for many years. Both are part of the trio PARA. Both are active in a variety of projects on improvised and contemporary music. The opening track ‘To be given up‘ opens with a very long, slowed down intro before Kakaliagou starts to sing a Greek ‘bluesy’ song.
A very fine and delicate interaction between Kakaliagou on French horn and Schmoliner on prepared piano. Also the title track ‘Nabelöse’ is based on a Greek song and is of a similar beauty. Both ‘Goldgefühlter Lippenrand’ and ‘Schlangenfrau’, have repetitive patterns played by piano and prepared piano at the core.
Supplemented by sparse improvisations on French horn and voice, that remains at some distance. With their extended techniques they create very soulful music, showing that the sound spectrums of French horn and (prepared) piano, make a beautiful combination. Although the music unfolds on an abstract level, melody and song-format are continuously suggested in most of the
improvisations.
— A surprising album. (DM)