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ELECTRONIC PREVIEW Baustelle: Adventures In German Electronica
In seeking to provide an overview of contemporary German electronica, Liam Stefani and Tony Swain, the curators of the forthcoming Baustelle festival at the CCA, have set themselves a mammoth task. This is because, as Stefani puts it, 'the German scene seems to be taking off and exploring areas that no one else is covering.’ For this reason the festival includes disparate contributions ranging from artists such as Achim Wollscheid, practically a conceptual artist working with sound, to the free improvisation trio lardin Des Sénévés via Tarwarter's sonic contexts for literary texts. It is perhaps impossible to provide a typical example of the groups of artists showcased at Baustelle, but To Rococo Rot seem a good place to start. The trio have been attracting a good deal of attention of late with their fragmented atmospherics, but do they see themselves as part of a continuing Teutonic tradition stretching back to Krautrock and Kraftwerk? According to Robert Lippok, ’We are in no real tradition, I
think. People like to see us in those contexts. It is interesting to see what connections are made — "post rock" or “new electronica" are just terms to handle new musical phenomena but they don‘t make things clearer.’
In common with others appearing at the festival, To Rococo Rot have a grounding in contemporary art; this might be off-putting to some, especially when combined with the musical complexity the group display.
'Yes,‘ says Lippok, ‘you have to study five years of composition at university to understand the first few bars of our songs! Seriously, though, I have never thought our music is complicated. It is not like conceptual art, where you have to know the background
City Slang.
Germanic beat preachers: To Rococo Rot
to understand and enjoy it. In fact, the new single is a very sweet pop song.’
In Baustelle, then, Glasgow has a wide range of sonic treats in store. For fans of new musics, and those curious to see what all the fuss is about, it is no exaggeration to say that the festival is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the genuinely cutting edge. (Jack Mottram)
I Bauste/Ie is at Glasgow: CCA, 3-11 Sep. Tickets £ 70/£8 per night, from C CA box office, The Ticket Centre, Candleriggs, or any Ticket/ink venue; To Rococo Rot play Baustel/e on Fri 70 Sep and DJ at the 73th Note in Glasgow. Thu 9 Sep. Their new single, Cars, is out on Mon 6 Sep on
ROCK PREVIEW My Ruin Glasgow: The Cathouse, Tue 7 Sep.
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Scream queen: Tairrie
97 THE LIST 26 Aug—9 Sep 1999
After releasing an album through Eazy E's Ruthless/Comptown label, and despite being warned about the difficulties of a rap/metal crossover, female rock icon Tairrie B has attempted exactly that. Through rap vocals set against heavy hardcore metal, she addresses difficult issues relevant to her own experience, such as domestic violence and racism. Ten years, two bands and numerous records down the line, she brings her current incarnation, My Ruin, to Scotland in early September.
As lyrics from her current album warn (’Don't bother trying to censor me or shut me up . . . because it won't work'), she is still speaking her mind. ’I talk about what I live,' she explains. 'Other people get up on stage and sing a song that means nothing. When I go up on stage and perform its very much like exorcising demons . . . kinda gut-wrenching.’
With her religious imagery, spoken word and confrontational approach, she has been compared to everyone
from Henry Rollins to Madonna to Tom Waits. In response she says, ‘Rollins uses violent, graphic imagery — Waits uses religious imagery, like me, like the people who inspire me to be who I am. Cult people, like PJ Harvey and Nick Cave. I’m a contradiction. I'm drawn to the darker image. I don't wanna be that tan, California, fake boobs, Pamela Anderson-looking girl; that's not me.’
One of the unexpected moments in the live set is sure to be a cover of 'Tainted Love', made infamous by Soft Cell over a decade ago. But what if there are hardened 80$ synth fans in the audience? She laughs: 'Even if everyone really hates it, they can just fuck off. I hope people come along with an open mind, and embrace this as something different and not just expect to see the usual. I still feel like I have more in me that's gotta come out; singing, spoken word, screaming, everything. I describe my music in one word: it's a release.’ (Mandy Lee)
OUTSIDER JAZZ PREVIEW
Dorgon Glasgow: 13th Note, Fri 3 Sep.
Ever since Sonic Youth prized Open the cracked dome of free-jazz- improvisation and let it bleed all over teenage hardcore, it seems hipsters everywhere have been pawning axes and picking up on saxes. New York- based saxophonist/composer Dorgon, AKA Gordon Knauer, is one stellar example. Previously of the mysterious Dim Sum Clip Job (who recorded for John Zorn’s label) Dorgon’s aesthetic is equal parts Evan Parker, Lester Young, Captain Beefheart, The Shaggs and psychic ethno-trance.
After diving deep into studies of Haitian sacred music and folkloric drumming, Dorgon had his scalp raised via a chance encounter with brainy British blower Evan Parker; but 'jazz' as it stands is simply not where Dorgon comes from (or blows to). 'This music has been very important to me,‘ he explains, 'but I've already declared an international moratorium on jazz (free or otherwise) so if you must continue playing the jazz please post-date all yer cheques after 1 January 2000.’
Despite his grumblings, Dorgon plays the Salute Outsider Jazz! Night at The 13th Note on Fri 3 Sep, his only UK date, alongside Falkirk's own titan of the eternal now, Bill Wells. Accompanying him on drums is avant- composer Laura Cromwell, one-time member of renowned freed unit God Is My Co-Pilot, with whom he recorded the savage Rats Live On No Evil Star CD. Past sparring partners have included legendary free-bassist William Parker, 3 key member of David S. Ware's quartet. It promises to be a wild Salute! As Dorgon puts it: 'It's intuitive and counter-intuitive music; making music after you have thrown out all the rules. Like jumping slightly into the future and looking back at the already completed composition while you are playing it!’ Fucking amen. (David Keenan)
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Laura Cromwell and co-pilot: Dorgon