Tamizdat Dispatch #6 / May - June 2001 [01.05.2001] post-rock/avant garde/electronic/indie-pop/ethnic/jazz/punk Dispatch is a newsletter about independent music from Eastern and Central Europe. For more info, please write us: info@tamizdat.org I. Music news: Festivals, Tours, Concerts II. Field report: Serbian Sounds: New Music for a New Era III. New cds! on our rapidly growing Tamizdat RPM Catalogue IV. Featured website this month: www.balcanto.net V. Tamizdat distributors: a growing team of great distributors we work with I. MUSIC NEWS: Festivals: X-Peripheria Festival, Budapest, Hungary June 2, 9 pm - 6am at Party-tura [www.xperipheria.hu] A very hip new Budapest music festival, X-Peripheria is affiliated with independent radio Pararadio, www.pararadio.hu. Featuring foreign artists Scanner and D-Fuse and To Rococo Rot, plus Hungarian musicians Woologice, Tigrics, Porousher, Terra Rossa, and more. Vexations, Belgrade, Yugoslavia May 17-18 Student Cultural Center (SKC) Eric Satie's Birthday is celebrated with his composition "Vexations" being performed. "Vexations" consists of a single motif repeated continuously for 14 hours, to "disturb the citizens". Performers include top Yugoslav Classical, Jazz and Rock musicians. (News thanks to the Simic Quartet). Victoriaville Festival, Quebec, Canada June 8-9, [www.tornis.lv] Latvian music collective TORNIS presents a Festival of Contemporary Music. Tornis is an incredibly active music agency in Riga, archiving music and releasing excellent independent music recordings. Tornis also organizes concerts and festivals including this one upcoming. Coincides with Forte Riga, so extend your flights plans so that you can be there! Features this great array of artists: Ammo, Apartis, Balo U Pilni Pagalmi, Blissful, Claustrum, Dzelzs Vilks, Fek, Exit, Fuck art, Gas of Latvia, Gelousy, Gran T Bolu Nami, Hugo, Inokentujs M Rpls, Kalvis, Lloyd, Mountainsid, Pest of a Child, PND, Sirke, Soul, Machine,Skumju Akme, Skyforger, Zig Zag, Xingu Hill. Ponikve 7 Festival, Zagreb, Croatia June 6, [www.urk.hr] The amazing cultural network URK of Croatia brings about this annual enviro-supportive Ponikve fest, featuring Croatian bands Lunar, hc Boxer, and Kukuricu Street, Fakofbolan as well as foreigners Figli Di Madre Ignota (IT), Anima Sound System (HU), Neocekivana Sila (YU), and Podunavac (YU). Rock for People, Cesky Brod, Czech Republic July 5-7 [www.rockforpeople.cz] One of the biggest Czech music festivals, RfP this year features the inimitable Fantomas (USA), and Shelter (USA), Hooverphonic (UK), Ex-Girl (JP), and many more foreign artists along side some of Czech, Hungary, and Slovakia's best: Lvmen (CZ), Echt! (CZ), Yonderboi (HU), Plastic People of the Universe (CZ), Tata Bojs (CZ), Zluty Pes (CZ), Ine Kafe (SK) and the list just goes on and on. 17th Annual Druga Godba Festival, Ljubljana, Slovenia June 1-9 [www.drugagodba.si] Slovenia's "Other Music" festival brings in tons of foreign and local talent. All the way from the USA, the Susie Ibarra Trio perform, and the Senegalese/Cuban group Africando All Stars make a rare Slovenian showing. Events include: Trebune Tutki(PL), Mostar Sevdah Reunion (Bosnia), The Bollywood Brass Band (UK), Tefbet Rifi (SI), Madredeus(PT), Tamara Obrovac Transhistria Ensemble(HR/SI), Michel Godard Castel del Monte II feat. Calixtibus Ensemble (FR/IT) world premiere, Zoe(IT), Langa(SI), Susie Ibarra Trio(USA), Regis Gizavo(Madagaskar), Ma,ar Kassey (Niger), Kesokozi(Afrika), Papa Noel & Adan Pedroso (DE/ Congo/Cuba), Africando All Stars (Senegal/Cuba), and an after hours DJ program at local hang out Klub K4 Free Dimension Tabor Festival, Tabor, Czech Republic June 1-2 [www.volny.cz/freed] The famed Czech band Sunshine are not the only great band hailing from the Czech town of Tabor. The Free Dimension fest features Sabot, Deverova Chyba, Gnu, Anyway, Waawe, Point, Woodootoys, Jungle Beats, and many others, as well as the first Czech screening of the movie "Potato fever" by German film maker Nik Kern. Free Dimension is Tabor's own indie record label. Check their site for more info. Media Forum Conferences and the 23rd Annual Moscow International Film Festival, Moscow, Russia July 7-14 [www.miff.ru , www.mediaforum.danet.ru] Growing in international prestige each year, the Moscow Int'l Film Fest, hosted by festival President and Russian Academy Award winner Mr. Nikita Mikhalkov, features events, competitions, screenings of many genres of independent films, featured presentations and retrospectives of Swiss films and Yasuzo Masumura's works, and more. Media Forum is in its second year, providing a forum for members of the Russian film industry to discuss important cross-cultural contemporary trends, problems, new technologies, and the impact of the information age on modern film culture. For yet more info, tel.: 007 095 959 17 05, tel/fax: 007 095 950 09 92, e-mail: mediaforum@danet.ru, and check their website for more confirmed information. Day After Records CD Release Party, Club 007, Prague, Czech Republic May 25 [www.dayafter.cz] With Sunshine (CZ) and Robocop Kraus (DE), the now-legendary Czech band Sunshine celebrates their new CD release "Necromance (Digital Urban Icons)" on LP/CD, on Day After Records, with a Prague release party. Sunshine are back in Prague for this release party after a massive European tour from Scandinavia to Iberia, no grass growing under their feet for sure. Lat-hatar Osszmuveszeti Fesztival [Sky-Line Multicultural Festival], Patapoklosi, Hungary June 28-30 [www.tar.hu/lat-hatar] Upon the small village of Patapoklosi (South Hungary near Szigetv·r) a host of loud-rocking indie music is about to descend! This small but cool new festival is produced with members HU avant-rockers Persona non Grata. Features Anima Sound System (HU), Zoambo Zoet Workestrato (SI), Sumski (HR), Dunja Knebl (HR), a "Hungarian Gypsy" dance/folk band from Gernyeszeg (RO), Social Free Face (HU), Trottel (HU), movies, and performance art. Prague Radio 1 Birthday Party, Prumyslov Palac, Prague, Czech Republic June 8 [www.radio1.cz] With performances by Fatboy Slim, Ohm Square, Tata Bojs, DJ Jan Muchow, Prague is in for a party. Lots of cities have commercial radio stations that suck, then there's radio 1 in Prague, which does not suck. Within one evening Radio 1 can somehow segue acid-jazz -n- house sets smoothly into historic Plastic People of the Universe dedications into Portuguese chanteuse-dub-sets right straight into grind-core-n-Iron-Maiden-hour. Wow.They've got big-time dance fever these days and for their 10th birthday celebration the city has gone all out to invite Fat Boy Slim to join with a host of Prague's best bands and DJs. ... Summer Workshops, Dywan Lake, Gdansk June 6-13 [email: nacher@ns.medianet.pl] The good folks of Project Karpaty Magiczne (ex-ATMAN) will complete a benefit concert tour in Poland in support of orphanages in Northern Tibet (Bon is a traditional Tibetan religion predating Buddhism) The performances are co-organized by the Garuda Association in Poland. Marek and Anna of PKM will then conduct summer workshops in Northern Poland on the themes "BioMusic," "Working with the voice," "Movements and Landscapes, and more. Should be an incredibly interesting, relaxing, and educational time. For more info, interested parties should write to France celebrates new music from Hungary in 2001! Through an amazing array of activities and forums, France celebrates new Hungarian musical culture in festivals and concerts throughout 2001. Artists who will perform include Kampec Dolores, Kiss Erzi Music, Mihaly Dresh and the Dresh Quartet, DJs Yonderboi and Palotai from Budapest, Korai Orom, and many many others. For a list of scheduled concerts, see into on our website. Tours Dates: Antenna Krzyku bands Pustki, Happy Pills, Ewa Braun, Starzy Singers perform ... [antenakrzyku.terra.pl] Check into Antenna Krzyku's newest releases this spring, which include PUSTKI (studio recordings, retro pop and electronics) and also HAPPY PILLS (damn sweet and hard Poland indie rock). These guys are the talk of indie Poland right now 5.19 Poznan, PL, Happy Pills and Pustki 5.20 Wroclaw, PL, Happy Pills and Pustki and Landmine Spring (CZ), at P. Nutek 5.21 Krakow, PL, Happy Pills and Pustki 5.22 Rzeszow, PL, Happy Pills, at Le Greco 5.23 Warszawa, PL, Happy Pills and Pustki, at Remont 5.24 Trojki , PL, Happy Pills and Pustki, at Studio Radiowe 5.26 Lodz, PL, Pustki, Ewa Braun, Starzy Singers, at Forum Fabricum 5.26 Wroclaw, PL, Sunshine (CZ), Robocop Kraus (DE), De Press at P. Nutek Korai Orom (HU)....on tour in Europe May-July! [korai.hu] Hungarian ethno/djs Korai Orom head out on the road for a long trip this summer, from Denmark down to Romania. KO combine the full-force of Hungary's ambient-trance with an otherworldly, hypnotic layer of found and sampled sounds. The effect is stupendous live, with full lights and rich sounds. I stumble for words in describing their music, so just go see their show! 5.19 Liege, BE, at La Zone 5.20 Gerthe, at KAUE 5.22 Mengede at SOAHC 5.23 London, UK, at The Vibe 5.25 Dublin, IRE, at the Temple Bar Music Center 5.27 Brighton, UK 5.29 Berlin, DE, at Pfefferberg 5.31 Salzburg, DE, Literaturhaus Masfel (HU)....on tour in Germany, Netherlands, and Hungary in May-June [masful.bahia.hu] Arty cello-electronics-polyrhythmists Masfel hit European cities once again: 5.31 Berlin, DE 6.1 Potsdam, DE 6.2 Berlin, DE 6.3 Appelscha, NL 6.4 Utrecht, NL 6.9 Aurich, DE 6.12 Marburg, DE 6.13 Nijmegen, NL at Doornroosje 6.14 Oldenburg, DE 6.15 Siegen, DE II. FIELD REPORT: Serbian Sounds: New Music for a New Era Belgrade's eclectic Ring Ring Festival ended this week, a fine occasion to indulge in the musical climate of Serbia. The glorious Mediterranean spring has replaced the dank Mediterranean winter, and the reconstruction of Belgrade's downtown following NATO bombings has returned the city to a nearly-functional state. Now with Milosovic's recent imprisonment following his ousting, Serbia is filled with the kind of inspiration and hope that has not been felt since the waning days of Tito's rule. Though the Serbian market is dominated by domestic top-40, funk, and "ethno" (a rather foul formerly officially sanctioned hybrid of techno and Balkan folk) a handful of innovative artists are reaching wide audiences. Pop phenomenon Rambo Amadeus's brutal and clever lyrics combine with pop-punk music to deliver songs which miraculously find critical respect as well as popular appeal. Local heroes Darkwood Dub, Jarboli, and Sila have all grown from underground roots to wide acclaim and wide audience throughout Serbia. Folk music and increasingly innovative uses of the Balkan ethnic musical tradition thrive in post-Communist Yugoslavia. From the traditional group Ognjan i Prijatelji, to the scorching improvisation of violin enfant-terrible Lajko Felix, to the juggernaut of the Boban Markovic Orkestar (made famous by the soundtracks they provided for the Kusturica's films Arizona Dream and Underground), the growing climate of diversity has made for fantastic growth in folk music culture. Meanwhile, a great experimental scene is percolating. The internationally renowned composer, Boris Kovac has been grafting minimalism, folk music and jazz into what he terms "contemporary naivete" for years. His recent recording, The Last Balkan Tango with the Ladaaba Orchestr (short forLaDanzaApocalypsaBalcanica), treats Balkan music to a hefty dose of Kurt Weil. Farther to the fringe, Zrenjanin duo Blank Disc use tape manipulation, samplers and electronics to generate ragged abrasive sound-scapes that make Pansonic seem like Soft Cell. Rascep, which shares some members with Blank Disc, is less iconoclastic, but no less challenging: their electronics, drums, bass, guitars, and turntables combine into a dark, brutal experimental rock. Horkeskart, a small choir and orchestra ensemble generate some of the strangest apparently naive experimentalism we've heard: "Holly cows (sic), children from the moon, cheaters and the blue rabbit: all together against the audition. Let's do the streets!!!" The shining light throughout the last dark decade of Yugoslav history has been tenacious independent radio. Most famously B92, but also lesser known stations like O21 in Novi Sad, has persevered in providing new music as well as a forum for voices of political opposition. B92 returned to the airwaves last fall, hours after Milosovic's overthrow, after going underground through the end of the 90s. Now these stations continue to provide good cultural and political information in a society hungry for the news that it had missed out on for most of the 90s. The stations also provide a crucial forum for a discussion for a culture struggling to make sense of its recent history. For more information about B92, and the radio station's role in Yugoslav history, see Matthew Collin's new book, This is Serbia Calling (Serpent's Tail PBK Ł8.99). To hear some of the music mentioned above, including CDs by Darkwood Dub, Jarboli, Sila Lajko Felix, Boban Markovic Orkestar, Boris Kovac, Blank Disc, Rascep, and the recent B92 compilation, "Srbija: Sounds Global", do a search for music from Yugoslavia at www.tamizdat/org/rpm. III. NEW CDS IN TAMIZDAT's ONLINE SHOP Pustki: Studio Pustki [Poland] All the rage! Brilliant vintage Velvets sound with rocking rude hooks and fly-paper melodies. This will be one of the most satisfying albums of the year. Slacker r'n'r of the first degree! Listening to this feels a lot like listening to "Crazy Rhythms" did in 1980. Boban Markovic Orkestra featuring Lajko Felix: Srce Cigansko [Serbian] This Serbian Gipsy Brass Band, played in Emir Kustorica's "Underground". Here they are joined by Lajko Felix, a young Gypsy violin virtuoso with growing world reputation for his incredible mix of folk styles with deft improvisation. Besh o Drom: Macso Himzes [Balkan] Virtuosly played Balkan traditional themes performed on modern instruments including a scratching DJ and a guy handling computer samples. Surprisingly, however, these disparate part blend into a very smoothly integrated fascinating whole. Wertetics Orkestar: Szerbhat csili peppers [Hungary] South Slavic traditional dance music played by young urban (Budapest) musicians around accordion wizard Slobodan Vertetic. Pulnoc: City of Hysteria [Czech Republic] BMG/Ariola has finally reissued the landmark album Pulnoc recorded for Arista in 1991. Long out of print, this limited edition reissue should be very exciting news for Plastic People and Pulnoc fans. Driving arrangements and clear production make this album a delight. Milan Hlavsa: Nez je dnes Cloveku 50-Posledna Dekada [Czech Republic] Milan Hlavsa "Nez je dnes Cloveku 50-Posledna Dekada" Globus Records' celebration of the life of Plastic People of the Universe singer/bassist, with a live recording from the Palac Akropolis concert in dedication to Hlavsa's 50th birthday. Features Garage, DG307, PPU, and the Velvet Revival Band. Grencso Kollektiva Plusz "7 Enek Az Utolso Mohikanoknak (7 Songs to the Last Mohicans)" ITraditional instruments, DJ groove and Miles Davis Jazz freak-out all weaves together into a refreshing and continually surprising mix of sounds styles and samples. Fascinating and inspiring! Other new releases: Numb 7 by Rumenige, Subtech [Slovakia] Olga + Josef vol. 8, Subtech [Slovakia] DeadRed compilation, w/Vlna magazine [Slovakia] Tata Bojs "Termixy" Warner Music [Czech Republic] OHM2 "Remixed" East Authentic [Czech Republic] Sunshine (CZ) "Necromance" CD and LP, Day After Records [Czech Republic] Wollongong (CZ) "Know Evil" 10"LP, Silver Rocket Records [Czech Republic] Point (CZ) "Aquila Bert" CD and LP, Minority Records/Silver Rocket Records [Czech Republic] Pavel Fajt "Drum Trek" Indies Records [Czech Republic] Iva Bittova & Andreas Kroper "Echoes" Supraphon [Czech Republic] Plum (PL), Antenna Krzyku Records [Poland] Uzrujan, "...thirteen days forth and thirteen back..." Earwing Records [Hungary] Boris Kovac & Ladaaba Orchestr "The Last Balkan Tango" Piranha Music [Romenia] Tell Chaikovsky the News (RU) "Vol. 4" Exotica Records [Russia] IV. TAMIZDAT'S FEATURED SITE THIS MONTH: BALCANTO Run by ethnomusicologist, journalist, and octalinguist world music lover George Pacurar, Balcanto is a new place on the web where you can find excellent and extremely rare ethnic music from the greater Carpathian regions. Balcanto's lists of artist websites, links, and CD bazaar introduce newcomers to the wide world of Balkan music. Lend an ear to the feisty turbo folks horns and brokin' fiddle rhythms of the East when you climb aboard the "surfboard." Balkan news and events listings coming soon in June. Through new cooperation between Balcanto and Tamizdat RPM, many of Balcanto's titles are now also available through the Tamizdat RPM catalogue. V. TAMIZDAT DISTRIBUTORS AND SALES PARTNERS: Argentina: Mr Floyd Benelux: Lowlands France: Orkhestra Taiwan: Avant Garden Switzerland: RecRec UK: Shellshock USA: Revolver, Southern, Other Music Online: InSound, Clamazon
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