vertical ascentMoritz von Oswald, half of Basic Channel and Rhythm and Sound, is joined here by Sasu Ripatti (Vladislav Delay) on percussion and Max Loderbauer (nsi.) on synths. Together the trio create a finely-crafted improvisational form of minimal dubby electronica. The four pieces on this disc unfold slowly with borderline-obsessive attention to the grain and texture of the sounds created. There are echoes of of jazz here, particularly the more abstract sections of Herbie Hancock's Sextant or maybe On the Corner if Miles had been smoking dope rather than snorting coke, but this music is focussed on contrasting and comparing musical colours rather than harmonic movement and each of the four 'patterns' presented here slides from section to section, ebbing and flowing in a way that has both feet firmly on the dance floor. There is low end throb here aplenty for aficionados of Moritz von Oswald's other work, the production is characteristically both finely etched and expansive. However, there is also a sense of freedom and play between the three contributing musicians that will appeal to fans Can or Neu. Vertical Ascent can be enjoyed brain-meltingly loud so that the listener can experience the carefully-constructed frequencies through the body as well as the ears and even turned down so low that the details buried in the mix tease at the the edges of the listener's senses. The Trio melds cutting-edge electronic music with group improvisation to create music that is both forward looking and immersed in musical traditions from King Tubby to Kraftwerk, to Sun Ra and beyond. --nick ilott.
:: Moritz von Oswald Trio/Vertical Ascent - Honest Jon`s/Rough Trade.
