| May 2005 news
May 20, 2005
WORKING FOR IMMORTALITY
• tube'|016 - Gamma Ray Blast - 5 Dimensões EP
«Portuguese musician José Paulo Andrade is a former member of 80's urban folk band Ocaso Épico, known for its mindblowing performances at the extinct lisbon venue Rock Rendez Vous (RRV). He also played guitar in a rock band called V12. Ocaso Épico released one album - 'Muito Obrigado' - in 1988 and was ready to record its second one some years later when band leader and menthor Farinha Master died unexpectedly, putting a premature end to the project. The remaining members scattered and José begins learning and exploring new tools, mainly software based ones.
'5 Dimensões EP' is the result of his 3 year evolution journey as Gamma Ray Blast, in which he gathered influences from the 90's so-called 'ambient' precursors, such as Kruder & Dorfmeister, Thievery Corporation and Badmarsh, among others, all wrapped up under a genuine Sci-Fi feel. Gamma Ray Blast operates on a lush and soothing beat base, very melodical, mixed with oriental and traditional portuguese elements, such as sitar, portuguese guitar (mainly used in the Fado genre), flutes and percussion.
Then we get to the third piece, called 'Paredes' which is a humble homage to the late Carlos Paredes, a true genius of the Portuguese Guitar. It contains a couple of samples from his work, like the song 'Verdes Anos' one of his most known ones. Fourth track 'Grândola' is another homage, but this one is dedicated to the April 25th political revolution that freed Portuguese people from the dictatorship regime, back in 1974, where we can hear Zeca Afonso sing the words of the first song to be played on the (at last) censorship-liberated radio, 'Grândola Vila Morena'. Musically, these two songs show the strenght of their dramatic and political meaning, but also the smoothness of lounge electronic music.
Last track is an original from Ocaso Épico/Farinha Master, reworked, called 'Adamastor'.
Everything is in its right place, making this EP a joy for the senses.
Two thumbs up.» - Pedro Leitão
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May 12, 2005
MORE REASONS FOR DOWNLOADING TUBES
Here's three reviews for our two most recent releases:
«The new album from Sal., 'Öhne Titel Mit Titel', now downloadable from the Test Tube netlabel, will appeal mostly to veteran noise fans, but there are nods to a more general audience. While three tracks are about as pleasurable as the wind breaking against a cheap microphone during an ill-fated field-recording trip to the shore ("Compreendo perfeitamente a tua estupidez.", "Compreendo perfeitamente a tua necessidade.", "Compreendo perfeitamente porque e que e redondo."), the irritants here can become attractors. In particular, "wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww" (yes, that's the title) is far more complex than it initially appears, a fevered rash of conflicting cogs banging against each other, spitting up tiny, high-pitched sparks. For most listeners, though, the one real keeper is "Parte Primeira," which opens with a pleasurable rhythmic lope and hints at the fire of feedback, and then evolves through an exploration of murkiness, before splintering into a wash of sine waves and white noise.»
- Disquiet / May 5, 2005
«Je me souviens, c'était il n'y a pas très longtemps, je me disais que le projet publié par Test Tube qui me plaisait le plus était celui d'Aitänna77 ('|012), premier représentant sur ce label d'une folk électronique. Et bien, Bacanal Intruder est de la même veine, issu d'un moule hispanique similaire, avec tout le plaisir que cela peut me procurer. Six pièces ciselées avec toute l'insouciance et cette forme unique de nostalgie qui ne sied qu'au folk. Sauf que là, c'est encore plus profond. On imagine très bien une mini-fanfare post-moderne de Chicago rencontrer un Pascal Comelade qui reprend goût aux jouets qu'il affectionnait tant à ses débuts. Bacanal Intruder respire cette bonne humeur teintée de fraîcheur, cette musique de chambre qu'on rêverait de croiser à chaque coin de rue, en lieu et place de la gouaille néo-réaliste ou des violons qui pleurent d'ennui.»
- LaFresto / May 10, 2005
«Pouco mais de um quarto de hora bem medido é quanto dura em tempo real 'Herramientas Para Abrir Un Libro', recente realização de Bacanal Intruder, músico espanhol que toca babypiano, melódica, harmónica, guitarra, contrabaixo, copos de cristal... e computador (glitch e beats de muito bom gosto). Nova edição da excelente netlabel lusa test tube, que não pára de nos surepreender pela positiva.
Música que se ouve de frente para trás e de trás para a frente, reversível como as memórias que acumulamos no tempo que nos cabe. Assim se condensa num pedaço de tempo o tanto que Bacanal Intruder armazena nas estruturas que compõem esta bela e estranha caixinha de música. Adequado contraponto electro à folk acústica que perece estar em franca expansão no mundo da música pop. Há um fio ténue de latinidade que atravessa os temas de 'Herramientas Para Abrir Un Libro' e lhes dá um travo especial. Sopram brizas cálidas de quadrante Sul em noites de Verão.»
- Eduardo Chagas / May 9, 2005
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May 06, 2005
BABY PIANOS AND RUBBER DUCKS
• tube'|015 - Bacanal Intruder - Herramientas Para Abrir Un Libro
«test tube proudly presents Bacanal Intruder, real name Luis García-Pumarino, who is another Spanish folktronica discoverer, together with Aitänna77. Both of them mix analog and acoustic instruments with computer generated glitch layers and beats. Bacanal Intruder has some twists of his own, though. He uses some toy instruments, like a baby piano and a plastic duck, plays doublebass, and sings. Yeah, he sings a bit. He's also keen for short songs, with the longest one going at three and a half minutes. They're short, but consistent. Let's go over them, one by one:
''D' Song' is a cute little glitch-folk tune, with an acoustic guitar riding by its side. It catches perfectly those summer vacations that seem almost lost in time.
Harmonica is strong within this one;
On 'Paper Bach', we get to hear Luis singing a bit, but hiding its voice behind glass music, more guitar and melodica. And those crunchy beats give a little edge on the experimental side;
'Melancoholic' sounds like a follow up to the previous song, starting with melodica cut-and-paste experimentation, toy sounds, and giving room to the Bacanal Intruder's trademark glitch beats and bleeps, which appear in the middle of the track. Ends up deconstructing random guitar chords;
'One month as a mini-weekend of sand and seahorses' (nice title) captures that 'summer at the beach' feel I was talking about before, being driven by a toy piano in an ambient mood. This could be a perfect intro for a Yo La Tengo song;
'Oh! My beautiful friends of mine' has to be the most weird song here. First, it breathes joyand pleasure in every detail, like cow 'moos', bird 'chirps', bathroom baby ducks or water glass 'clings'... then it gets a little dramatic and experimental near the end, slowing down as if it is a baby toy unwinding;
This EP ends with 'In loving memory to a grandma', which seems like a love song. This is the most beautiful and down to earth song of the lot. Very simple in melody, but very intense.
'Herramientas Para Abrir Un Libro' - 'Tools To Open a Book' - is a 16 minute long happy/sad journey through electronic folk that makes a really enjoyable listen. I couldn't recommend it more. Use it wisely to mend broken hearts.»
- Pedro Leitão
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May 03, 2005
FIND YOUR LOVE
Lisbon's ZDB Gallery is a unique place in our country when it comes to music gigs and art performances. It's operating in a centenary building at Bairro Alto, heart of the counter-culture movement in the capital, where it's usual to find techno joints next to fado houses and biological food stores. ZDB will soon enter in it's 11th year of existance. This calls for some celebration.
This new festival endorsed and organized by ZDB Müsique includes two test tube artists, Frango and Phoebus (playing live on May 13 and May 14).
Rightfully, we're very happy. Because they deserve to be heard and because now there will be more people believing in our combined energies.
Price? Just 20 € for the 3 nights. So, where's your love?
More information here.
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May 01, 2005
CREATIVE COMMONS GOES YAHOO!
This are excellent news for Creative Commons supporter artists and structures. Now we have a tailor-made (still at beta stage, though...) search engine to help internet surfers find CC content much easier.
Respect to Yahoo! for that.
Here, try it.
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