With Dust of Truths Wim Mertens presents the final part 3 of his musi-fiction triptych Cran aux Oeufs (2015-2016).
The first part, Charaktersketch, was situated in central Europe Brussels anno 2015. The composer questions the position of culture in a larger mondial context.
The second part, What are we, locks, to do? for piano and voice is inspired by the Alexandrian Library in Egypt (300 B.C.). Central figures are the poet Callimachus and Queen Berenice II. Mertens music reads here as a commentary on the golden age of Ptolemaic Egypt.
For part 3, Dust of Truths, Wim Mertens refers to the navy Battle of Actium, which happened in Preveza, Greece in 31 B.C. Opponents here were the (future) Emperor August who defeated the Egyptian warships of Cleopatra.
Mertens considers this battle rather as a civil war dispute within the Roman Empire then a explicit conflict between Rome and Egypt.
Brussels, Belgium, 2015; Alexandria, Egypt, 300 B.C.; and the Battle of Actium, Greece, 31 b.Chr.
Together they form the triptych Cran aux Oeufs, a musi-fiction in which Wim Mertens questions the multiple connections between music, poetry and truth.
Het is onmogelijk om de verdiensten van Wim Mertens in enkele regels op te sommen. Deze Belgische componist, pianist, musicoloog, gitarist en zanger werd in 1953 geboren en groeide de afgelopen decennia uit tot een muzikant van formaat. Tot op vandaag brengt hij zijn muziek voor volle concertzalen in Europa, Noord- en Centraal-Amerika, Japan en Rusland.
Sinds 1980 componeert Mertens naast korte, toegankelijke nummers (‘Lieder’) ook complexere cycli. Bij de uitvoering van zijn werk houdt hij het liefst rekening met de omstandigheden waarin de muziek wordt gebracht. Zowel solo als met een klein ensemble, kamerorkest, symfonisch orkest of speciale bezetting (twaalf piccolo’s, tien bastrombones of dertien klarinetten) brengt hij zijn melodieuze en vaak repetitieve partituren in een levendige dialoog met het publiek.
In maart 2015 bracht Wim Mertens Charaktersketch uit. Dit album is het eerste deel van de trilogie Cran aux Oeufs waarbij hij het Europa van vandaag in vraag stelt. Het tweede deel What are we, locks, to do? verscheen op 4 maart 2016. Het derde Dust of Truths gaat in première in BOZAR op 21 oktober.
Conzoom Records has long wondered whether they should continue the electropop series after the first ten volumes or to phase it out.
At a time when smaller labels are struggling to sell CDs, the release of a compilation which includes many new and unknown bands is a challenging venture, to say the least. The problem is compounded by the illegal digital music distribution via the Internet.
However in despite of all this, conzoom Records have decided to continue the electropop series.
With this new instalment of electropop comes a new cover design by Corinna Samow, as well as many new bands the label discovered over the last few months which conzoom Records simply had to include on the compilation.
In addition to new artists such as EMT, Mirreya, The Sweetest Condition and Polyester8 the label is very pleased to also include some more established bands on electropop, namely Midnight Resistance, Rroyce, Rename and Shelter.
And for the very first time in the history of electropop they are including a very interesting bonus track! conzoom Records is pleased that the demo version of Robert Marlow's classic "No Heart" is included in this edition of electropop, as a special treat just for you.
Track listing:
01. emt - regret (sinestar extended mix)
02. insight - alive (techni-ka remix)
03. janrevolution - man without return (extended mix)
04. kosmos - keine macht dieser welt (paralyzed extended remix)
05. mechatronic - don't bother to knock (extended version)
06. midnight resistance - under glass (extended mix)
07. mirreya - when tomorrow comes (extended version)
08. nordika feat. felix marc - illumination (extended version)
09. polyester8 - my kingdom (extended version)
10. rename - avalanche of fear (oren amram remix)
11. rroyce - i like it when you lie (oren amram entirely club mix)
12. shelter - blur the lines (extended version)
13. the sweetest condition - control (extended remix)
bonus:
14. robert marlow - no heart (alternate vocals and bassline - rough mix)
At the end of 2015, CHVE made quite an impression with his debut solo full album “Rasa". CHVE is best known for his work with Amenra, but the solo work took a different turn both musically and stylistically. Instead of the brute primal force and walls of sound, CHVE's solo work is very introspective and intimistic, making use solely of his voice, a hurdy gurdy and the bodhran. The approach might be very different, but the music is equally devastating and brutally honest.
“Rasa” was the studio incarnation of CHVE, produced with the aid of Dehn Sora (Treha Sektori, Sembler Deah, …), but during his many live shows, the music transformed organically in a distinctly different way. To document the transformation from the studio to a live solo CHVE performance, this beautiful new live record is presented. The album captures the music in a truly unique way: it was recorded by one man in one take in an old tram, amidst the busy Saturday city life of Ghent, and was immediately cut to vinyl afterwards. These recordings have been mixed by Aaron Harris (ISIS, Palms, Deftones, Tool, etc.) and have been mastered by Frederik Dejongh (CHVE, TBHR, Syndrome, etc.) to ensure the most perfect listening experience of this live rendition of “Rasa”, augmented with a unique interpretation of Nico’s Le Petit Chevalier. For the artwork, CHVE and Tine Guns collaborated in a unique way with visuals of Guns’ playing a part in the packaging of the album and the music of the CHVE live album playing a part in Guns’ new film To Each His Own Mask. Furthermore, Aline Gorsen created relics of CHVE’s own flesh, which are also featured in the artwork.
The album is scheduled for a November 11
CHVE LIVE:
03/10: Nature, Kortrijk BE
06/10: Consouling store, Gent BE
07/10: de Brakke Grond, Amsterdam NL
12/10: Stuk, Leuven BE
13/10: AB, Brussels BE
01/11: Kerkhof, Kortrijk BE
08/11: Balzaal, Vooruit Gent BE
11/11: Joseph Ryelandtzaal, Brugge BE
12/11: Le Guess Who, Utrecht NL
19/11: Mediatheque, Vendenheim FR
More TBA
The debut album by Moby & The Void Pacific Choir (These Systems Are Falling) is released on 14th October 2016. First single Are You Lost In The World Like Me? is available now. Watch the clip here.
Here it is the brand new video by The Mission.
The second fantastic video from the Mission album "Another Fall From Grace"Music: Wayne Hussey
Produced By Wayne Hussey and Tim Palmer
Mixed by Tim Palmer.
Click here for our exclusive interview with Wayne Hussey.