I'll try to say something about this artist that hasn't been said before because Modelbau is Frans de Waard, and all of you know that already. I don't need to repeat everything every time. I mean, Vital Weekly is a weekly newsletter, and if some artist releases music on a regular base, me being a writer, sometimes get stuck in 'WTF do I write this time? So, here it goes: Modelbau likes tapes. Long, short, looped, twisted, on spools, in shells ... but: Modelbau likes tapes.
This cassette is released on the UK-based (Gateshead) Dark Passage. A small label with not too many releases yet, but a roster including Culver (in a few disguises), Davide Tozzoli and now Modelbau. Nice start!
The first track on "The Encounter" is a beautiful drone with a gorgeous crunchy layer hidden in there, which like the fins of a fish in water, slowly breaks the surface. The second track opens with heavily manipulated and, therefore, inaudible voices. They create an environment as if you're in a room with people, and you become paranoid because you - as a listener - can't handle the impulses any longer. So you start looking for the way out, which presents itself in ambient 'swirls' (sorry, I can't find a better word now). The final track of the first side - the titles don't have real names; the numbers refer to the dates they music is recorded - has a bit of the same setting as the second one. Only now you're watching at the room from the outside, and you have a way more comfortable approach to the chatting people; It's like watching a nest of ants, and you might feel a bit itchy, but... Who can look at an ants nest and NOT feel itchy?
Side two opens with a lovely drone/noise based soundscape with abrupt transitions. And even though the almighty drone isn't a musical style that sees a lot of abrupt transitions, this track definitely is an example that the tension will stay intact when it's executed properly. The second track is an ambient / drone piece with a melodic theme. The choice of sounds is quite 'harsh'; I suspect lots of triangular or squares. But that's not a bad thing; please stay focussed here. In combination with subtle sines, almost absent yet still audible feedback and minimal noises, the harshness fully disappears in a sea of lushness. A bit like waking up after a night out with one glass of vodka too many. The final track of this release is the noisiest of them all. Not gonna say any more ... What a beauty ...
Just hop to the Bandcamp page, listen, and click buy. And if you want the tape, be really fast; only 7 of the 30 are left.
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