Do we in this scene say we are ‘fans’ of someone? Or is it more like how we ‘admire’ certain artists? Because I have it with a few artists – Christian Renou being one of them – that I’m caught in between these two. If something is released, I tend to check it out when possible, buying it if I can, and every time I make a new order at one of the mail orders where we all get our music from, I always check if there’s not a golden oldie for a nice price that can be added to my collection. Am I the only one? Are there more like me among you? Is therapy needed? Or should I stop worrying and just appreciate the art I can get my hands on, get inspired, and don’t worry about what it’s called? A new Brume tape was released on No Rent Records from Philadelphia, and it’s so amazing. I have been listening the whole week, and every moment I had while working or needing a moment of rest, I played it. Honestly!
‘No Zen Machine’ is a tape in an edition of 100 copies and the possibility of owning it digitally. ‘For analog & digital electronics, metal, field recording, 60’s radio, voice, tape’ it states on the minimal but very tasteful artwork and all those ingredients are indeed there. The concept behind this release is hard to explain, so I’ll suffice by copying/pasting what Christian had to say about it himself. “This new material serves as a reflection on an experience from a few years ago that was inexplicable on a profound level. While I don’t generally have a strong interest in paranormal occurrences, when encountering strange and unexplainable phenomena, I feel compelled to acknowledge and address them. This material can be seen as a testimony to recount and share the details of my personal experiences.”
And when you listen to these two tracks (both approximately 30 minutes – so it’s an hour of music), the creepiness of the ‘unexplainable phenomena’ can indeed be heard. There is a ghostly, dissonant atmosphere everywhere, with voices everywhere, leaving you with an uneasy feeling. Yet when it’s done playing, you still have a feeling of closure. You’ve just heard an hour of really unsettling noises, but you don’t feel unsettled; The emotion has been placed in the composition. In short, something happened, and closure was found by making art. The emotion that comes with closure is reflected in these works. Now, that’s powerful if you ask me.
Music Brume’s sound can go all over the place, but this is the most ambient I’ve heard from him in a long time. And as you know, I’m a sucker for ambience and drones. This one is entirely up my alley. And as the tape is already sold out at the label, you shouldn’t hesitate when you find a copy at your favorite mailorder. Amazing stuff!
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