Not too long after the changing of the century, I was introduced to a band called NID. This Swiss-German project had something in its sound that I loved. And while writing this review of one of the members of NID, I am deciding that tomorrow I will get everything I have from NID and reply to it. Just to see if it’s still as magickal to me as it was back then. When NID broke up or ended, two new projects were born. Feine Trinkers Bei Pinkels Daheim and B°Tong. And I admit, I still kinda follow both of them when possible. So, when I was given the promo for a new B°Tong album, I was happy without even hearing it. Me? Biased? So what?
B°Tong is the project of Chris Sigdell, who, in addition to B°Tong, is also active in Bu.d.d.a and Leaden Fumes. His B°Tong project is where experiment, ambient, drones and music concrete touch each other and are moulded into truly majestic art. With a deeper meaning, being the power of zenihilism. According to the promo txt a zenihilist believes in seeing life as a joke. Chris’s songs display a wicked sense of humour and rely heavily on the concept of instant spontaneity – or composition on the spot, as written in the same promo. If I’m honest, I disagree with the humour part. After several plays, I can’t find anything ‘funny’. The four long tracks (between 9 and 15 minutes) may have had Chris giggling while recording, but there is nothing in your face slapstick. So, the question remains: Is it serious music? Yes, oh hell yes.
Slow-evolving depths and perfectly placed samples. Synthesised sounds as well as field recordings. Objects with sounds. Harmony and dissonance. However, for me, a key word in this release is resonance. From the first moments of the album up to the final moments, Chris manages to push the resonant frequencies of objects through equalisation to the point where it seems that even the hardest slab of concrete resonates. Put those frequencies into a reverb and you get the most beautiful drones and tapestries you can find. At the same time, those sounds are so hard to control, but Chris proves, especially in the first three tracks, that he is the master.
If you follow the music of B°Tong, I have news for you. This album is available now (release date April 25th), and you want to have this. If you like drones and minimal noise and have never heard of B°Tong before, you should be slightly ashamed and get this album (or give it a spin on Bandcamp), because it is that beautiful.
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