Reviews

Altsounds

Audiobulb “are a Sheffield based exploratory electronic record label that is home to some of the finest purveyors of all things experimental. “Works supported by Audiobulb often explore the interface between the electronic and natural world. We embrace the complexity of unique electronics, intricate acoustics and detailed microsound.

To be honest, in this day and age I will applaud any artists that will try and explore new realms of sound and rhythm. These artists stick true to their ideas, that are born from imagination and invention, without trying to pigeon hole their sound into genres or even worse - trends and fashions.

Hans van Eck is a collaboration between the Schreck Ensemble (as yet I have not discovered if they are in any way related to the cartoon character) and sound artist / instrument designer “Hans van Koolwijk” (I have not discovered, as yet, the wig maker either). The idea is that large bass speakers are placed inside a “BassBox” which is a cabinet with only two small holes for letting the air escape. These holes are placed in close proximity to flutes, so that the vibrations from the speakers cause the flutes to play, and it is these noises that are recorded.

From reading this it is probably quite difficult to imagine what the album actually sounds like. Well it is a mixture of heart arresting tractor like drones and throbs like on Track One 'Deep Roll,' to the delicate and complex rhythmic melodies heard on Track Three 'House.'

“BassBox” is never going to appeal to a mass market, but that was never the point. The experimental music collective is seen as a method of creating sound that is not only new and distinct but also a sound that has a life of its own. The creators of “Bassbox” are certainly able to have slight control over what the overall song sounds like, but I am sure that it is never what they originally completely intended. This means that the music almost has a life of its own. A structure that is in harmony with the natural world and a meaning that is very hard to decipher, yet alone understand.

In the music spectrum there is definitely a place for this sort of “experiment”. Audiobulb Records see and hear a depth to this type of music that many will not understand.

On “BassBox” there are glimpses as to why and how this music can be so effective. Intricate flute melodies that seem to build up on themselves, outlining a driving yet underlying subtle melody which drowns the listener in delicate, yet complex structures like those in evidence on 'House' and Track Seven 'Shaken Rhythm.

When the BassBoxes are used to create the kind of low frequency drones that make you want to visit the bathroom, I personally, am not so sure. 'Deep Roll' and Track Two 'Scintillating' are not exactly musical, but remain effective. Fans of “Noise” and “Drone” music will certainly be interested, and taking into account that there is little or no “post-recording” production, bar amplification, the noises and sound-scapes are highly interesting, if not overtly musical.

All in all, I applaud Hans van Eck’s enthusiasm, imagination and drive. Hans van Eck have stayed true to their ideas and never veered from their distinct path and that in today’s fickle world, must be applauded.

Vital Weekly

It doesn't happen a lot, the excitement of mail arriving and then there is the new work by *** (fill in the blank), the much rumored new work. At the Vital HQ lots of mail arrive, and mail means work, its that simple. You may find it hard to believe but there was some old fashioned excitement when opening a small parcel by Audiobulb, which contained, much to my surprise, a CD by Hans van Eck. Who? His name popped up in the announcement section a couple of times, as part of the Schreck Ensemble, with whom he performs works of twentieth century serious composers. My first encounter with his music was a cassette only release in the late 80s, 'Blind Area' (which I think you can download on the Schreck website) of works created when studying sonology. Serious electronic music, but which sounded to my ears great. Never heard much of his music again, so that may explain some of the excitement. Here he works with a bassbox, 'an electronic air pump which pumps wind in measured quantities through flutes, giving rise to rhythmically fascinating sounds'. The vibrations of bass escape through two small holes and go into bamboo flutes. A simple and effective idea. And that brings me straight to the problem I have with the CD. There are seven pieces on this CD, and there is only one, 'Rivieren', which sound distinctly different than the other six. The six pieces are variations to a theme it seems. Maybe the speed changes a bit, the amount of air blown into the bamboo (even within a piece, which makes this sound like Reich's phase shifting), but after the third piece I had enough. I took it off, highly disappointed, but when I started to review the review I went back,  and it seemed the fourth piece 'Rivieren' was different, more like sine wave like experiment. Maybe I was wrong and I played the CD to the end. But no. That track is the odd ball, and the rest is standard. That I think is a great pity. I can imagine the bassbox is a nice thing to see in action, but as a whole the CD is a bit disappointing. Having said that, the pieces as pieces are actually nice. Nothing wrong with them as such, but to play it in one go, is just a bit too much. Hard to imagine, but play one or two pieces of this and then move to something else and then back to here. Seems like a lot of work. Audiobulb took a brave step by moving away from their usual musical releases and that's great too.

Blow Up Magazine

Dell'olandese Hans van Eck ricordiamo una cassettina pubblicata nella seconda metà dagli anni '80 dalla Decay International, ponderose composizioni elettroniche realizzate in gran parte negli studi dell'Institute of Sonology di Utrecht presso il quale l'autore si è laureato in musicologia. Poi l'attività nell'ambito della musica contemporanea con lo Schreck Ensemble e poi la collaborazione con lo scultore Hans van Koolvijk per il design di strumenti musicali non ortodossi. Come la BassBox, una pompa azionata elettronicamente che veicola masse d'aria in due flauti di bambù piazzati allo sommità dello strumento a produrre drones ribollenti e ondeggiamenti ritmici. Tutto molto affascinante, ma anche non poco monotono. (6) Nicola Catalano