Kammerflimmer Kollektief - Hysteria
(Bubblecore)
If the Tied and Tickled Trio is to be thought of a musical clash of the titans between kraut rockers like Can and cool jazzers like the Bird, then we should probably think of the Kammerflimmer Kollektief as a similar clash, this time between techno masterminds like the Aphex Twin and a more free style of jazz, more similar to John Coltrane. While the group's first album Mäander was a bit too techno heavy, made mostly from recordings Kollektief leader Thomas Weber made before he enlisted the rest of the band, Hysteria, their third album, seems to be a bit better of a picture of what the band is all about--this (other) epic clash of the titans.
However, combining these two worlds is not exactly a breakthrough. Turntablists and techno guys have been sampling jazz albums for years. You can hear strings and horns on Aphex Twin records and DJ Shadow records, so what's different here? Well, in the perfect setting, the difference would be, of course, that of collaboration as the techno and the jazz could work off of each other and explore.
Much like Mäander, though, quite a bit of Hysteria is solo material--half of the 6 songs are credited to only Weber. Thus, the opportunities to transcend the normal use of jazz samples in techno is limited. These three solo songs are still interesting techno though, and they seem to follow a freer, more jazz structure than the songs on the first album. "Engel Wacht" is a very good song, however, it is perhaps good mainly for the reason that it reminds me of better songs by DJ Shadow and his work in UNKLE or of the Third Eye Foundation. An ominous sounding guitar part dominates the track, creating an eerie mood. Wind seems to whisp around the room as wind chimes clang and a trickling of a piano melody is added. Squeaks and eeks are scribbled across the bottom which for a brief moment explodes into a dominating drum machine beat. "Du Seihst Hoch; Du Seihst 'Wolken'" is also strong but it sounds more like Neu wave kraut than techno, using a soothing, repetitive keyboard melody and pulsating electric tones.
The collaborative tracks are a bit denser and richer and a bit more interesting and adventurous. The band's second album (previous to Hysteria as far as original release but released just after Hysteria in the United States) finds Weber challenging his Kollektief to reinterpret the Mäander album using only live instruments. The three collaborations here are of similar purpose. "Auguri, Auguri" is a cluttered cacophony of textures, sounding like a drum machine click track combination only made from a saxophone, stringed instruments, and other organic sounds. "Mohn!" is the standout track of the album, though. An upright bass explores a central theme while other instruments create a rich environment around it: a saxophone interjects with brief phrases, a guitar provides a rhythmic background, other strings contort their instruments, creating unnatural, Galbraith-like sounds from the strain.
The Kammerflimmer Kollektief is definitely an interesting band, a great idea that is for the most part well executed. However, they seem to only be hinting at what is possible with such an arrangement. However, with Hysteria, my ears can at least finally hear the hints.
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