Krappok - Kritschat
Beginning to truly dig the releases from Grubenwehr Freiburg, a label actually based in Leipzig Germany... offcourse! This is the second time I get to review stuff from this exciting label. A record label which sort of... builds bridges between the world of noise-music and the avant-garde.
This one is an act called Krappok. Not 100% sure what language Krappok is, but upon closer examination of the information within the booklet itself, this release is almost entirely based on the worlds of... well crabs. And well... crabs almost sounds like Krappok? Well, the true source behind the act's name actually comes from a German Horrorschocker comic book! The title of the album is in German and from Anthony Burgess´s fantasy-language of his ´A Clockwork Orange´, and it means to screech.
Another piece of information is that the release has ALSO been released as a highly limited thing! Which includes recordings with the Haters and Jugendwerkhof! Check the beauty out in the Bandcamp link below, it looks absolutely amazing!
An extra piece of info here as well! All the recordings are processed crab noises, field recordings, and a cello! A tiny 20 minutes CD thing with 9 tracks on it... what can go wrong?!
The first track on the album is called Mandible (Jaw of the crab) and the second track is called Anamerie. Starts with underwater insectoid noises with a slow, dry, and crawling sound of a cello in the background. Strangely pleasant for some reason. Crabs like to chat apparently. I also notice that there is the sound of watery waves? The whole bloody thing actually makes you feel like crab! Lots of watery waves (the tide), the sandy beach, the wind, and all that. It´s a well-made surreal soundscape, with a kind of recognizable and naive attitude. Lots of charms and I love the two first tracks!
The third track Unrastniederungen (Restlessness) moves the album towards an ambient-based soundtrack moment. I love field recordings, and I love the sound of the roaring sea at some desolate beach. The quality of the field recordings is really excellent. Love the combination of microscopic underwater sounds being up front and then having the big roaring sea in the background.
The fourth track Scherenschlag (Scissor Stroke) wakes the listener up to a track that offers harsh noise being played on a cello.
The fifth track Brandungszone (Surf Zone) offers the sound of stormy winds. Still, on the beach, I think, waiting for the right waves. The sound here is very minimal and enigmatic, you cannot help to open your ears!
The sixth track Zerkleinerung (Shredding) has a new sound element. Is it a melodic synth? Might be. Also, there is the sound of something hard on the cello, trying to wreck the strings.
The rest of the album is in the same manner, and thank the gods for that!. I loved the start of the album, and I love the end of the album as well. Obscure conceptual avantgarde-culture meets noise through the world of crabs, anti-music for David Attenborough perhaps? I don´t know if he would actually like it, but I do!
