Regenorchestrer XII

Finding that sweet spot among minimalist improvisation, aggressive Rock and electronic interface is the newest iteration of Regenorchestrer. Besides Austrian quarter tone trumpeter Franz Hautzinger, who founded the ensemble, the XII version features fellow Austrian Christian Fennesz on guitar and laptop; Japanese Otomo Yoshihide on guitar and turntables; Dutch electric bassist Luc Ex and Australian drummer and percussionist Tony Buck.

Intermingling these nationalities into a concise whole is also a metaphor for what Regenorchestrer does sonically. Throughout the five tracks, fragmented brass peeps, singular bites and triplet smears pull the arrangements in one direction; propulsive bass and drum rhythms drive it another; knob-twisting guitar string flanges move it in a third; and a pivot to the ever-present machine wave forms informs sections of the sequences.

As many strained ring modulator partitions, crackling programmed burbles, curving guitar frails and speedy brass triplets deconstruct horizontal progress, bass thumps and drum ruffs stabilize various motifs in a linear fashion. Along the way duets between ratcheting guitar plinks and internal lead pipe breaths from the trumpet or crackling electronics and guitar string buzzing are set up, investigated and moved past into portamento motions.

The program reaches its climax on “Dogman”, the penultimate track, with the supple interaction of Hautzinger’s widely spaced yelps and snuffles and laptop projected oscillations, which together produce pressurized shakes. With the line extended with drum clip-clops and ringing guitar strokes, half-valve brass bent notes turn to trumpet bites to complete the transformation. What remains is a languid slide to the conclusion as processed trumpeting tongue flutters soar past fragmented live ones and ratcheting percussion for a vibrating electro-acoustic conclusion. Gripping in its evolution XII makes one wonder what XIII and beyond will involves.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Relics 2. Arbre 3. Icon 4. Fanfare 5. Dogman 6. Taimen

Personnel: Franz Hautzinger (quarter tone trumpet); Christian Fennesz (guitar and laptop); Otomo Yoshihide (guitar and turntables); Luc Ex (electric bass) and Tony Buck (drums and percussion)