EMERGE plays Gerald Fiebig: passages

gebrauchtemusik ° gm039
attenuation effect ° 1033 ° 2023
attenuationcircuit.de ° attenuation-circuit@web.de

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cassette version released by Red Light Studio 光 in 2023
redlightstudio.bandcamp.com

played, recorded and mastered by EMERGE
all original sounds and artwork by Gerald Fiebig

geraldfiebig.net
emergeac.wordpress.com

video: live version:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTV6jC4_AbQ

credits

released May 15, 2023

The passage of time, the passage from one imaginary space, and from one mind (or computer) to another – these are the passages that give this album its title.

Of course every piece of music passes from mind to mind as the ideas of its creator(s) become audible waves, enter another’s ear and get decoded in the brain of this listener. But in this case, the passage was already part of the composition.

After a decade of collaborations both in live improvisation and co-composition, EMERGE and Gerald Fiebig decided to experiment with a new creative challenge. The selection of materials and the composition were to be split between them.

For this piece, Gerald Fiebig collected a variety of sonic objects – field recordings, found sounds, instrumental parts, electronic sequences, both archival and original – and passed them on to EMERGE. Most of the sounds held autobiographical significance for Fiebig, but as no background information was supplied to EMERGE, the passage of sounds from one to the other allowed the sounds to free themselves of that limitation.

Nevertheless, the sounds were ‚thematically‘ grouped in sets of twelve, in view of the memory banks of the Roland SP-404 samplers used by EMERGE, but without any prior agreements on the choice of material or restrictions imposed by Fiebig on how to use the sounds. EMERGE set himself the challenge to integrate all the supplied sound files into the resulting compositon.

Working through the diverse groups of sounds, he created five pieces of varying duration and very different character. The listener can choose to follow the imaginary passageway that connects these five sonic and atmospheric spaces, but they can also choose to find their own paths by listening to the pieces in a different order.

With every passage – from Fiebig to EMERGE, and from EMERGE to every listener – the sounds lose old meanings and acquire new ones, creating – between all the listeners – an ever larger virtual network of references precisely out of the things that are not communicated in language, but only in sound. As such, the compositional process behind „passages“ is something of a sonic utopia of human cooperation, because, als Walter Benjamin wrote: „Progress does not reside in the continuity of the passage of time, but in its interferences.“

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Schulzki / Fiebig / Stadlmeier: from dusk till midnight

Doc Wör Mirran / Stadlmeier / Fiebig: Sanozama

attenuation circuit ° ACU 1054 ° 2023
attenuationcircuit.de ° attenuation-circuit@web.de

Sascha Stadlmeier – voice, noises, effects, cover photography
Gerald Fiebig – samples, effects
Joseph B. Raimond – guitar, bass, cover painting
Michael Wurzer – keyboards
Adrian Gormley – saxophone, effects, label painting
Stefan Schweiger – theremin

Recorded June 5th, 2019 at Two Car Garage Studios, Fürth Germany,
except Stefan’s theremin, which was recorded a month later.

As always, in loving memory of Frank Abendroth and Tom Murphy
Dedicated to D.H. Peligro

This is DWM release # 208

Front cover “The Happy Eggs”, Joseph Raimond 2021.
Inside artwork “Nothing Is Really Something #23”,
Joseph Raimond & Adrian Gormley 2022.

Spitzwiesenstr. 50
90765 Fürth, Germany
www.dwmirran.de…  more

credits

released April 15, 2023

Doc Wör Mirran releases have been a constant presence on attenuation circuit since the label’s beginnings in the early 2010s. With a long-time friendly contact established, label head Sascha Stadlmeier and his touring companion Gerald Fiebig stopped at the Doc Wör Mirran headquarters in Fürth, Germany, for two recording sessions during their 2019 tour. The two sessions, improvised live in the studio (with Stefan Schweiger’s theremin overdubbed later), form the two tracks of this album.

Amazonas, largest river in the world. Spelled Spanish so as to avoid confusion with Amazon, late capitalism’s empire of dirt. Like that mighty stream, the music on part two is a seemlingly endless flow of drones, layers, and harmonies. As this river of sound flows along, tributaries enter its bed, adding more sounds and textures. A serene, uninterrupted flow towards the Nirvana of the ocean? You wish. But we all now what goes on in the basin of the Amazonas. Rainforests chopped down and burned to farm more cattle. Indigenous peoples deported and killed if they stand in the way. The whole world’s lungs ripped out to feed the global proletariat with cheap meat. You can even buy canned beef on Amazon. Cheap nature, cheap food, cheap labour. A whole planet flowing down the drain. No man can can step into the same river twice, but what if the river Amazonas itself could change its flow, stop flowing towards the sea, spill out from its bed, flood the pastures, then flow back towards its source, becoming Sanozama? Such sorties (like that of the weeds breaking through concrete on the back cover photo), eruptions, ruptures, breaks, clashes, and catastrophes could be imagined in part two, as the laminar flows of electronic sound often break on noisy, abrasive lumps of sonic material, and the emerging uneasy rhythms subvert the certainty that this stream, any stream, any thing could really flow on forever, grow on forever, go on forever.

File under: ambient, drone, improvisation, psychedelic

Modelbau / Gerald Fiebig & William Rossi: split

Grubenwehr Freiburg / attenuation circuit ° GFAC 1003 ° 2023
grubenwehrfreiburg.bandcamp.com ° attenuationcircuit.de

Modelbau
New Page Signal (.-.-.)

all five sections recorded July 2020
modelbau.bandcamp.com

***

Gerald Fiebig I William Rossi
Sabir
Pidgin

Gerald Fiebig: electronics, drones, manipulations, ocarina, cigarbox
William Rossi: synthesizers, drones, electronics, piano, shakuhachi, orchestra

Born at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as a means to express and exorcise the loneliness and uncertainty it brought and the yearning to communicate we responded with, this collaboration quickly started to focus on the concepts of language and communication themselves. A universal constant for humans and the rest of the animal kingdom alike, communication is the door into getting to know the world that surrounds us; physical touch is communication, glances are communication, art is communication, language is communication.
A testament to humans‘ determination in connecting with each other, even in places where different cultures and tongues meet, both Sabir and Pidgin are languages that developed organically in order to bridge the gaps and understand one another.
Languages express the deepest affection, the harshest of condemnations, seething hatred and utmost fragility; an endless kaleidoscope of emotion the music on this record has tried to capture, mimic and convey- 

credits

released January 21, 2023

AUFRESIGNATION

AUFREGEN und RESIGNIEREN liegen oft nah beieinander, oder anders gesagt: Auf AUFREGUNG und Rebellion folgt nicht selten RESIGNATION. Diese bipolare Pendelbewegung vom Aufbegehren zum Aufgeben, von der Manie zur Depression, vom Rausch zum Kater hat der Augsburger Gitarrist, Komponist und Produzent Oliver Kolek in Gedichten und Songtexten von Gerald Fiebig aufgespürt und zur Grundlage des Minialbums AUFRESIGNATION gemacht. Es erscheint als gemeinsame Veröffentlichung der Augsburger Labels gebrauchtemusik und attenuation circuit.

Dass Kolek das Album auch unter dem Projektnamen AUFRESIGNATION erscheinen lässt, ist konsequent. Denn die jähe Schwankung zwischen entgegengesetzten Stimmungen oder Haltungen ist nicht nur Thema in den Texten, der er vertont hat. Vielmehr macht er sie auch zum Kompositionsprinzip, das sich durch alle vier Stücke zieht. Der Opener “Pillenknick” schlägt von krassem Electroclash unvermittelt in unheimlich heimelige Swing-Gemütlichkeit um (bis die Melancholie zurückschlägt) und erzählt dabei die Verfallsgeschichte emanzipatorischer Protestbewegungen als schlechten Wortwitz der Weltgeschichte (“Die Geschichte spielt immer zwei Mal, das erste Mal als Tragödie, das zweite Mal als Kalauer” – so ähnlich hieß das doch bei Marx). “Critical White Noise Studies” sprengt die Grenzen vom Song zum Ambient-Track u.a. durch sein ungewöhnliches Arrangement von Stimmen, die zu düsteren Elektroniksounds Bilder von Sklaverei und (Neo-) Kolonialismus heraufbeschwören. Während sonst alle Instrumente auf dem Album von Oliver Kolek selbst eingespielt wurden, wird er auf diesem Track von Leandra White am Modularsynthesizer unterstützt. Das Stück “Problemzone Lichtmess” verwendet, wie “Critical White Noise Studies”, Textmaterial aus Gerald Fiebigs Gedichtband “motörhead klopstöck” (dessen Titel mit seiner Kollision von “Pop”- und “Hoch”-Kultur schon auf das ungleiche Pärchen aus AUFREGUNG und RESIGNATION vorausdeutet). Bilder von Arbeit und Entfremdung, changierend zwischen sarkastischem Witz und traurigem Zynismus, werden in eine Komposition eingebettet, die von Glitch-Electronica zur atmosphärischen Ballade morpht. Der Abschlusstrack des kompakten Konzeptalbums AUFRESIGNATION verwendet, wie der Opener, einen bislang unveröffentlichten Text, der von Fiebig speziell als Songtext geschrieben wurde. (Der Titel und die erste Strophe sind dabei Zitate des viel zu früh verstorbenen Ostberliner Dichters Matthias BAADER Holst.) Thematisch ist der Übergang von der AUFREGUNG zur RESIGNATION bzw. vom Aktivismus zum Alkoholismus in diesem Popsong nun endgültig abgeschlossen. Doch das letzte Wort hat die Tatsache, dass es das Album überhaupt gibt. Denn zwar könnte man angesichts der Scheußlichkeiten der Welt durchaus den Wunsch haben, sich die (Rettungs-) Decke über den Kopf zu ziehen wie die Figur auf dem Cover. Oliver Kolek dagegen hat eben nicht RESIGNIERT sondern ein AUFREGENDES Album mit schönen Liedern über hässliche Dinge gemacht. Oder, wie es der Protestsänger und Dichter Phil Ochs um 1968 formulierte: “Ah but in such ugly times the true protest is beauty”. 

credits

released January 18, 2023

attenuation circuit ° ACU 1047
attenuationcircuit.de ° attenuation-circuit@web.de

gebrauchtemusik ° gm038
gebrauchtemusik.de

Komposition / Instrumente / Stimme: Oliver Kolek
soundcloud.com/oli-kolek / aufresigniert@web.de
Modular Synthesizer Track 2: Leandra White
soundcloud.com/gehendieleute

Texte: Gerald Fiebig
Track 2,3: Texte aus „motörhead klopstöck“, www.parasitenpresse.de

Mastering: Bernhard Kühne
insta: @bkuehne
Artwork: Bastian Hengge
Picsource: vinicius-amnx-amano

Gerald Fiebig & William Rossi: Lied für Georg Elser

Liner notes by William Rossi:

This is an album born out of anger. Anger at the worldwide rise of fascism, from Italy and Sweden to Hungary, India and the Republican party of the United States. Anger at the end-of-history liberal political class that, under the idea of „it can’t happen here“ and the guise of so-called civility allowed a fascist cancer to fester and grow unchecked. Georg Elser is turning in his grave at the prospect that fascists might be proudly and unapologetically expressing their barbaric and inhumane ideals in the open. But, inspired by Georg Elser and many others like him, we will never allow fascists to feel safe in our spaces and our society.

credits

released January 9, 2023

All Sounds by Gerald Fiebig and William Rossi.
Remixing and Manipulations on Intro and Interim by David Leutkart
Layout by Eleonora Lalalu and William Rossi

Schluss mit allen Kriegen!

Jesus Jackson und die grenzlandreiter spielen Herbert Hindringer

2001 trat Herbert Hindringer erstmals mit einer Lesung seiner Gedichte öffentlich auf – zum Glück, denn damit wurde die deutschsprachige Lyrik um eine großartige Stimme reicher. Am selben Abend – einer Veranstaltung der Literaturzeitschrift „Zeitriss“ in Augsburg – stand auch die Band Jesus Jackson und die grenzlandreiter auf der Bühne. Eine folgenreiche Begegnung: In der Folgezeit schrieb Herbert Hindringer einige Songtexte speziell für die Vertonung durch Jesus Jackson und die grenzlandreiter. Für die damals erst kurz bestehende Band eine große Ehre, denn das enorme poetische Talent von Herbert Hindringer zeigt sich auch in diesen Texten – nicht zuletzt darin, dass er sogar dem Reim-Formular, das es damals auf der Website der Band gab, statt purem Nonsens das „lied in eigener sache“ abgewinnen konnte.

Dieses Mini-Album umfasst erstmals alle Songs, die die Band auf Basis von Herbert Hindringers Texten komponiert hat.

„lied in eigener sache“ und „für euch“ waren jahrelang fester Bestandteil des Live-Repertoires von Jesus Jackson und die grenzlandreiter und sind konsequenterweise auch in den Live-Aufnahmen bereits erschienen, die man hier nochmals hören kann.

Die anderen drei Songs sind Homerecordings von die grenzlandreiter. „susi / von herbert“ und „du kannst fast alles“ werden hier zum ersten Mal veröffentlicht.

b°tong I EMERGE I If, Bwana I Gerald Fiebig: THING

With the first instalment of the THING series, attenuation circuit also celebrates the 10th anniversary of its very first vinyl release. In 2012, b°tong and EMERGE released their self-titled split LP on the label. In contrast to other split LPs, their pieces were composed specifically for this LP, with both artists sharing the same pool of sound materials to create their respective pieces. The 100 copies shared a common design created by visual artist Tine Klink, but as all sleeves were hand-painted, each copy had a recognisable, yet still unique cover. This concept earned the label a mention in recognised art director Stuart Tolley’s book “Collector’s Edition: Innovative Packaging and Graphics” (London: Thames & Hudson 2014).

In 2013, this album was followed up with another split LP by If,Bwana and Gerald Fiebig which followed the same musical and visual approach. Together, these two split albums formed attenuation circuit’s original Vinyl Series, which was soon replaced by individually conceived vinyl albums. To celebrate the anniversary of attenuation circuit’s first venture into vinyl territory, this THING collects all four sides of the two original LPs. To retain the “LP side” feel, the two pieces by If,Bwana have been transferred to the CD as only one track.

If, Bwana
Fie’s Big Organ / Recorders for Augsburg
original organ recording, Gerald Fiebig
recorders, Al Margolis
composed / assembled by Al Margolis
mixed and mastered by Tom Hamilton
ifbwana.com

Gerald Fiebig
Sustained Development
recorder (acoustic), Al Margolis
organ (acoustic), Gerald Fiebig
guitar (acoustic), Jesus Jackson
guitar (electric), Mathias Huber
organ (electric), Gerald Fiebig
recorder (electric), Gerald Fiebig
guitar (acoustic) processed by EMERGE
composed / assembled by Gerald Fiebig
Mathias Huber and Jesus Jackson appear courtesy of
Jesus Jackson und die grenzlandreiter.
The recorder (acoustic) and organ (acoustic) parts
are based on the same source recordings as track 1.

previously released on vinyl in 2013 

Fiebig / EMERGE / Bonafini

Gerald Fiebig: Far-end Crosstalk (Augsburg – Jinan) – Field recordings from Jinan (China) by Nicolai Volland.

This triple-split album presents electroacoustic compositions by attenuation circuit label head EMERGE, long-time associate Gerald Fiebig, and – for the first time ever on a physical release – the Italian, Bremen-based composer and sound artist Mattia Bonafini. The final track is a trio improvisation EMERGE, Fiebig and Bonafini played at Hulsberg Crowd in Bremen in June 2019, a temporary art location in a former nurses‘ home which has since been demolished.

Although the three pieces were composed independently, they seem to share a certain aesthetic feel: Sonic atmospheres stained by constant hiss (EMERGE), vinyl surface noise (Bonafini), and car traffic (Fiebig) pervade the album. Out of this grey sleet of acoustic debris, the composers try to salvage moments of clarity in the form of concrete sounds, melodic fragments or drone chords.

EMERGE works with a variety of field recordings that every once in a while quite literally emerge from the monochrome fog of background hiss that seems to be visualised in the colours of the cover artwork. The ‚betamorphoses‘ of the title could refer to the moments in which the static drone hiss of the piece morphs into more distinct acoustic scenes. One could think of it as moments when the static hum of ‚capitalist realism‘ (Mark Fisher) that muffles the whole of our reality is replaced by the sounds of something different – ‚betamorphoses‘ perhaps being beta tests for a metamorphosis of society at large that needs to take place.

Fiebig’s ‚Far-end Crosstalk (Augsburg – Jinan)‘, based on field recordings from his homebase Augsburg and the soundscape of the Chinese city of Jinan (recorded by Nicolai Volland in 1995) spells out this need for change along ecological lines. The piece maps Murray R. Schafer’s idea of the urban ‚lo-fi soundscape‘ onto the problem of climate change: With increasing car traffic, cities around the world not only sound increasingly the same, they also face the same problems with air pollution. The Jinan sounds are modulated with a filter based on frequencies of the note C (for China), the Augsburg sounds are filtered around the note G (for Germany).

‚Turning Pages‘ of musical history, or rather turning music around to see its other side, is what Mattia Bonafini did for his piece: He recorded surface noise from vinyl records in the library of Bremen’s Hochschule für Künste where he studied electroacoustic music, and thus created the piece by manipulating this background noise of the officially documented history of music. Like the other pieces, ‚Turning Pages‘ is an act of musical upcycling in which apparently non-musical sounds are used to create an aesthetic structure and, through sound, make us think about the world.

The live cut from Hulsberg Crowd – the venue itself being a sort of creative, if temporary, repurposing of an urban ‚left-over‘ – continues this by using ’sub-musical‘ elements such as no-input mixer and vocal noises rather than speech or song. But the tension felt in the three previous pieces, the feel of a present wedged uneasily between an untenable past and an uncertain future, is exploded in the energetic interaction of the trio, into a ‚lightbulb moment‘ (Lester Bangs) of whatever the listener may perceive in it – utopian or dystopian?