JohnKrausbauer + Alan Licht 7′ Superstizione / Lateral Tracer – Carbon records
Alan Licht (electric guitar) and John Krausbauer (amplified violin/oscillators) have created two compositions on their new 7” that seemingly reside on opposite ends of the experimental/free-noise spectrum.
Superstizione (Italian for “superstition”) is a maximalist free-noise blast, seemingly chaotic, but with an intentional forward movement and flow. Licht’s guitar playing starts off with a low end, thick fuzz, but quickly moves to an over-blown, frenetic pattern, all while Krausbauer’s amplified violin proves the instrument can fit, and compete comfortably, in the mix of wild amp’d riffage. You can try to discern the notes, examine the interplay, or you can just let yourself be enveloped by the combined waterfall of tones and power.
On the other side of the coin (and record), Lateral Tracer utilizes guitar (Licht) and oscillators (Krausbauer) to create drones and moiré-like patterns with interweaving signals, which elicits difference tones and interference beats, mesmerizing the listener with a soothing heartbeat. Similar to the use of the contrasting red and blue in the cover artwork, creating a chromostereopsis effect, the two sources of sound trade places back and forth, per the listener’s focus, one sound (or color) retreating, while the other advances, and vice-versa.
only a few, ltd ed $13
John Krausbauer + Patrick Shiroishi 7′ High Life – Carbon records
High Life is like a mini-album, a short journey or guide. The perfect use of the 7″ format, showcasing the range of this inventive duo with each playing their core instruments of violin (Krausbauer) and saxophone (Shiroishi), along with some organ drones and singing.
On the a-side, Bird’s Song starts things off with John’s beautiful pulsing organ swells, while Patrick comes in blustering and quick with a cacophony of notes. The world is waking up. They then set off traversing the dynamic range of the free-improv landscape on the title track High Life, with sharp interplay between the droning and soaring violin and skipping free-sax melodies.
On the b-side, the trek continues with Swing Low, as John’s grinding Conrad-esque violin drones lay a base for Patrick’s track-long skronking sax solo. They finish off the trip, and the 7″, with the raga meditations of Tuning In & Turning On, all chanting voices and organ drone; the world lays its head down.
Ltd ed, only a few $13
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