Dieb13 / Gustafsson / Siewert — (Fake) The Facts

Mats Gustafsson. Interesting guy. Resident of Austria and Sweden (born in Sweden, 1964). Plays saxophone (and a few other instruments). A well thought of composer and improviser that has worked with many artists/ musicians. And, is willing to work with rock/noise musicians as well as jazz giants like Derek Baily, Peter Brotzmann, and Evan Parker. Curates festivals. Over 150 releases. Over 1600 concerts. Busy guy.  

The album (Fake) the Facts finds Gustafsson working with Viennese musicians dieb13 (Dieter Kovacic) and Martin Siewert to create an amazing & seared listening experience. For those not interested in free or noise music the album might be a tough go, especially if Pink Floyd is as far out as you get. Nurse with Wound fans should definitely give it a try; Orbital fans probably not.

The music on (Fake)the Facts has an ebb and flow which makes it a fair bit more listenable than some Aube or Merzbow albums. Gustafsson’s sax interjections provide a sort of human-ish voicing amidst the dip and swirl of electronics/guitars/ turntables. The sound that Gustafsson/Kovacic/Siewert create has elements that bring to mind memories of Borbetomagus (look them up), along with hints of God or Painkiller ambience, maybe. But in all honesty, the music just sounds so wonderfully alien at times that any other concerns just evaporate. Putting the album on ‘repeat’ is definitely recommended; (Fake) the Facts becomes an immersive space where every sound is a character unto itself.

Not much more for me to say, actually. This is one of those albums that you either get it or you don’t, but definitely give it a try if you’re looking for adventure.