Frank Bretschneider — Isolation

Frank Bretschneider, whom I have known previously as Komet, released a number of cleverly constructed glitch beat compositions on the Raster Noton label, elaborate but logical arrangements of clicks and pops similar to labelmates CoH and Alva Noto.  It would appear he has ceased to use the Komet alias in the last 6 years, but releases under his given name have continued.  "Isolation" is one of two albums from 2015.  Its sound is quite different from the output of Komet.

There is no rhythm to speak of.  The music found here is somewhere between drone and minimal noise.  A satisfyingly full and round analog synthesizer tone is present from the moment the album begins, a fat sub bass which should clean out your ear drums and test your speakers.  The album opening can actually be quite startling if the volume is up loud.

As minutes pass, the tone bends and slowly modulates, adding and subtracting resonance and white noise.  The changes are unhurried, but the sound is never completely static, and I find it easy to listen to.  There is only a single tone at a time; I doubt there is any layering.  The monophonic nature of the music is not a bad thing, however.  It enhances the physical effect of the sound.

The effect of this album is quite physical.  There is such a constant presence of uncommonly deep frequencies that It is a literal massage, and vibrates the room.  I find it rather soothing, although it might make it difficult to sleep.  Ultra-low frequency drone is a style which has only been fully explored in a nearly lost catalogue of limited DIY releases from tiny labels.  I am therefore always grateful to come upon it.

This music is interesting to me because it seems largely free of direct emotional expression, containing none of the trappings of openly spiritual or meditation oriented music, focusing instead on providing a tool for the listener, a sound which has a particular physiological effect on the body, but can be used by the listener for whatever purpose they choose.  In this regard it is like Coil's "Time Machines".  The monophonic use of analog synth ensures that the music is detached and maintains an unearthly, gliding movement.

Apparently, the album was actually composed for an art installation at a former German prison in 2012.  This is the first time it's actually been released, however.  Heard in this context, I imagine the album would seem significantly more chilling and disturbing.

I loved this album.  It is the rare listenable drone album.  It has a powerful bodily effect which forcibly alters whatever mindset the listener is in prior to listening.  It is devoid of pretense or cliche, and presents instead a physically pleasurable sound.