Jason Kahn/Frantz Loriot/Christian Wolfa — Köln

Köln is a thirty-two slice of fidgety ‘n’ shifting electro-acoustic improv featuring one of the masters of the form New York-born Jason Kahn on electronics. With French-Japanese on Frantz Loriot on Volin, and Switzerlands'  Christian Wolfarth on percussion.

The CD appears on Kahn’s own label Editions- with the pro-pressed CD coming in a card slip, which features a hand-painted cover of blocks of white, green, and black. With a white card inlay detailing the players, recording, and production details. It's a  recording of a live set in Köln Germany in October 2022- hence the title. The release has a hand-numbered edition of 200 copies.

The single thirty-two minute & thirty-four-second track opens with a rather busy mixture of minimal electro fuzz ‘n’ scrab, twitching percussion, and scarping fiddle. As it progresses the trio create a nice feeling of detailed & playful improv- which at points edges towards a more seared side of things- but never fully getting there. 

The track moves go from sinister on ‘n’ off dwelling purrs and bowing scraps. Through to detailed percussive jungles- light with haunting gong toll, and tonal pulls ‘n’ drag. Onto descending ticks, clicks, and fiddles- taking in both electronic and acoustic. Around the mid-way point we get some quite searing highs added into the mix, as well as brief dips into radio tone shift. With some more pared-back/ moody moments also appearing from time to time.

The track/set is generally eventful and shifting in its intent- with each player showing both their skills for sound creativity & general sonic flair. It must be a good few years since I’ve heard anything from Mr Kahn, so it was great to hear this new(ish) work from him. And if you enjoy fairly active electro-acoustics- then do check out  Köln. For more information