Zeitkratzer & Carsten Nicolai — Electroincs

Electronics is the first of three collaborative releases between genre shifting German chamber orchestra Zeitkratzer and other respected experimental artists. This first release finds them working with Carsten Nicolai  who is one of the mainstay and owners of minimalistic and arty electronic label Raster Noton.

I didn’t know quite what to expect with this; but I guess maybe I expected Zeitkratzer's manic and often noisy chamber work underlined by Nicolai's clinical electronics or maybe Nicolai's electronics with simmers ‘n’ saws of chamber work built around it in an atmospheric manner. But Electroincs does not go down either of these paths really, instead it presents three lengthy tracks that focus in on hypotonic and often drone/ edgy ambient works that are ribbed with building electro hums that soar to noisy eletroinc highs, & striped white neo electric rhythmic tracks full of beeps, ticks  & pulses.

With the Zeitkratzer collective really utilizing a very surprising, controlled and subtle use of sonic colouring with long drone trails, purrs & harmonic rumbles from a mixture of : bass clarinets, assorted brass & strings. Along with skeletally yet offten harmonic piano trails and general atmospheric sonic haze and mist making. I guess one could equate this to wondering through a people-less high-tech skyscraper city that’s engulfed with a strange dense and atmospheric mist and ever so often edger’s of buildings or buzzing light trails appear out of the mist.

All in another surprising and rewarding sonic turn from the Zeitkratzer collective. But just don’t expect it to hit you straight away or thrown you about like a lot of Zeitkratzer work- this is a lot more subtle, atmospheric and building beast that takes time to get under your skin