ALVA NOTO Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Storied German ambient, microsound and electronica musician Alva Noto (Carsten Nicolai) shares the fifth volume of his intentionally indefinite Xerrox series, Xerrox Vol. 5. First begun in 2007, after envisaging a series of albums released in chronic sequence, the Xerrox series expressly aims to prove that the continued copying and replication of recorded sound will produce an indefinite variation, each copy infinitely more interesting than the last. With every edition of Xerrox using the same album cover, the sonic contents of the Xerrox albums similarly mimic each other's movements, through a process of making minuscule changes that go onto produce cascading, domino-effecting results. The palette is expansive and cinematic as ever, though it is striking to know that these suites were achieved solely through the manipulation of recordings made and subsequently timestretched from scratch.

Review: Carsten Nicolai has left an indelible mark on electronic music since his debut 24 years ago, carving out a genre uniquely his own characterised by surgically precise sound shapes, glitched-out percussion, and vast atmospheres rich in frequency. Continuing his exploration of astrophysics and digital mechanics, HYbr:ID II is the second installment in Nicolai's series. Accompanied by a 12-page booklet of visually arresting diagrams, the music takes precedence. Immersive dub and electronica elements define the journey into intricately manipulated digital production, drawing inspiration from Minkowski's spacetime model. Each of the ten compositions, stemming from a score for Richard Siegal's Ectopia performance, offers a cosmic ballet of rhythm and resonance. Dense with pensive moods and resonant pitches, Nicolai's soundscape conjures a vast cosmic expanse, occasionally guiding listeners down unexpected auditory paths and prompting moments of deep reflection. The album's meticulous craftsmanship and expansive sonic palette underscore Nicolai's ability to seamlessly merge conceptual exploration with musical innovation. Perfect for fans of spatial manipulations, digital structures, and flawless sound design, Alva Noto adds another significant piece to his outstanding discography.

Review: Carsten Nicolai's distinctive approach to reduced, crystalline electronics continues to bear fruit with the second part in the Hybrid:ID series, which commenced in 2021. As with the prior volume, the music contained within is drawn from a commissioned score to a dance piece by Richard Siegal. As his own Noton label outlines, these ten pieces 'delve into infinity, drawing inspiration from resonance and elasticity.' Needlepoint pulses, electrostatic flickering and elegant dub techno forms abound, each sound given appropriate space in the unmistakable style Nicolai has made his own over a celebrated career on the fringes of contemporary electronic music.

Review: The original 'Subterraneans', composed by David Bowie from their 1977 album 'Low', was an emotionally striking piece that illustrated the struggles of withdrawal. German legend Alva Noto teams up with Depeche Mode's Martin Gore and ambient wizard William Basinski to transform the piece into an ephemeral, ghostly number that is almost even more chilling - with ambient synths and vocal echoing that conjure being lost in a deep cave, something almost supernatural at every turn. A truly haunting, yet aurally astounding, cover.

Review: Vrioon was the first ever collaboration album between Alva Noto and legendary synth man and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. 20 years after it became the first instalments of V.I.R.U.S.'s five records together it gets the full reissue treatment. The original tracks from the album are joined by an all new composition 'Landscape Skizze' which was laid down in 2005. The record is defined by alternate piano chords, lush electronic tones and quivering timbres that are delicate yet impactful.