Experimental Music from Milan: Black Sweat Records

Text: Marc Jauss Originally isued in zweikommasieben magazine #16 — Text: Marc Jauss
Originally isued in zweikommasieben magazine #16

Since the early 80s, there has been a distinguished experimental and DIY scene in Milan. The Black Sweat Records label, which was created in 2012 by Davide Domenichini, a.k.a. Dome, can be understood as a continuation of that tradition. Besides publishing outstanding re-issues of local and international line-ups, the label is bringing out new artists. The influence of their mentors—the Italian pioneers of that era—is loud and clear.

The Italian Futuro Antico project was one of those pioneering efforts of the early 80s which always appeared to be oriented towards the future and experimentation. Futuro Antico members Walter Maioli and Riccardo Sinigaglia enraptured audiences over and over again in hypnotic sessions with meditative drones and discreet rhythmic structures. Contemplative and in love with detail, the duo combined Indian and African influences to create a shimmering sound carpet. The albums Futuro Antico (1980) and Dai Primitivi All’ Elettronica (1990), both recently re-released by Black Sweat Records, bear witness to this.

Sound tinkerer David Erden is a thrilling counterpoint to the Black Sweat Records catalog: The Belgian has been active for some time now as DSR Lines, and runs his own cassette label, Hare Akedod, which specializes in electroacoustic and improvised sounds. His recently released album from Black Sweat, Spoel (2017), was originally published as a tape and is now being newly released as double LP including three unreleased tracks. Softly modulated analog sounds stream over playful collages of echoes and frequency modulations that catapult the listener into unknown spheres.

Back on earth again—now in the middle of Texas in the late 70s—we meet the composer and performer JD Emmanuel. Inspired by Terry Riley and the early work of Peter Michael Hamel, Emmanuel captivates with energetic and free synthesizer and organ tones. His early experiments with analog New Age sounds are brought together in an elaborately designed vinyl edition called Electronic Minimal Music, which Black Sweat released in 2016. The self-proclaimed Time Traveler is still active today, and continues his travels in meditative and metaphysical realms. Those who are enthusiastic about time travel and other experiments will find unknown treasures in the Black Sweat Records catalog—in this world and beyond.

Electronic Minimal Music by J.D. Emmanuel

Experimente aus Mailand: Black Sweat Records

Schon seit den frühen Achtzigern findet sich in Mailand eine ausgezeichnete Experimental- und DIY-Szene. Das Label Black Sweat Records, das von Davide Domenichini alias Dome 2012 ins Leben gerufen wurde, kann als Fortsetzung jener Tradition verstanden werden. Neben hervorragenden Re-Issues mit lokalem und internationalem Line-up bringt das Label auch neue Künstler ans Tageslicht. Die Einflüsse ihrer Mentorinnen – den italienischen Pionieren von damals – sind dabei unüberhörbar.

Zu den Pionieren aus den frühen Achtzigern zählt das italienische Projekt Futuro Antico, das sich stets zukunftsorientiert und wunderbar experimentierfreudig zeigte. In hypnotischen Sessions aus meditativen Drones und dezenten Rhythmus-Strukturen verzückten die Mitglieder Walter Maioli und Riccardo Sinigaglia immer wieder aufs Neue. Besinnlich und detailverliebt verband das Duo indische und afrikanische Einflüsse zu einem schimmernden Soundteppich. Die Alben Futuro Antico (1980) und Dai Primitivi All’ Elettronica (1990), beide jüngst bei Black Sweat Records erneut erschienen, zeugen davon.

Der Soundtüftler David Erden ist ein spannender Gegenpol im Katalog von Black Sweat Records: Der Belgier ist seit einiger Zeit als DSR Lines aktiv und betreibt ein eigenes Kassetten-Label namens Hare Akedod, das sich auf elektroakustische und improvisierte Klänge spezialisiert hat. Sein kürzlich auf Black Sweat erschienenes Album Spoel (2017) wurde ursprünglich als Tape publiziert und erhält nun eine Doppelvinyl-Neuauflage mit drei unveröffentlichten Stücken. Sanft modulierte analoge Sounds strömen über verspielte Collagen aus Echos und Frequenzmodulationen, die einen in unbekannte Sphären katapultieren.

Wieder auf der Erde zurück begegnet man – nun mitten im amerikanischen Texas der späten siebziger Jahre – dem Komponisten und Performer JD Emmanuel. Inspiriert von Terry Riley und Peter Michael Hamels frühen Werken besticht Emmanuel mit freien und energetischen Synthesizer- und Orgelklängen. Auf einer aufwändig gestalteten Vinyl-Edition namens Electronic Minimal Music, die 2016 bei Black Sweat erschien, versammeln sich seine frühen Experimente mit analogen New Age-Sounds. Der selbsternannte Time Traveller ist auch heute noch aktiv und setzt seine Reisen in metaphysischen und meditativen Gefilden unbeirrt fort. Wer sich also für Zeitreisen und/oder andere Experimente begeistern kann, der findet im Katalog von Black Sweat Records unbekannte Schätze – im Dies- und Jenseits.

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columnmarc jauss25 July 2018aktuell01