Digital fireworks. Latest-generation danceable software. Programmed boxes of rhythms. 8-bit sounds. An excess of artificial intelligence. I, robot. Technology is unforgiving; it invades us, making us into slaves of its algorithms and perfect formulas. These are times of pure, carefully-calculated mathematics; hard times for the guitar, bass, and drum....
Macro's techno-rockers go live on this week's RA podcast.
In his review of Elektro Guzzi's eponymous debut album, RA's Richard Carnes remarked that the trio were "one of the most unconventional 4/4 outfits of current times," and it's not difficult to see why. Comprised of guitarist Bernhard Hammer, bassist Jakob Schneidewind and drummer Bernhard Breuer, the Vienna-based musicians formed five years ago in order to create groove-based music with rock instrumentation....
Elektro Guzzi: Elektro Guzzi
Macro Recordings
So how do you catch the attention of your faithful textura reviewer when he's drowning in music submissions? Record your analog dance music live without overdubs or loops and using nothing more than guitar, bass, and drums, that's how. That's pretty much the route Viennese outfit Elektro Guzzi follows on its sixty-eight-minute debut album, which the trio—guitarist Bernhard Hammer, bassist Jakob Schneidewind, and drummer Bernhard Breuer—co-produced with Patrick Pulsinger. Just as it does live, on record too the group (together since 2004) delivers its motorik techno straight up sans laptop effects, self-indulgent soloing, or pre-recorded loops—techno performed ‘live' in the truest sense of the word. As a result, one would expect the overall sound to be rather skeletal but, in fact, the group's sound is surprisingly rich as guitar and percussion fill the aural space with detail. That's especially evident in “Clapping” when a front-line of miniature percussive patterns stokes an incessant burble and Hammer generates atmospheric effects rather than melodic lines, but it's pretty much the case throughout (the closer “Franz” the conspicuous exception, which finds the group gravitating towards conventional melodic structures). “Hexenschuss” converts subtle stabs of guitar clangour, syncopated bass pulsation, and beat propulsion into a thumping club groove inflected with dub shadings. “Jackpump” likewise amps up the atmospheric quota when shakers, cymbals, and psychedelic guitar treatments appear atop a thudding bass pulse. The trio animates rolling tracks such as “Kimbo” and “Sediment” with an energized forward thrust that, in the latter in particular, borders on tribal. Onstage, Elektro Guzzi might look like a rock or blues band, but once the trio digs into its taut, galloping grooves it's clear the focus is techno.
May 2010
Elektro Guzzi: Elektro Guzzi (Macro CD / 2xLP)
When Jaki Liebezeit, a free jazz drummer, joined Can in the late 1960s, he desired to damp down the unpruned 'expressiveness' of that genre and turn himself into a machine. 40 years later, that's what the three Austrian members of Elektro Guzzi have done, too. They're a traditional rock trio who've been active since 2004, but this Patrick Pulsinger-produced album is their first recording. It's taken five years of hard labour to blanch their music of ego: three minds, 12 limbs, one singleminded, sentient being.
The pace of these ten tracks is relentless, creaming forwards with the urgency of a Techno track by Robert Hood or Jeff Mills. Bernhard Breuer on drums is the dominant presence: a quantized human with a robotic kickdrum foot and a nice array of shakers, cowbells and cymbal-chains. Bernhard Hammer's guitar provides the main textural embellishment, usually dry, making liberal use of delay and reverb chamber, and possibly using sticks and beaters. Jakob Schneidewind's bass discreetly applies pressure to the pulse with a series of modulating gloops. "Hexenschuss" kicks off at a racketing pace; "Black Egg" rides on a stomping pulse that recalls Porter Ricks. "Loq Pol" gears down to a loping dub mode. "Ludium" is pure sweet, throbbing punishment - imagine Nitzer Ebb on Perlon.
Grooves are built up bar by bar, ratcheting up to micro-events with each return to the one. Occasionally, the rhythmic complexity reaches staggering levels of layered syncopation, yet the blurb insists the entire album is recorded live in real time, with no added electronics, loops or overdubs. It sounds like a digital electronica record, but strangely you start thinking about all the things you don't consider when listening to programmed, sequenced music: marvelling at human stamina, straining to hear any kind of imperfection. None is forthcoming. I applaud its sheer cyborg bravura.
Man/Machine: Vienna’s Elektro Guzzi challenge the meaning of “live” in electronic music. Bored of laptop sets? With a “classic” setup of guitar, bass and drums, Elektro Guzzi quantize themselves to an unheard level of discipline, tightness and danceability. No computers, no pre-recorded loops, no solos. Probably the first time techno is really played live. As sequential as they may sound, they couldn’t be more analogue. But however traditional they may look as a band, they certainly do not sound like one. Produced by Patrick Pulsinger, the tracks from the first single “Hexenschuss” and “Elastic Bulb” are great dancefloor movers, state of the art analogue recordings and prime examples of Elektro Guzzi’s incredible creative capabilities. Played live with no overdubs, these tracks break down the demarcation separating man and machine. Everything in techno has been done? You ain’t heard nothing yet. Debut album out may 2010 on Macro. Track license already signed for Optimo Fabric mix CD!
!!! Elektro Guzzi live at Sonar Barcelona 2010 confirmed !!!
Elektro Guzzi will perform in Stefan Goldmann's "Impromptu 23" composition for ballet at Nationaltheater Mannheim during Time Warp festival.
Confirmed press features on this and Elektro Guzzi coming up with Resident Advisor, The Wire (UK), DJ Broadcast (NL) and many more.
More features expected with Groove Mag, Mixmag, iDJ, Spex, Trax, Electronic Beats, Faith Magazine, Gonzo Circus, Beat and many many more.
James Holden (Border Community) BRILLIANT. I really like it, just what everyone needed.
Ivan Smagghe (Kill the DJ) You know I am not a man of many compliments but this is genuinely great... very original, which is rare these days...had to be said. Looking forward to this. And would love to see the live.
Tim Goldsworthy (DFA) Elastic Bulb is awesome!
JD Twitch (Optimo) I love it, particularly "Hexenschuss"! Will request for our Fabric mix CD.
Damian Lazarus (Crosstown Rebels) Wicked!! Love this.
Nico de Ceglia (BBC Radio 1) I love it!!!! Didn't know about these guys, thanks for making me discover them.
Oliver Ho (Raudive/Macro) Really great stuff, I love the quality of the sounds, and the minimalism of the instruments. I think the improvised nature of this really works, too. I look forward to the album!
Falko Brocksieper (Sub Static) This has a stronger techno feel than tons of commonly produced techno. Will try (!) to mix & looking forward to the album!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDRBpxZjKQw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUtE6J1ONbY
