Fennesz - Venice

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I couldn't find a thread on this album. I just bought this the other day at Other Music, and didn't even think it was out yet. I'm really enjoying this, even more than Endless Summer, and on about the same level as his Live in Japan. What do you guys think?

― T. Weiss (Timmy), Saturday, 20 March 2004 15:28 (twenty-two years ago)

...my copy is still in "Transit". I eagerly expect it's arrival early next week.

― bahtology, Saturday, 20 March 2004 16:11 (twenty-two years ago)

sonically beautifull, not as fun or playfull as endless summer (minus the sylvian track). kinda sad.

― twelve, Saturday, 20 March 2004 18:38 (twenty-two years ago)

just as shitty as the rest of his stuff. i dare the dude to write a song.

― dddd, Saturday, 20 March 2004 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, dude, write a song!

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 20 March 2004 20:34 (twenty-two years ago)

why should he write a song?

― hector (hector), Saturday, 20 March 2004 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I get bored of songs.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Saturday, 20 March 2004 20:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"Transit" is downloading as we speak (type). I eagerly await it.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Saturday, 20 March 2004 21:05 (twenty-two years ago)

"songs is rubbish!"

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 20 March 2004 21:10 (twenty-two years ago)

hear hear!

― hector (hector), Saturday, 20 March 2004 21:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Sick's Dad: "There's an 'orrible noise comin' out your bedroom."

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 21 March 2004 09:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Fucking hell, play Venice on your PC and then visit the Avril Lavigne website! Hey presto, Kevin Shields remixes Avril!

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Sunday, 21 March 2004 09:41 (twenty-two years ago)

It should scare off all the rainy-day fans who hopped on with "Endless Summer".

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Monday, 22 March 2004 11:52 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=1831

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Monday, 22 March 2004 11:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Nick, your review is OTM as far as I'm concerned.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Monday, 22 March 2004 12:55 (twenty-two years ago)

A fine review, Mr. Nouthall, though upon first listen, I liked Transit. All Sylvian's shit sounds that way, as far as I'm concerned...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 22 March 2004 13:15 (twenty-two years ago)

today I think this is the best Fennesz album I've heard (admittedly not all of them)

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Monday, 22 March 2004 15:40 (twenty-two years ago)

let's hear it for filmic doomed romanticism!

― tricky disco (disco stu), Monday, 22 March 2004 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

hear hear!

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 22 March 2004 18:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Nick, that Avril advice is really OTM!!!

I like Vencie, it's pretty. Buy yeah, I'd love for someone to remix it. Like Timbaland.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 22 March 2004 20:42 (twenty-two years ago)

It's not so pretty when the guy who can't sing for shit suddenly jumps in on the second to last cut or whatever it is. Also, I think I liked the Japan album more. But yeah -- a very pleasant record.

― chuck, Monday, 22 March 2004 20:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Like Timbaland.

i think this would cause ilm to implode.

the guy who can't sing for shit

woah - i think that's the first time i've seen that comment made towards david sylvian...

― tricky disco (disco stu), Monday, 22 March 2004 21:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Do you mean Sylvian, Chuck?

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 22 March 2004 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I guess that would be Sylvain - I never checked. (I do have an album by Japan somewhere in my collection, by the way, but I forget what it sounds like. They look kinda cute on the cover, I guess.)

― chuck, Monday, 22 March 2004 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't like david sylvian's voice much, either! and neither does matos!

― geeta (geeta), Monday, 22 March 2004 21:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I'll grant you that his voice is an acquired taste, but to say he "can't sing for shit" seems a little much.

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:02 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah geeta and you think lodger is bowie's best album!

xpost

― tricky disco (disco stu), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I was not prejudiced in any way, mind you -- I have no opinion about David Sylvain at all. I barely even remember who he is! All I know is, the three times I played the Fennesz album, I was lulling away in its noisome beauty or whatever and suddenly that guy jumped in and I thought "Wow, this guy can't sing for shit, what's HE doing here?" But maybe he CAN sing, I dunno. Maybe he just chose not to on the Fennesz album!

― chuck, Monday, 22 March 2004 22:07 (twenty-two years ago)

dude, bowie's voice is great on lodger! and it's nothing like sylvian's!

― geeta (geeta), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:11 (twenty-two years ago)

i was only joking around...i wasn't referring to bowie's voice. (i just don't think lodger's his best, but taste is taste)

― tricky disco (disco stu), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, Bowie's voice didn't go to hell til Let's Dance. Once he started singing in that low register all the time, it was ALL over.

― chuck, Monday, 22 March 2004 22:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Personally I'm glad Timbaland wasn't brought in to remix Venice but hey diff'rent strokes.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Sylvian rules. You're all fules.

― Jay Vee (Manon_70), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Personally I'm glad Timbaland wasn't brought in to remix Venice

Yeah well, they just couldn't match up their schedules, what with Fennesz's commitments to produce the next Mya and Luda albums and his finishing up work on the J-Kwon remixes.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:26 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought it was Tim's solo laptop tour that mucked things up.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm gathering, Chuck, that you don't like the low croon that much. Not a fan of Scott Walker either, I'm guessing?

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:28 (twenty-two years ago)

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

― chuck, Monday, 22 March 2004 22:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Does that make you an ecstatic Alvin and the Chipmunks fan, then?

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, they were better than Bauhaus. (Less ridiculous, too.) No contest there....

― chuck, Monday, 22 March 2004 22:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought it was Tim's solo laptop tour that mucked things up.

The thought of how cool this would be proves my original point!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 22 March 2004 22:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Having heard it tonight, I proclaim it glitch-Vangelis, though this is not a criticism per se. Better post-gaze than the Air album easy. I like Sylvian dammit and always will. One song sure as hell sounded like the last song on the Seefeel debut (at least that's what I think it was), which is always a good sign. It can support remixing as much as lack it. And there ya go.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 04:02 (twenty-two years ago)

'Venice' is ear candy, too eager to please and far beneath this man's considerable talents. love "Transit," though. a challenging partner tends to bring out the best in Fennesz. the duo with Keith Rowe coming out on soon on Erstwhile should be a stunner that sets everything right again.

― echoinggrove (echoinggrove), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 04:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Did you think 'Endless Summer' was mere ear candy as well?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 08:14 (twenty-two years ago)

One song sure as hell sounded like the last song on the Seefeel debut (at least that's what I think it was), which is always a good sign
Yes, always.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Plus, there's tracks like "City of Light", which sound like the gloomy, beatless parts of Seefeel's second album.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 12:04 (twenty-two years ago)

CHRISTIAN READS THESE THREADS

― austria (nick.K), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Good, I was very nice about him in that review.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

christian, I was only kidding about the songs.

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 19:41 (twenty-two years ago)

uh oh an artist is spying on us...

― hector (hector), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 19:57 (twenty-two years ago)

CHRISTIAN COME TO CALIFORNIA FOR MY PROM HOLLA DAWG MY # IS 415-GLI-TCHY

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

i am rather excited about the keith rowe thing!

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 20:38 (twenty-two years ago)

but then i am a shameless fanboy

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Have we commented on the uh, punny title?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 21:41 (twenty-two years ago)

well, it's better than pince-nez

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 23 March 2004 21:45 (twenty-two years ago)

wow this is um placid

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 03:05 (twenty-two years ago)

that's not really a criticism, just surprise

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 03:05 (twenty-two years ago)

It suited my mood nicely last night, I have to say. Good sinking-into-the-couch-while-reading music. (Then again I'm currently reading a study of Hitler's inner circle.)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 03:45 (twenty-two years ago)

hated it!
http://valdefierro.com/ilc.jpg

― Pablo Cruise (chaki), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 03:59 (twenty-two years ago)

The memories!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 24 March 2004 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

that review is ridiculous.

― wantmytwominutesofmylifeback, Wednesday, 24 March 2004 04:56 (twenty-two years ago)

"Circassian" is the best track.

― gygax! (gygax!), Sunday, 28 March 2004 01:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I have just realized that just 5 days ago, Messr. Fennesz and Jelinek were doing a double set right here in Prague.. Should I weep?

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 11:12 (twenty-one years ago)

At the record store - there is only one where i live - they have all the Fennesz stuff, which one should i get first. I wanna buy one. ( and since ned will read this: i wanted to ask you which of those flowchart singles comps i should get. vol.1 or vol.2. or do i need both? i remember a thread somewhere where you enthused about them. at least i think you did.)

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 11:40 (twenty-one years ago)

get Plays and then move forward. if you like noise, you could also move back.

― Beta (abeta), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 13:18 (twenty-one years ago)

As for the choice of Flowchart comps, hm. I'd say both, but start with 1 if you like shoegaze more and 2 if you're a touch fonder of ambient techno.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 13:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Scott, I'd suggest the clichéd Endless Summer as the easiest way into Fennesz, and then explore from thereon in if you think you might like the more abstracted, noisey, laptops-drowning-in-magma stuff.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 13:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks, fellas!

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 14:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Garfield in Venice -- now that's what I call lasagna!

http://www.garfieldmovie.com/home.html

― Ian Christe (Ian Christe), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 15:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd say you should wait for that duo alb with keith rowe on erstwhile scott.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 16:09 (twenty-one years ago)

i wanna buy a fennesz album too, is it cool if i go with this new one?

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

yes! it's great. i bought it last week.

― mark p (Mark P), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 16:44 (twenty-one years ago)

his early stuff is not that noisy, in fact his debut solo record ("Instrument") is really melodic and guitar-ry.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I think i might just buy something old and something new. Maybe endless summer and the new one. i keep hearing great stuff about these records. the only thing i have him on is that Ulver remix album that i love. i've been purging my cd collection and hitting the store more often. spring cleaning you know.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

i say:

fennesz plays (2 song single of "covers") is a great and cheap intro.

endless summer is his strongest LP

field recordings is a GREAT compilation that has some of his strongest material ("good man")

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 17:31 (twenty-one years ago)

i just got the new one, it was the only one at the record store!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 20:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Hotel Paral.lel needs more love on this thread.

― hstencil, Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:32 (twenty-one years ago)

one of my favorite songs off hotel paral.lel is "aus" but i don't listen to the album much anymore.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:43 (twenty-one years ago)

There is a noise during a part of a tune on Venice that hits me right in the back of my throat and causes it to itch if I am sitting in the right place between the speakers. It is unquestionably the strangest effect music has ever had on me.

Unfortunately, this sensation dominated my recollection of the record & I don't remember if I liked it or not.

― southern lights (southern lights), Tuesday, 6 April 2004 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

holy, david sylvian's voice just came on and i almost jumped out of my seat!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 8 April 2004 02:31 (twenty-one years ago)

i like his voice on this album but maybe it should be a little lower in the mix

― ryan (ryan), Thursday, 8 April 2004 04:44 (twenty-one years ago)

you're telling me! i was sitting around listening to the album late at night and it really scared the willies outta me.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 8 April 2004 13:44 (twenty-one years ago)

The drama of his voice appearing -- I didn't know about his cameo at all until I too was taken by surprise! -- is one of the best things about Venice. It's shocking and beautiful.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 8 April 2004 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)

totally! (and scary)

― s1ocki (slutsky), Thursday, 8 April 2004 22:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't know it was coming either Ned, and found it heavy and intrusive after all that gorgeous music. Excellent album though.

― stevo (stevo), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

i have been listening to venice (my first fennesz cd) a lot yesterday and today. somehow it really makes me think of wagner. quite heavy and wafting like the fog on a lake in the alps in autumn. that is not per se bad but a little bit frightening, i find. and david sylvian of course fits perfectly into this picture. his drawling is so artificial and unnatural. as is fennesz laptop music. which isn't bad per se neither. it does marry glitch noise and melodic beauty quite amazingly. i can understand that it takes him years to make a new album.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Saturday, 15 May 2004 15:41 (twenty-one years ago)

listening to it for the first real time (ie. not at night while in bed) right now, and I don't see why some don't like it. It's very good. Also, I feel kinda sorry for anyone who missed him with Keith Rowe at Tonic last night who wanted to go. It was fucking awesome, but ridiculously packed - the line to get in was the biggest I've seen there (and almost stretched to Delancey!).

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 13:14 (twenty-one years ago)

i listened to it again last night while i was doing some work, actually in circumstances not unlike ha stencil's (ie i wasn't in bed or dozing off), and yeah i was really feeling it too. the singing still scared the shit out of me though!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 28 May 2004 13:19 (twenty-one years ago)

He also played with Rowe at a festival in Quebec over the weekend (as well as a separate solo set), but no other Canadian dates (to my knowledge). Bastards.

― Barry Bruner (Barry Bruner), Friday, 28 May 2004 13:27 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah he played a couple of gigs at victo. my friend who also performed said he was a real prick

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 28 May 2004 13:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I missed him a month ago here in Prague, playing with Jelinek...

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Friday, 28 May 2004 13:39 (twenty-one years ago)

hstencil, I envy your having seen the show last night; I procrastinated endlessly on picking up a ticket and thought about just heading over and taking my chances but figured I'd get shut out. Anyway, what's his live setup like? Most of the pictures I've seen suggest that his performance is solidly PowerBook-based; were there any real-time guitarisms on display? I'm of two minds about whether seeing him with a guitar would heighten the defamiliarization effects of the records or just lift the veil a tad too high.

Has Fennesz ever been on a bill with Kevin Drumm? I find these guys an interesting study in microcontrasts and seeing them in the same room would be interesting.

― rasheed wallace, Friday, 28 May 2004 13:58 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah he played guitar, which was interesting because I've seen him two other times and he didn't do that. In addition to the powerbook he's also got this big, custom-made distortion box that sounds pretty great. (I saw all this from far away - fortunately I'm not nerdy enough to go up on stage and check out equipment after sets LIKE MANY OF THE NERDS IN ATTENDANCE LAST NIGHT.) Sets by all were great, but Fennesz's solo in particular struck me by how "techno" it was (in a non-obvious way). My head was bobbing/body felt like dancing at numerous points in the set (and it's a testament to the overall lameness of the Tonic crowd that there were few having the same response). Hell at one point for about 20 seconds it sounded like he was going to segue into a gabba track!

To my knowledge, Fennesz and Kevin have never played together in the States (not that I can remember anyway), but I would be surprised if they haven't played on bills together in Europe. Kevin's recent semi-retirement is kind of a bummer.

Also, Sylvain track just came on, and the haters are nuts! This is great!

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

great and scary

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:23 (twenty-one years ago)

not as scary as "Farmer in the City" but still good.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:24 (twenty-one years ago)

which btw slocki do you have much Scott Walker, esp. later stuff? If you don't, you should, I think you'd like it a lot.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks stence. Agreed about the Sylvain track; in many ways it jibes with his somewhat cinematic tendencies -- hearing a voice come in late in the wash of the album is not unlike being jolted by a jarring image or plot twist in Godard or Hitchcock. And then you're sort of placidly returned into the flow of things. As album sequencing I think it's pretty damn brilliant.

― rasheed wallace, Friday, 28 May 2004 14:26 (twenty-one years ago)

i have like NO scott walker, it is a big hole in my music! i am wildly open to recommendations though!

also rasheed otm

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Still good indeed. Did I link my review in the Seattle Weekly, I can't remember. Probably my album of the year at this point based on how often I've listened to it.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:35 (twenty-one years ago)

link away monsignor ned

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm really looking forward to hearing this on the airplane next week

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Huzzah, but I should note the vast superiority of our own Strongo's ReMarc review right before it. And a very good album that is too.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Slocki based on the Sylvain track alone you need Walker's Tilt and Climate of Hunter. Buy them immediately.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

sir yes sir!!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Friday, 28 May 2004 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Has Fennesz ever been on a bill with Kevin Drumm? I find these guys an interesting study in microcontrasts and seeing them in the same room would be interesting.

ATP LA 2002 had Pita and Kevin Drumm but not Fennesz.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:07 (twenty-one years ago)

both solo sets made me forget the dense/intense packing of Tonic. wonderful gushing rushes and peaking plateaus by both gentlemen.
I'm still not sold on the duo though, and last night's low rattle didn't exactly send me running back to the Erst disc.

― jean jeudi, Friday, 28 May 2004 15:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the disc better than their set last night, yeah, although the latter did have some okay spots. Mostly surprised at how quiet it was.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:23 (twenty-one years ago)

i couldn't get into the disc at all. after such solo dynamic sets (not only in loudness, but in shape and movement), they seemed way too stolid and unengaging. i thought the set (unf.) reflected the same hesitancy of the disc. l
ary 7's set-up downstairs killed me though.

― jean jeudi, Friday, 28 May 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

also I hope you weren't one of those equipment NERDS!

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

didn't see the downstairs stuff but I could sure hear it!

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:26 (twenty-one years ago)

kevin's semi-retirement?

click here!

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:28 (twenty-one years ago)

dude gygax! that might be the only shows he's played all year! he went back to his day job!

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:32 (twenty-one years ago)

(in Ogre voice) NERRRRRRDS!
lary's set-up would make techs projectile vomit.
imagine the stuffed animal tower at 6th and B (at least in the spirit of).
there was also an enormous amplified piece of sheet metal with a toothbrush and about six other things dangling off it. a tricked out record player where you could wingnut the record down and really let 'er rip at 78+. xmas lights galore and lots of whirlybird speakers too. lary himself jerry-rigging it all so that it can 'work' seals the deal.

― jean jeudi, Friday, 28 May 2004 15:33 (twenty-one years ago)

(in Ogre voice) NERRRRRRDS!

that's what Mio and I yelled last night towards the stage after Fennesz's set, actually.

damn wish I went downstairs now.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Strap all lary's stuff on a bike and .... look out

― rasheed wallace, Friday, 28 May 2004 15:38 (twenty-one years ago)

gygax! why do you think Kevin didn't play No Fun?

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:39 (twenty-one years ago)

jock itch

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:47 (twenty-one years ago)

WRONGO fake strongo!

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

all right i give up, spill the beans.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I already told you upthread, doofus!

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 15:56 (twenty-one years ago)

oh. you got me there, bucko.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

So what's Drumm's day job? I reckon there's a thread on musician's day jobs kicking around somewhere ...

― rasheed wallace, Friday, 28 May 2004 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I think when I asked Carlos why Kevin wasn't on the bill he told me "he couldn't get off work" or something like that.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

he works at a major midwestern financial institution.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

HOT SNAKES tour when rick accrues vacation time.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 28 May 2004 16:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Ironies! I slave for a place that follows major financial institutions. ... Assuredly there's a high percentage of record-store toilers in the musician ranks; also probably lots of paralegals, freelance designers, journalists, etc. I always thinks it interesting to find out what folks do to pay the billz.

― rasheed wallace, Friday, 28 May 2004 16:18 (twenty-one years ago)

HOT SNAKES tour when rick accrues vacation time.

I didn't see Rick at Jeff's photo opening last night. : (

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 16:18 (twenty-one years ago)

when I lived in Chicago I worked at a major financial institution (tho not midwestern) across the street from where Kevin works.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 16:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Isn't someone from Gang of Four a big-time engineer at Intel now? Remember hearing something like this years ago but of course it could be false.

― rasheed wallace (rasheed wallace), Friday, 28 May 2004 16:25 (twenty-one years ago)

actually, Kevin is back playing, at least sporadically. he did some shows in Europe this past month, at least one of which I heard was surprisingly mellow.

― jon abbey, Friday, 28 May 2004 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

oh hey Erstwhile dude! great job on the show last night.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 17:41 (twenty-one years ago)

thanks, man, glad you enjoyed it. it was too bad we had to turn so many people away.

for me and Keith, it was a really great epilogue in many ways to the AMPLIFY festival we started in Cologne about three weeks ago, I've seen him perform seventeen times since then, including the two last night, and Fennesz twelve times (six in Cologne, two in Berlin, two in Boston, two last night, three of those solo and nine collaborative).

I can see why some people find the LU record a bit disappointing. it's a live recording, not something that was carefully worked on in the studio, selected, and ordered like most other recent Ersts. we tried to blunt expectations a bit with the title. I think once you get past your own preconceptions, that it's a nice addition to both musician's discographies, though, it's 180 degrees away from Venice, for instance, I'm glad I put it out. I'm going to do a quartet record of Keith, Christian, Oren Ambarchi, and Toshi Nakamura, the "Four Gentlemen of the Guitar", who premiered in Berlin two weeks ago, played Victo last weekend, and do a series of shows in France and Spain over the next couple of weeks. we should have lots of recordings to choose from, that one should be a killer, not sure when it will emerge.

― jon abbey, Friday, 28 May 2004 17:52 (twenty-one years ago)

jon- are keith/fennesz playing in the UK jon?

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 28 May 2004 18:00 (twenty-one years ago)

nope, no more duo shows are scheduled. the only three they've ever done are the one on LU and the two this week in Boston/NYC. the duos did dovetail nicely with the recent CD release, but if Oren and Toshi hadn't made a prior commitment to a show in Amsterdam, these shows would have likely been "Four Gentlemen" shows also.

― jon abbey, Friday, 28 May 2004 18:03 (twenty-one years ago)

should've been answered "Julio no Julio" but Jon's too nice.

― hstencil (hstencil), Friday, 28 May 2004 18:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Overall a stunner, definitely one of the best things I've heard this year. "Circassian" is like an extended version of a Loveless between-songs interlude, a stunning arrangement of feedback and swirl. "The Point of it All" could be the most gorgeous thing he's done yet -- agog beauty. Sylvian *does* sound overmixed on his track at first, but you'll notice that he's gradually balanced and perhaps even a little subsumed by the supporting guitar (like the Europe whose decline he mourns?). I feel like such a tool throwing around MBV comparisons, but he truly comes closer -- in terms of emotional impact and that uncanny "clenched sigh" sound/feel -- to Loveless than almost anything else I can think of. Ned's right -- *this* is the real post-gaze, if you have to make those sorts of comparisons.

― Clarke B. (Clarke B.), Tuesday, 1 June 2004 02:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Jon Abbey! You big galoot....it's Alex from the News Desk here. You need to come out and aid our ailing softball team!

Seriously, man, howaya?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 4 June 2004 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

alex in nyc is you? no f'in way, dude. are you still at the good ol' news desk, rerouting suckup jobs about dead Presidents?

― jon abbey, Tuesday, 8 June 2004 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

A tender reunion! (Mr. Abbey, for the major update in Alex's life, you should go to this thread here:

Alex in NYC to be a daddy!

And post on it. The baby pictures are all, frankly, adorable. :-)).

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

little known fact: if you listen to keith fullerton whitman's playthroughs at the same time as fennesz's field recordings or venice (with both at high volumes) you have extended orgasms.

― Felonious Drunk (Felcher), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Still not as a good as my 'Fennesz + Avril = New MBV Remixes' thing!

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 8 June 2004 19:57 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

still LOVING this

― AdamL :') (nordicskilla), Sunday, 27 June 2004 19:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Wonderful to fire the fuck juice to.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Sunday, 27 June 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Until Sylvian comes in, then it gets very weird.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Sunday, 27 June 2004 19:45 (twenty-one years ago)

some of the early tracks sound like a falling-apart angelo badalamenti number.

― cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 29 June 2004 23:51 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

from the Empty Bottle (Chicago) website:
12/2 Fennesz

Does this mean he's touring? I couldn't find notice of it on Mego, Touch, or Fennesz.com. I hope he comes to LA. Info very much appreciated!

― robots in love (robotsinlove), Monday, 4 October 2004 05:20 (twenty-one years ago)

He was in Amsterdam on sept. 25 (during my holidays, grr), so it does seem he's touring at the moment.

― willem (willem), Monday, 4 October 2004 10:20 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

he's always doing shows, one place or another. he does have some north american dates coming up in december:

12/1/2004 Underground @ The Drake
Toronto, ON Junior Boys

12/2/2004 Empty Bottle
Chicago, IL Growing, Octis

12/3/2004 Holocene
Portland, OR Nudge

12/4/2004 RX Gallery
San Francisco, CA Broker Dealer

12/5/2004 Knitting Factory LA
Hollywood, CA

12/7/2004 Knitting Factory
NYC, NY

― jon abbey, Thursday, 28 October 2004 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

December 5, hmmm....

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 28 October 2004 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

MOTHER OF HOLY FUCKING G-D, HE'S COMING TO TORONTO!!!!!!

This news has made my day.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 28 October 2004 23:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll be at the empty bottle show.

― Jeff-PTTL (Jeff), Thursday, 28 October 2004 23:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Another opening slot by the motherfucking Junior Boys?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Thursday, 28 October 2004 23:35 (twenty-one years ago)

SUNDAR, FENNESZ IS COMING TO TORONTO, DO NOT QUESTION THE BOOKING LOGIC.

But seriously, have you seen a show at this "underground@the drake hotel"? Where is this place?

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 28 October 2004 23:43 (twenty-one years ago)

December 5th is on a Sunday!

Weekend show!

― hector (hector), Thursday, 28 October 2004 23:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Another opening slot by the motherfucking Junior Boys?

You're complaining about this? Man, that's my kinda bill right there!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 29 October 2004 00:04 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been to an improv gig at the Drake. It's 1150 Queen W, in Parkdale, very very close to the Gladstone. A nice enough place with a cafe just upstairs. I'm looking forward to seeing Fennesz and a shitty opening band from Shitville just means I'll be able to get more work done that day and show up in time for Fennesz so it's all good.

That's the same day as my daytime Music Gallery gig, which means that everyone in Toronto will be able to make both gigs that day. Lucky you! Seriously, I'll post a thread about that one closer to the date with more details.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 29 October 2004 00:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned, they might have Low beat in the "dullest band I've ever seen" finals.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 29 October 2004 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned, they might have Low beat in the "dullest band I've ever seen" finals.

Aw, I've seen both and I think they're great. :-) Rah!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 29 October 2004 00:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned, they might have Low beat in the "dullest band I've ever seen" finals.
Whoa, I didn't realize you hated them that much (note to others: Sundar, Dyson and I were at the JB/Ratatat/Mouse on Mars show yesterday). I even thought you liked a couple of their songs!

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 29 October 2004 00:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Heh, well, there were some songs I liked more than others but on the whole the Junior Boys weren't really my cup of tea. Mouse On Mars had the funk; Ratatat had the rock - I was feeling more of that, you know?

Maybe I should work on toning my online aggression levels down to the offline levels I aim for;)

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Friday, 29 October 2004 01:00 (twenty-one years ago)

two weeks pass...

Bah, the Empty Bottle show has been canceled. Reason not given.

― Jeff-PTTL (Jeff), Friday, 12 November 2004 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

toronto's cancelled too!

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 12 November 2004 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe he has christmas shopping?

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 12 November 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Toronto's CANCELLED??? First Black Dice (last night) and now THIS?

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 12 November 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

well, that's what i gathered from the posting @ soundscapes that said "fennesz - the drake, dec 1st CANCELLLED"

― mark p (Mark P), Friday, 12 November 2004 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

the whole tour is cancelled, I did not hear why.

― jon abbey, Saturday, 13 November 2004 04:26 (twenty-one years ago)

two years pass...

Is there no general Fennesz thread?

Anyway lots of stuff happening - new lp with Sakamoto and tour with Mike Patton. Any opinions?

― baaderonixx, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 14:14 (eighteen years ago)

I really like the collab with Sakamoto. A collab that actually works and where each artist actually interacts with the music they have been given which is quite rare in my listening experience.

While Stylus usually has pretty spot-on reviews, I think they missed the mark on this one.

I saw Fennesz play once with Didi Bruckmayr who is not dissimilar from Mike Patton (vocal improv-wise), so it's not that far out of the realm.

― William Selman, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 14:56 (eighteen years ago)

(x-post)
Yeah, a lot's happening indeed. Coinciding with me listening to Venice and esp. Endless Summer a number of times the last few weeks.
Downloaded Cendre two days ago and found it quite underwhelming at first listen. I absolutely love [i]Sala Santa Cecilia and there's hardly any of the tension that's nearly palpable on that recording to be found on the studio album. Maybe I/it need(s) more time though.

Meanwhile - Fennesz is playing here in Utrecht/NL next friday and saturday! It's a triple bill during the annual Springdance festival, and this evening is based on Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps. Apparently, Fennesz will play a new composition based on a rendition of Le Sacre on the organ of the church in which the performance will be staged. More here.

― willem, Wednesday, 18 April 2007 15:02 (eighteen years ago)

seven months pass...

Isn't time for a new album?

― baaderonixx, Thursday, 13 December 2007 16:37 (eighteen years ago)

judhing by his website, he just released a new digital-only track. Anyone heard it?

― baaderonixx, Thursday, 13 December 2007 16:38 (eighteen years ago)

Isn't time for a new album?

Too many reissues!

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 13 December 2007 16:41 (eighteen years ago)

yep. i can't complain though. for some of them it was the first time i heard them.

― Mark Clemente, Thursday, 13 December 2007 17:17 (eighteen years ago)

cendre is my favourite release of the year i think. it's got to the point where i can't sleep at night without listening.

― r1o natsume, Thursday, 13 December 2007 18:31 (eighteen years ago)

I never picked that one up, since I never listen to the Sakamoto/Alva Noto stuff I have.

― baaderonixx, Friday, 14 December 2007 10:19 (eighteen years ago)

"On a Desolate Shore a Shadow Passes By"

Beautiful. Halfway through, the track (guitars & electronics making the sounds of surf) nearly falls apart - like when you let sand (metaphore might've been induced by the title...) slip through your fingers and the last grains are about to fall through - and then a wonderfully treated acoustic guitar comes through. Awesome.

― willem, Friday, 14 December 2007 22:29 (eighteen years ago)

six years pass...

happy 10th birthday Vemice!

― sleeve, Thursday, 20 February 2014 18:21 (twelve years ago)

Fuck me.

― the drummer is a monster (Scik Mouthy), Thursday, 20 February 2014 20:55 (twelve years ago)

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