RFI: Village of Savoonga

isn't it dudes from the Notwist? i had one cd and wasn't really sold on it.

One of those bands that are never as good as you think they'll be. I have the "Phillip Schatzz" CD which is nice enough, and another that I listened to when I first got it at the radio station about five years ago and haven't been inclined to pull out since.

Jason is sorta right. It's some of the dudes from Notwist (Markus Acher was on the first album but Micha has since joined on full-time). VoS began in 91 or 92 as a new project for Markus and two other guys in the Weilheim scene. Their first album was the 2nd release on the Hausmusik label and it's pretty indicative of how incestuous the scene is over there. Wolfgang Petters (Hausmusik label head and member of A Million Mercies & Fred Is Dead), Christoph Merk (Kollaps head guy and member of numerous other projects), and Markus all got together, put down some songs and other (half-formed sometimes) ideas on tape (all on the fly) and released the album. I don't think there was ever any thought that Hausmusik would continue as long as it has, nor that it would develop such a small but devoted following. While a lot of the songs on the S/T have a a very trashy rock feel or are devoted more to making noise (Markus comes from a strong heavy metal background as the early Notwist are all incredibly loud noisefests with lots of screaming) and thrashing about on things such as banjo or accordion--in addition to the guitar/bass/drums stuff, Phillip Schatz and Score are more produced, and even more song-oriented--but still retain the lo-fi quality. There are a couple of tracks on the first VoS album that appeared on later Notwist albums ("The String" & "One More Dark Love Poem"), reworked completely. I can't say that if you like recent Notwist you'll really get into Savoonga, though. VoS is noisy, trashy rock that sounds like it was made in a dingy garage with a lot of old instruments and a group of guys who just wanted to make a racket (albeit a pretty interesting buncha noise, and a lot of the ideas are brilliant). It's pretty consistent with a lot of the early 90s lo-fi productions and you can hear some ideas that were imported from America. Still, I'd recommend seeking out the early S/T album first (it's easily a personal favorite, but may be difficult to get into--recently reissued on CD by the Communion label--Revolver distribution). Score is my least favorite, but still excellent, and Philip Schatz is quite brilliant on its own. I rank them right alongside Notwist, Tied & Tickled Trio, Lali Puna and early Kammerflimmer Kollektief as the best stuff to come out of the Weilheim scene.

now that i'm reading this i'm remembering a bit about the cd i had. it was very Sonic Youth-y and stuck with a mid 90s alternative rock production sound. i could hear the song writing and voice of the guy from the Notwist, but i really don't like that time period of music, so i sold it. these sonic characteristics might be something you like, however, and so you still might want to check out the cds

for the record, I don't think that any of the Savoonga releases sound remotely like Sonic Youth or feel than any of them are mired in mid-90s alternative rock production. none of the three VoS releases really remind me of any specific time period, insofar as the production values are concerned. mario thaler is producer on all of them, to my knowledge. everything released on hausmusik/kollaps/payola for years was recorded in his studio, and it's all got a distinct feel to it. the production may be a bit muddy on the first VoS album, but I wouldn't compare the sound to SY or any other mid 90s 'alternative' band.