Static – “Freedom of Noise” – [Karaoke Kalk]

Knowing nothing about this German ensemble led by Hanno Leichtmann, and bracing myself for the “noise” promised in the title, I was filled with pleasant surprise when I found myself, not assaulted, but enveloped, by the noises on this album–electronic loops, percussion, harps, bass, horns, turntables, and vocals–that meld together to create a most gentle atmosphere of sound in which to breathe and expand. Standouts: A4, which ends with something that sounds almost like a baby’s heartbeat heard on a monitor…almost; B3, which is a pleasurable pain.