Musique Fragile [coll] – [Constellation]

A wonderful, beautiful, ambitious release from Constellation. Actually three separate releases by three different artists compiled in one box set. The music is cool and interesting, and the sleeves and goodies (posters, art cards, etc) are all gorgeously screen-printed. Volume 1 in a series and I hope the subsequent releases are as nice as this one.

Disc One: Les Momies De Palerme – “Brulez Ce Couer”
Floating female vocals and somber atmospheres. Xarah Dion and Marie Davidson play Casios, Moogs, Farfisas, harmonium, etc. A3 and B5 are the only tracks with beats.

Disc Two: Khora – “Silent Your Body is Endless”
Matthew Ramolo plays what sounds like keyboards, bells, and stringed instruments. The pieces fall somewhere between drones and loops. Lots of filigree and tinkling stuff. The last track builds up to a multi-layered guitar crescendo that sounds like a noisier Mike Oldfield.

Disc Three: Nick Kuepfer – “Avestruz”
This is the most active and rhythmic of the three discs. Many short tracks, so there’s always something new. Repeating patterns of guitar and accordion and maybe some bowed instruments. Samples and field recordings are used too. Recordings made on 4-track cassette, dictaphone, and laptop. Final track is a live guitar/vocal performance by somebody who isn’t Nick Kuepfer, complete with psychotic birds whistling.

Note: An LP and a CD version of each release is included in the package.

-MaxLevel