I was reading something about Ricardo Villalobos today, and stumbled on some links about him working on tracks from ECM's back catalogue:
"We were overjoyed to learn that Villalobos will be working with Max Loderbauer of the Moritz Von Oswald Trio in order to reconstruct previous ECM recordings, although nothing more is known about the project. Villalobos is a known fan of the label, and even DJ'd at ECM’s 40th anniversary night in Berlin."
Though I admire the whole aesthetic of ECM, mainly from reading about it here and seeing the album covers, I haven't heard any ECM recordings, but this has certainly piqued my interest - if Ricardo Villalobos loves ECM, maybe I might. For anyone who doesn't know, Ricardo Villalobos is one of the most-respected DJs in the world - he regularly plays marathon sets of mainly minimal techno, as well as recording his own tracks, and remixing loads of other artists.
I only have one of Ricardo's albums, Alcachofa, though I know a few other tracks and remixes, and I expect a few ECM fans reading this might be dreading the thought of some kind of awful dance mix of their favourites. I'm sure it won't be like that though. Ricardo Villalobos is really good at what he does, he apparently listens to mainly classical and jazz when he's at home, and most importantly, he's very cool. I read elsewhere that he's supposedly close to finishing this project, but I couldn't find any more on this. Searching here for Ricardo Villalobos, there's only a couple of my posts, a few from David Slater, and one from Denis A, which happens to mentions that PT's Steven Wilson listens to Ricardo Villalobos.
Probably a long shot, but I was wondering if anyone here knows anything about this project, maybe if anyone's on an ECM mailing list, or similar? Even if you don't, what do you think of the idea?
Thanks in advance.
Posted on: 19 September 2010 by Lontano
Chief - sounds interesting to me - similar maybe to the remix project that have been done on Deutsche Grammophon with Matthew Herbert doing Mahler and Oswald/Craig doing Ravel.
This news was mentioned back in October 09 on the ECM forum but did not attract any comment. I can go and ask Steve Lake, ECM no 2 what the latest is and he will probably reply.
This does not worry me as there is always one overriding thing with ECM and that is Manfred Eicher. If he does not like it, it will not get a release.
ECM has always pushed boundaries in many ways so this is the kind of project that could be interesting.
If you have not tried any ECM you should check out Arve Henriksen - CArtography and Nik Bartsch Holon, both on spotify. You might quite like them.
Posted on: 20 September 2010 by Chief Chirpa
Adrian,
Thanks very much for taking the time to look into this for me. I've just seen your question for Steve Lake in "Ask ECM" - it's really good of you to ask. No reply, as yet.
I get the impression that although it's supposedly almost ready, believe it when you see it. (Reminds me of Kraftwerk in that respect). I'm sure you're right about Manfred Eicher's quality control, and though he's also based in Berlin, Ricardo Villalobos is much in demand, so it may be a while.
Thanks also for your recommendations. I tried the Arve Henriksen late last night, and maybe it was because I was pleased that you'd taken the time to suggest a couple of things just for me, but in short... it knocked my socks off. I've ordered it, and I'll give Nik Bartsch a listen tonight.
Out of curiosity, I've been looking at ECM reviews in the Guardian for a few months, but as I have no frame of reference, they mean very little to me yet. It's always good to hear some new music without knowing anything about the artist, and I was very pleasantly surprised by Cartography. It got me thinking about how much music there must be that I know nothing about, and how narrow my musical taste must be. I've since read that Arve Henriksen is in Supersilent, who I at least know of, having heard something of theirs before (and I'm sure you've posted at least one of their albums), so plenty more for me to explore there.
Anyways, I'm waffling, aren't I? Any more news on this, or if there's something else I've got to hear, please let me know. I've just joined ECM's mailing list, and I'm sure I'll slowly be trying out a few more things in the coming months. Though probably not the longest thread, this could prove to be an expensive one for me in the years to come!
Thanks a million.
Posted on: 20 September 2010 by Lontano
Chief,
Glad you liked Arve - it was one of my fave albums of 2008. I chose it for you as I felt there was a strong link to the music you already like. You will find ECM to be a pretty broad church, more jazz than electronic but always experimenting and finding new avenues to explore.
A few other albums to try. The first two are again "electronic" in a way.
Food - Quiet Inlet (with Christian Fennesz) Jon Hassell - Last night the moon came dropping its clothes in the street
The next two are more jazz
Tomasz Stanko - Dark Eyes Tord Gustavsen - the Ground - extreemly simple and melodic but a beautiful album.
Also try out a non ECM album that I think you will really like - Nils Petter Molvaer - Hamada
Let me know how you get on.
PS the good thing is most of the catalogue is on spotify for you to sample - should be fun exploring it.
Posted on: 20 September 2010 by Chief Chirpa
Adrian,
Yep, I guessed you must have chosen that Arve album especially for me, so I really appreciate it.
It kind of blew any preconceived idea I had about ECM out of the water, especially the synth sounds. Also, the David Sylvian parts kind of reminded me of Tilda Swinton's narrative on The Blue Notebooks that I mentioned only a week or so ago. No one I've ever heard plays like Arve though - amazing.
Thanks very much for a few more starting points. I know you're a big fan of Dark Eyes and almost bought it today, but I thought I'd take my time with all this. Will keep you posted.
Thanks again.
Posted on: 22 September 2010 by Lontano
Chief, here is the answer from ECM supremo Steve Lake.
"Too early to say too much about the project, but basically it's a double album exploration of some of the margins of ECM music - especially the areas where jazz and 'New Series' almost converge. Selected tracks have been remixed, reworked, refashioned, restructured and generally transformed . None of the musical choices are obvious. It's another perspective on the work..."
So it seems to be in progress, but there is never any logic to ECM release schedules - they don't release in order of recording - it is up to Manfred deciding what he thinks should be released.
Here is another interesting ECM to try - a real crossover record
British tenor John Potter and fellow countryman Ambrose Field, composer of electronic/digital music, offer a striking juxtaposition of Renaissance music and present-day technology: In seven interconnected pieces, vocal fragments from the songs and sacred works by Guillaume Dufay (1397–1474) soar beautifully above Ambrose Field’s vast and multi-faceted soundscapes. “Then as now, music was not forever fixed but lived and breathed through the imaginations of former musicians and their listeners”, writes Field in his liner notes for “Being Dufay”. Potter’s voice immerses itself with great ease in the allusively processed sounds. Amrose Field: “The fragments of original Dufay are always presented entirely unaltered, and serve as a reference point or cantus firmus within what is new. From that new perspective, I wanted to explore the limits of the electronic medium, and produce a new set of musical colours.”
Posted on: 22 September 2010 by Nathaniel
I'm (very) far from being an ECM aficionado, and know nothing of the project you mention, but one ECM release that has inspired/influenced many techno/electronic DJs (even though it's acoustic) is Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians from 1978.
The original ECM recording (ECM 1129) remains the best of a growing field. It's a mesmerising experience.
There have even been a couple of Reich Remixed albums, but I don't think much of them.
Posted on: 23 September 2010 by Chief Chirpa
Nathaniel,
I know the name Steve Reich, though probably only from reading an interview a while ago, and I've just realised from reading around that I have something that samples something of his. I'll see if I can find some previews of Music for 18 Musicians somewhere, and will definitely look into it some more, so thanks very much.
Adrian,
Sounds like it might be a while before Ricardo's project shows up, or even before we know too much more about it. It's good to get an answer though - much appreciated.
My 2009/10 ECM Catalogue arrived from Munich today (very nice, all 132 pages of it, and very kindly airmailed after I'd emailed ECM only on Monday) so it looks like I'll have some time to look into a few things in the meantime. A quick update on where I'm up to:
The fierce blowing from Tomasz halfway through The Dark Eyes of Martha Hirsch woke me up just a little, and I had to play it all through again to see what happened - great stuff. I'll definitely be trying a few more of his soon.
I've quickly tried a few others, and I've been playing the Arve some more while I wait for my copy to arrive. I like the Hassell a lot, and all good so far, save for the Field/Potter (didn't like his voice).
I remember reading a review for Quiet Inlet a few months ago in the paper, and nearly bought it then. Still not heard it, though I tried this from Christian Fennesz after reading a review of Cartography at Boomkat, and seeing it on the same page:
Another 'electronic' album, and right from the first fifteen seconds, I was hooked. Maybe this has been posted here before, and I expect you may have it already as I know you occasionally buy things not on ECM (!), but I've just ordered it.
Lastly, I thought of posting a classic Ricardo Villalobos track from a few years ago, but it'd probably lose its effect taken out of context, and many of them are a bit full-on. My clubbing days are over, and though I get a few minimal releases (mainly on the Cologne-based Kompakt label) for listening at home with my feet up, even I can't take too much these days. It's surprising to think that this route has got me started on ECM though. Adrian, I knew you'd get me eventually, but I thought it'd be another ten years before I gave in! Thanks v much.
Looking forward to hearing some RV/ECM in 2011.
Posted on: 23 September 2010 by Lontano
Chief - glad it is going well and glad to have got you so early! I have the Fennesz Black Sea album and will give it a spin tomorrow - not played it since first play after purchase.
I'll look forward to seeing what you try out next. Cheers
PS try the Stanko album called "Lontano" I did name myself after that album
Posted on: 24 September 2010 by BigH47
Just as well Fiona Apple's album wasn't your favourite?:-
When the pawn hits the conflicts he thinks like a king What he knows throws the blows when he goes to the fight And he'll win the whole thing 'fore he enters the ring There's no body to batter when your mind is your might So when you go solo, you hold your own hand And remember that depth is the greatest of heights And if you know where you stand, then you know where to land And if you fall it won't matter, cuz you'll know that you're right
Posted on: 24 September 2010 by Lontano
Are you on the right thread here Howard?
Posted on: 04 April 2011 by Chief Chirpa
Originally Posted by Lontano:
Chief, here is the answer from ECM supremo Steve Lake.
"Too early to say too much about the project, but basically it's a double album exploration of some of the margins of ECM music - especially the areas where jazz and 'New Series' almost converge. Selected tracks have been remixed, reworked, refashioned, restructured and generally transformed . None of the musical choices are obvious. It's another perspective on the work..."
So it seems to be in progress, but there is never any logic to ECM release schedules - they don't release in order of recording - it is up to Manfred deciding what he thinks should be released.
Adrian, In case you (and anyone curious) hadn't seen it, I thought I'd revive this thread after spotting this update from Steve Lake in Ask ECM:
Yes, it's moving forward, with May as likely release date. It's a double-album, entitled "Re: ECM", featuring sound-structures by DJs/composers Ricardo Villalobos and Max Loderbauer, based on original ECM recordings by, amongst others, Christian Wallumröd, Alexander Knaifel, Wolfert Brederode, Louis Sclavis, John Abercrombie, Paul Motian etc etc... For those that read German: there is a large article about the project and the collaboration with ECM in the current issue of Groove magazine...
So, looks like Manfred's finally given the project his seal of approval - I expect the main reason it's taken so long to come to fruition is simply because Ricardo is very much in demand of late.
I already have Christian Wallumrod's No Birch (my latest Arve Henriksen purchase, and excellent it is - thanks) but the other names, and plenty more, will all be new to me.
Quite looking forward to this now.
(H, I got your Fiona Apple post at the time. Doh.)
Posted on: 04 April 2011 by Lontano
Ah, an ECM post to bring me out of my temporarily out of my sabbatical.
Yes I did see that so look forward to it. Manfred has an interesting release method that I guess only he understands. Things get released when he feels it is right for them to see light of day and it is not in the order they are recorded. Some recent recordings get released quickly whilst others can take a few years to get one.
Glad you like No Birch, an album that sat in my collection for a long time without me realising that Arve was on it and how good it was.
Posted on: 05 April 2011 by Chief Chirpa
Adrian, long time, no post!*
I was wondering about this project earlier, and thought "What if it's really bad?" I suppose Manfred's hoping to attract a different crowd with this one, so who knows how it'll go down with existing fans of the label?
I Just tried to find a little more about it, and failed. I did find this interview though, that's reassuring to read as Ricardo talks about sound quality, analogue vs digital, and so on:
"Talk to Ricardo Villalobos, and the conversation will inevitably come back to one thing: Sound. Villalobos is obsessed with it. The highest quality speakers, using every frequency available to him in his productions, celebrating those who share his passion for audio fidelity"
Sounds almost like a hifi nerd, dontcha think?
(* I was hoping I might rouse you if I resuscitated this thread. Don't blame you for lying low though. I immediately thought of this thread and all your recommendations, you asking Steve Lake about this project, and me getting a couple of ECMs and Supersilent 10, when someone suggested you should make more of an effort with your posts - no need to answer that! Thanks again.)
Posted on: 06 April 2011 by reubs1981
This is a really interestying topic.
I'm always checking to see what Chirpa is listening to as our tastes seem to overlap.
My electronic listening is going to be widened by this thread's nod to ECM I feel.
FWIW I am currently hammering Jamie XX remix of the Gil Scott Heron album, and the new Burial EP, 'Street Halo' gets played at loud volumes on my Zeppelin.
Cheers,
Reubs
Posted on: 06 April 2011 by Old Mister Crow
I just wanted to thank all of you for this thread. I hadn't heard Villalobos before and it's a nice discovery for me. Moreover, that in turn prompted me to dig out some Steve Reich and Terry Riley that I hadn't heard in years, which has been a blast to listen to tonight.
Posted on: 13 April 2011 by reubs1981
Bumping this thread, with a link to some more tentative information:
Reubs, Thanks for that. Seems kind of unusual for FACT to be writing about an ECM release, doesn't it?
It's great to see you around here - I noticed a while ago that we listen to the same kind of stuff now and then, and amongst others, I got the last Taken By Trees album after you mentioned it in a short thread here about the xx. I'm loving Street Halo, and I remember hearing the GS-H / Jamie Smith record, and thinking you'd probably have it!
While we wait for Re: ECM to show, if you haven't already heard them, maybe try some supersilent (on Rune Grammofon, and featuring ECM artist Arve Henriksen). I jumped straight in with last autumn's supersilent 10: delicate piano improv, Arve, and some electronic 'noise'. I still know next to nothing about them, but Lontano tells me it's possibly their most accessible album to date - I love it.
Posted on: 15 April 2011 by reubs1981
Thanks for the recommendations Chief!
I'll take a look at Supersilent in the near future. Yes, I was surprised to see an ECM post on Fact, just days after looking a this thread.
Downloaded the Oneman/Jamie XX mix from Fact yesterday - there is an incredible section of bass/instrumental/grime which I think is probably played by Jamie - haven't streamed the video from Boilerroom yet. If you haven't, you should subscribe to the Boilerroom podcasts - some incredible music on there. Loving Street Halo and the B sides, better than the collab. with Thom Yorke I think. Kode9 and Spaceape's new album next week; checked out a lot of the material when Kode was in with Benji B. Looking forward to the track with Fly Lo.
Thread back on track now, lol
Posted on: 06 May 2011 by Chief Chirpa
Originally Posted by reubs1981:
Thread back on track now, lol
Hey Reubs, don't worry about it!
I must have downloaded that Jamie xx mix the same day as you - he needs to practice his beat-matching, lol. Some cool tunes though. Still not heard the Kode9, but the Burial / Four Tet / Thom Yorke is fine.
Re the podcasts, I hardly ever seem to listen to the ones I'm subscribed to (Resident Advisor and Hotflush) but I'll give it a go, cheers.
Oh, and one more thing...
Out 17th June:
I found this RA article that gives a full tracklisting, including sources. Doesn't mean much to me, but perhaps Lontano and others here have the originals of (one or two, or all?!) these:
CD1 01. Reblop (from Christian Wollumrød's Fabula Suite Lugano) 02. Recat (from Christian Wallumrød Ensemble's The Zoo is Far) 03. Resvete (from Alexander Knaifel's Svete Tikhiy) 04. Retimeless (from John Abercrombie's Timeless) 05. Reemergence (from Miroslav Vitous' Emergence) 06. Reblazhenstva (from Alexander Knaifel's Blazhenstva) 07. Reannounce (from Louis Sclavis' L'imperfait des Langues) 08. Recurrence (from Wolfert Brederode's Currents) 09. Requote (from Christian Wallumrød's Fabula Suite Lugano)
CD2 01. Replob (from Christian Wollumrød's Fabula Suite Lugano) 02. Reshadub (from Paul Giger's Ignis) 03. Rebird (from Paul Motian's Tati) 04. Retikhiy (from Alexander Knaifel's Svete Tikhiy) 05. Rekondakion (from Arvo Pärt's Kanon Pokajanen) 06. Rensenada (from Bennie Maupin's The Jewel in the Lotus) 07. Resole (from Alexander Knaifel's Svete Tikhiy) 08. Redetach (from Christian Wallumrød Ensemble's The Zoo is Far)
Again from Resident Advisor, here's an interview about the album:
Intriguing stuff.
Watching the above, I was struck by how much they love ECM, so hopefully, the results will be worth the wait.
Posted on: 06 May 2011 by Old Mister Crow
Wow -- can't wait!
Posted on: 17 June 2011 by Chief Chirpa
Originally Posted by Old Mister Crow:
Wow -- can't wait!
Well, ECM just emailed me with their latest news, and there's previews of four tracks here:
After talking this up for all this time, having heard some of it, I'm very tempted to cancel my pre-order. Hmmm.
Posted on: 20 June 2011 by reubs1981
The Villalobos/ECM is available on iTunes now, presumably other digital and analogue outlets as well. I will investiagte tomorrow as I'm too tired tonight. Only just seen the updated thread; anyone got any input on this..?
I did name myself after that album
