Otolithen

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Title: "S.O.D." (Cuneiform Rune 97)

　Otolithen was formed as a duo in 1993 by Paede Conca of Switzerland and Dirk Bruinsma of The Netherlands. Within the duo, Conca plays electric bass, home-built string instrument, effects and foot triggered percussion, and Bruinsma plays electric guitars, soprano sax, foot triggered percussion and performing vocals.
　Bruinsma and Conca describe their goals in Otolithen as "trying to go for the extremes of what you can do with just a duo." As part of their attempt to push the format's boundaries, their compositions explore the possibilities of playing simultaneously with both hands and feet. With their feet producing the rhythms by triggering percussion samples, their four feet act as Otolithen's drummer, greatly expanding the range of music that a duo can perform.

　In "S.O.D.," their first release with Cuneiform, Otolithen test the limits of sound in myriad ways. They explore the possibilities inherent in their instruments, creating surprising new sounds, by "preparing" their instruments and using a wide range of effects. They investigate the boundaries of music in the broad range of their compositions. Otolithen compositional work ranges from delicate, linear melodic lines to structured noise, all of which clearlyreveals a strong interest in rhythmically complicated works. Otolithen's sophisticated rock music can perhaps be compared to that of Skeleton Crew (who set new standards for adventurous duos), if Skeleton Crew were to perform the songbooks of Tim Hodgkinson or U Totem (preeminent for the complexity of their musical ideas).

　Paede Conca played in the jazz/thrash band Lougaroo for five years, touring all over Europe and recording their album in 1990. After the break up of Lougaroo, he started performing solo under the name Clee, and has released four albums under that name in Europe. In addition to his work with Otolithen and Clee, Conca is involved in music for art films and has worked in various theater projects.

　Dirk Bruinsma plays bass and baritone sax in the Dutch group Blast, which he co-founded [in 1989] and co-leads. Blast have made three records, the last two of which, Wire Stitched Ears (1995) and Stringy Rugs (1997), were released by Cuneiform. Bruinsma also composes chamber music and music for films and dance performances. As a freelance musician, he has been involved with projects with Evan Parker, Fred Frith, George Lewis, Tim Hodgkinson, Barry Guy, and many others.

　S.O.D. is Otolithen's 2nd release, and their first release outside of Europe. Their first, self-titled CD was released in Germany on the amf label in 1995. The band tour in Europe often and have just returned from a month long tour of Russia.

（資料提供：Cuneiform、増田さん＠POSEIDON)

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