Engelram
Efdemin's ambition (a utopian recreation of "the entirety of the sounds of the universe") could have easily been overwhelming. But simplicity and clarity solve the impossible. It's a beautiful trip.
Willy Baker
Merging sound art, drone, techno, Efdemin has crafted a thoughtful journey through some beautiful ideas.
You are being guided through this experience, and you will reemerge cleansed.
Favorite track: Oh, Lovely Appearance of Death.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Purchasable with gift card
€8EUR or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
1. Oh, Lovely Appearance of Death
2. Good Winds
3. New Atlantis
4. At The Strangers House
5. A Land Unknown
6. Temple
7. Black Sun
8. The Sound House
Includes unlimited streaming of New Atlantis
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 4 days
Purchasable with gift card
€15EUR
LP | ostgutlp31
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
A1. Oh, Lovely Appearance of Death
A2. Good Winds
B. New Atlantis
C1. At The Strangers House
C2. A Land Unknown
C3. Temple
D1. Black Sun
D2. The Sound House
Includes unlimited streaming of New Atlantis
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Over eight tracks, New Atlantis oscillates between fast, kaleidoscopic techno, multilayered drones and acoustic instrumentation, fusing for the first time Sollmann’s deep dancefloor productions as Efdemin with his sound art and experimental music projects. The latter include 2017’s Harry Partch- inspired Monophonie performance and 2018’s Panama / Suez EP with Oren Ambarchi and Konrad Sprenger.
Long drawn to utopian musical traditions, Sollmann took inspiration for New Atlantis from Francis Bacon’s unfinished 17th century novel of the same name, which describes a fictional island devoted to social progress through the synthesis of art, science, technology and fashion. In the story, Bacon imagines futuristic ‘sound houses’, which contain musical instruments capable of recreating the entirety of the sounds of the universe; a 400-year-old prophesy of today’s digital sonic reality.
Through Sollmann’s lens, Bacon’s vision ebbs and flows over 50 minutes in varying speeds and colors, emerging as a tapestry of different utopian musical traditions – through billowing synth lines, early Detroit techno, resonant wooden percussion, trance, droning organs, dulcimer, electric guitars, hurdy-gurdy, just intonation, poetry, hymns and murmuring voices.
credits
released February 15, 2019
all tracks written and produced by Phillip Sollmann except 1. written by Phillip Sollmann and William T. Wiley
Guest appearances:
“Oh, Lovely Appearance Of Death”: William T. Wiley (Vocals | from Vision # 4 – Word of Mouth, Crown Point Press, 1980)
“New Atlantis”: Nika Son (Synthesizer), Joachim Schütz (Guitar), Konrad Sprenger (Motor Controlled Guitar)
“At The Stranger’s House”: John Gürtler (Saxophone)
“The Sound House”: Andrew Wass (Vocals), Tomas Svensson (Sing-Drum)
Published by Copyright Control
Mastering by Rashad Becker at Dubplates & Mastering, Berlin
Artwork: Max Stocklosa | Layout: Yusuf Etiman
Release page: ostgut.de/ton/record/234
Upcoming dates, discography, bio, pictures, more: ostgut.de/booking/artist/efdemin
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