Fidel

by Hans Koch

Overview

Alright, first of all the liner notes to this collection are terrible: they are nothing more than cultural theory. The only cultural theory that matters here is in the music itself; it tells its own story and doesn't need some half-baked social scientist like Werner Luedi's remarks to explain or justify it. Yawn. Second, there is no use talking about song title here, because the entire collaboration is so exciting. Here the crazy trio of Hans Koch, Martin Schuetz, and Fredy Studer went to Havana and got it on with a slew of Cuban musicians in what might be the anti-Buena Vista Social Club. Like their previous Heavy Cairo Traffic album, this trio went to Cuba to see if they could integrate what they did into a framework of what already existed and then stretch it. Apparently, given the wildly enthusiastic participation of more than 18 musicians from Fidel-land, they succeeded. Tape loops, reeds, strings, all manner of percussion instruments, guitarrons, brass, noise, free improvisation, traditional song forms extended to their breaking points, and structured improvisations create a mosaic of textures and a panoply of harmonic elements that speak in numerous linguistic and emotional codes to express transculturally, what could never been articulated at a dinner table or in a baseball game. This is fully Cuban music, this is fully improvisational music, this is fully new music. No compromises were made in the conception of these ideas or in their execution. This record rocks as hard as any thing Moetley Cruee ever did, and holds within it the timeless beauty of the Cuban son and the anarchy of the best in free improv. What more can you ask for? ~ Thom Jurek

Product Details

Release Date:	01/01/2010
Label:	INTAKT RECORDS
UPC:	7619942505622

Tracks

1. V¿¿rtigo
2. Armonia de Clavey y Guaguanc¿¿
3. Last Edit la Habana
4. Wood' N' Timbales
5. Undostres
6. Suenan las Claves
7. G-String Montuno (Dedicated to Chano Pozo)
8. Eye-Candy
9. 3 Against 4 and More
10. Silence Is a Rhythm Too

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Hans Koch   Primary Artist,Tape,Sampling,Sequencing,Electronics,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano),Clarinet (Bass)
Fredy Studer   Primary Artist,Drums,Cowbell,Percussion
Martin Schuetz   Primary Artist,Cello,Sampling,Electronics
Bobby Carcasses   Vocals
Damaris Driggs Rodriguez   Vocals
Roberto Hernandez   Bata,Guaga,Claves,Quinto,Palittos
Santiago Garzon Rill   Bata

Technical Credits

Fredy Studer   Mixing,Editing,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Mastering Assistant
Martin Schuetz   Mixing,Editing,Arranger,Producer
Hans Koch   Mixing,Editing,Arranger,Composer,Producer,Mastering Assistant
Werner Luedi   Liner Notes
Eloy Machado   Composer
Ester Heeb   Mixing