Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Kg Augenstern - Tentacles [Gruenrekoder - 2016]

Tentacles brings together a selection of bridge based field recordings made on  rivers & canals between Berlin and  North-East France. The release comes in the form CD, and 44 page colour booklet from respected German field recording/ sound-art label Gruenrekoder.

The release charts a  series of journeys  made between July 2014 & November 2014 on the  MS Anuschka traveling from France & Germany. As the crew of sound-recordists   went under different bridges, they used special installed metal tentacles to capture the sound profile of each structure they passed under it, as well as its surrounding sound environment. In all the disc takes in eight different recordings of these sonic profiles, and two shorter tracks from the resulting art installation connected to the project- with each track lasting between one minute forty & nearing thirteen minutes.

As you’d imagine a fair bit of the release sonic terrority relies on all manner of scarpings, dragging, and rubbing textures. With a back drop of radio chatter, wind, various human & animal sounds, the water, distant roads, etc. Each location has its own sonic identity, though I did find a lot of the central elements captured by the tentacles are fairly similar.

There’s little doubt that Gruenrekoder have done another Stella job on the packaging of the release- with colour pictures though-out showing snaps from the journey the boat took, as well as text detailing the project. And the idea of recording the sonic shapes of bridges or structures is fairly original & distinctive. But sadly I’m afraid to say on the whole the recordings themselves are rather samey, with not enough contrast between each to make Tentacles a  wholly rewarding & captivating field recording release.

Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5Rating: 2 out of 5

Roger Batty
Latest Reviews

Kg Augenstern - Tentacles
Tentacles brings together a selection of bridge based field recordings made on  rivers & canals between Berlin and  North-East France. The...
270625   Murder Rock - Murder Rock( Bl...
270625   The Black Torment - The Blac...
250625   Girls Without Shame - Girls W...
250625   Xiphos - The Age Of Alexander
250625   Timothy Fairless - Keep Tal...
240625   CORR//PT│0N_UN1T - S7ATU5_...
240625   Golem - Golem( Blu Ray)
230625   Cryptopsy - An Insatiable Vi...
200625   Dick Dynamite: 1944 - Dick D...
200625   Various Artists - Electric Ju...
Latest Articles

Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sharp t...
It’s fair to say the Sharksploitation genre is often tried, tested, and to be honest, tired. Fear Below is a 2025 Australian film that tries to do some...
180625   Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sha...
280525   The Residents - Visits From T...
090525   Ennaytch - Of walls, abused ...
150425   Dead, Dead Swans interview - ...
110325   Sebastian Tomb - Walls of unb...
040225   Alien Sex Fiend - Possessed B...
231224   Best Of 2024 - Music, Sound &...
191224   Splintered - Somewhere Betwee...
031224   Shane Ryan-Reid - Coerced and...
221024   Whore’s Breath - life’s h...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2025. Twenty four years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom