It is virtually impossible today to invent something new in music. Just like peak-oil, the well had necessarily run dry, and mostly not due to popular music. While rock fans and musicians (and I use rock here as an engulfing collective term for all popular music) would like to think that novelty is their domain and that originality is part and parcel of their trade, the truth is that they were beaten to the goal line by modern and contemporary composers by several decades. Attempts to hail the birth of new genres in popular music are more often than not vacuous and at times even pathetic (e.g. the non-existent new rave or the recently championed chillwave). However, it is very likely that originality is overrated: after all, it does not immediately imply something better. Furthermore, variations on a theme can be just as ingenious, thought provoking and emotionally moving. Additionally, an artificial sense of urgency the compels artists to allegedly push the envelope just for the sake of making something better or keep up with the competition, usually leads to horrendous results (brutal grindcore anyone?). That said, it should still be remembered that novelty is the only lifeline of a stagnant culture (Lady kaka anyone?).
Land of Kush's Egyptian light orchestra - Monogamy (Constellation, 31/05/2010) http://cstrecords.com/land-of-kush/
The jaw-dropper of 2010. Sam Shalabi's orchestra made its presence known last year with the impressive Against the day, an experimental voyage into the depths of Egyptian classical music. Shalabi performs magic and surpasses the achievements of this debut with the truly astounding Monogamy. A marriage between east and west at seemingly impossible intersections creates a demented and psychotic soundtrack to a cabaret show in Nasser's Cairo. Shalabi draws from all possible worlds and his tour de force of import-export effortlessly shifts from Arabic music structures to Western ones and to places of no structure at all. Free jazz in middle-eastern scales. The standout track is without a doubt the 17 and a half minutes long epos Scars, with Tunnel vision and Monogamy hot on its heels.
ANBB - Ret Marut handshake EP (Raster noton, 18/06/2010) http://www.raster-noton.net/anbb/
When two giants join hands it a recipe for either a catastrophe or a gem. In the case of ANBB it is the latter. Blixa Bargeld (founder of Einstürzende Neubauten and Bad seeds guitarists) hooked up with circuitry wizard Carsten Nicolai (aka Alva noto) to create a unique melting of experimental spoken word meets glitch/IDM/minimal electronica. In this EP (unlike to extended version full-length that followed a few months later). ANBB both present and perfect upon their new found formula, offering a meaty experience for fans of both sides of electronica: a considerable portion of fooling around, knob twisting and laptop hopping that does not compromise the occasional hooky melody. After last year's brilliant Einstürzende Neubauten album, it seems Bargeld can do no wrong.
Mycale - Book of angels volume 13 (Tzadik, 26/01/2010) www.myspace.com/mycaleVocalGroup
In the vast arsenal of musical tools that Tzadik and its kingpin John Zorn have, Mycale still is a standout. This vocal a cappella quartet takes on Zorn's book of angels. Considering the frightening caliber of those who have attempted it in the future (and some have failed miserably doing so), it is a daunting task to take, especially as a debut. However, Mycale pulls through (though not in uniform quality) and offers refreshingly down-to-earth interpretations of Zorn's work. The vocals and harmonies are perfect, yet I must admit this is not an album one can easily sit through in its entirety. Consumed in measured doses, however, this is definitely the highlight of Tzadik's output this year.
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