SLAMCD288 Barcode Quartet – You’re It

The Barcode Quartet is led by vocalist Annette Giesriegl, based in Graz, Austria, who brings her studies of overtone singing, throat singing and Indian music to jazz and improvised music.

Alongside her are London based improvising violinist Alison Blunt and Austrian pianist Elisabeth Harnik, who represent a generation of improvisers who didn’t come to the discipline via jazz. Graz based Josef Klammer‘s drums and electronics add punctuation and colour, providing the musical glue to the ensemble. The allbum is made up of live recordings in Austria in July 2011.

Annette Giesriegl: voice
Alison Blunt: violin
Elisabeth Harnik: piano
Josef Klammer: drums, electronics

“In Giesringl’s vocals I hear a number of influences from Aurora Josephson, to Cathy Berberian, to Inuit throat singing. She has excellent control of her instrument, and uses it in a wide range of ways over the course of the CD…I loved the abstract opening, which told me what kind of music I was going to hear over the whole record. On “Staffellauf” the four musicians work beautifully together. Clearly everyone is very familiar with everyone else and knows where the improvisation is going…For people who like voice used as an instrument in various ways, both in a jazz and in a classical manner, as well as a number of other forms, and for people who like very abstract music, this is a record for you.” – Bernie Koenig, Cadence

“A meeting of musical minds from the Graz and London new music scenes…the foursome’s interplay is intricately balanced, inherently exciting without overt melodrama, often ending in sudden hushes. So imbricated are the improvisations that it can be difficult to distinguish individual instruments. Ranging in mood from quiet ‘chamber jazz’ to extroverted power-rock pulsing, tracks like “Oxford Street”, “Alpenglow”, “Driver”, “Aaahdrenalin” and “Wondering” all realise an immensely satisfying musical gestalt.” – Tom Greenland, The New York City Jazz Record

“The end results which are spirited, creative and focused into a group sound. For those of you who have a problem with improvised vocals (I don’t), Giesriegl is integral to the quartet’s sound, blends strongly and never takes over. Blunt plays acoustic violin and like Mezei is a gifted improviser who consistently adds sparks and flourishes to quartet. There are some sections on this disc where the quartet really take off and soar, swirling around one another to an ecstatic conclusion. Truly strong medicine for the tough times present and ahead.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

Recorded live in concert at Kunsthaltestelle Streckhammerhaus, Frohnleiten, Austria, July 1st, 2011
Recording engineer Denovaire

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