€26,00
in stock
why we love this
Faded, spectral sounds echo within a hollowed prism, reflecting back and forth above the listener's head, threading a cobweb of experimental tremors.
about the record
The Zurich-based bassist Martina Berther has been exploring and expanding the sonic potential of her instrument in her live practice for years. The twelve pieces on her solo debut album draw on her improvisational approach but were continuously refined into fully fleshed-out compositions that Berther recorded in one take, with no edits or overdubs added afterward. 'Bass Works: As I Venture Into' serves as a lively snapshot of an ongoing explorative process, collecting these pieces in one place to give them space to unfold.
It can be understood as much as an archive as it is a chronicle of the artist’s development as an improviser and composer. Berther refers to the individual pieces as brief stories, with the track titles capturing the mood of each piece or referring to the tools she used to construct sonic narratives out of previous improvisations. Having recorded roughly 90 minutes of material, she narrowed the selection down to twelve pieces that interlock to form a cohesive story arc.
The main narrative of 'Bass Works: As I Venture Into' is that of a bassist engaging with her instrument in novel ways while also redefining herself as a musician. "The bass is usually used in bands to lay a foundation and provide structure," Berther explains. "Over the past few years, I was surprised to discover how I sound when I free myself from conventions and compromises."
The preliminary result of this (self-)discovery process is an album that invites its listeners to explore the unthought-of possibilities of the bass while also rewarding attentive deep listening with sonic richness and complexity. As a snapshot of Berther’s practice, it already hints at further progress.
- 1 - 6Chords 2:42
- 2 - Alienruf I 3:20
- 3 - Cymbal 1:59
- 4 - Bow 2:08
- 5 - Arrow 2:32
- 6 - Wool 1:17
- 7 - Obertone 1:44
- 8 - Rhythm Sponge 3:12
- 9 - Sprinkler 2:26
- 10 - Silverneck 2:52
- 11 - Pinsel 1:33
- 12 - Mini Gong 1:10
€26,00
in stock
- 1 - 6Chords 2:42
- 2 - Alienruf I 3:20
- 3 - Cymbal 1:59
- 4 - Bow 2:08
- 5 - Arrow 2:32
- 6 - Wool 1:17
- 7 - Obertone 1:44
- 8 - Rhythm Sponge 3:12
- 9 - Sprinkler 2:26
- 10 - Silverneck 2:52
- 11 - Pinsel 1:33
- 12 - Mini Gong 1:10
why we love this
Faded, spectral sounds echo within a hollowed prism, reflecting back and forth above the listener's head, threading a cobweb of experimental tremors.
about the record
The Zurich-based bassist Martina Berther has been exploring and expanding the sonic potential of her instrument in her live practice for years. The twelve pieces on her solo debut album draw on her improvisational approach but were continuously refined into fully fleshed-out compositions that Berther recorded in one take, with no edits or overdubs added afterward. 'Bass Works: As I Venture Into' serves as a lively snapshot of an ongoing explorative process, collecting these pieces in one place to give them space to unfold.
It can be understood as much as an archive as it is a chronicle of the artist’s development as an improviser and composer. Berther refers to the individual pieces as brief stories, with the track titles capturing the mood of each piece or referring to the tools she used to construct sonic narratives out of previous improvisations. Having recorded roughly 90 minutes of material, she narrowed the selection down to twelve pieces that interlock to form a cohesive story arc.
The main narrative of 'Bass Works: As I Venture Into' is that of a bassist engaging with her instrument in novel ways while also redefining herself as a musician. "The bass is usually used in bands to lay a foundation and provide structure," Berther explains. "Over the past few years, I was surprised to discover how I sound when I free myself from conventions and compromises."
The preliminary result of this (self-)discovery process is an album that invites its listeners to explore the unthought-of possibilities of the bass while also rewarding attentive deep listening with sonic richness and complexity. As a snapshot of Berther’s practice, it already hints at further progress.
