SC Distributon

Brimming with dark, epic energy, Thomas Weber possesses a creativity and sense of innovation that is truly unique. Fearlessly extending into raucous and experimental bursts of static while sounding like a highly charged improv ensemble. Weber's playfulness and scope make Maander a truly engaging experience. It's his willingness to explore new sounds, moods and manners - to move well beyond expectations and into a new realm - that make Maander so interesting. Weber (a member of the revered Payola collective that also includes Tied & Tickled Trio, Notwist and Village of Savoonga among others) ably provides 13 tracks of unrivaled spontaneity, diversity and originality that serve to shake things up and turn the genre on its head.

Combining brass and string instruments, electronics, drums, percussion and keyboards, Cicadidae sees the band communicating with each other in the spaces between control and loss of control, intuition and reflection, density and transparency. The childlike brilliance of their melodies renders you weightless, with an occasional thumping pulse to keep you from losing your balance. Formerly drawing comparisons to To Rococo Rot, Amon DÃ?Ã?l II and Third Eye Foundation for their cold, dark anthems, Cicadidae finds more in common with the lighter side of the German underground, specifically the mates of The Notwist, Styrofoam, the Morr Music roster and Icelandic darlings, Mum. Cicadidae offers Kammerflimmer Kollektief the chance to not only grab those that have followed all along, but also the folks that have wanted to love them all along, but couldn't shake the feeling of being pushed away. Where before there was a push, now there is an irresistible pull.

With the domestic release of Kammerflimmer Kollektief's debut album, Mäander, still fresh in people's heads and stereos, we waste no time in bringing you the startling follow-up, Incommunicado. Now weighing in as a sextet, the Kollektief pokes its head out of the bedroom and into the living room with a totally live, genuinely inspired organic experience. Kollektief mastermind Thomas Weber gave his band mates copies of Mäander and had them study the song structures and tones and attempt to reinterpret them using guitar, strings, upright bass and drums. The performances are entirely improvised. No electronics were used (except for that pesky synthesizer), no edits were made and no overdubs were done. The result is a lush, breathtaking collaboration of jazz, orchestral and avant rock.