Norwegian
all female quartet Spunk got together in 1995, coming
from various backgrounds ranging from classical and
contemporary to rock, jazz, techno and country. Kristin
Andersen (trumpet), Hild Sofie Tafjord (French horn),
Maja Solveig Kjelstrup
Ratkje (vocals, electronics) and Lene Grenager (cello)
started experimenting with improvisations, resulting
in the band performing live all over Norway in art galleries,
clubs or festivals. 1999 saw the release of Det
Eneste Jeg Vet Er At Det Ikke Er En Støvsuger
(The Only Thing I Know Is That It Isn’t A Vaccum Cleaner),
their first album, on Norway’s finest record label Rune
Grammofon. Intriguing, disconcerting and challenging,
this record subjugated the international press with
its wild spirit, its unconventional treatment of music
and its sincerity. Just a few weeks prior to the release
of its follow up, Spunk are now introducing their music
as seen and interpreted by a multitude of Scandinavian
artists.
From the almost entirely acoustic original tracks to the
noticeably more electronic context of most of the reworkings,
the intricacy of Spunk’s music prevails. Filtered
Through Friends features remixes by one half of Alog
Espen Sommer Eider aka Phonophani, Rune Grammofon graphic
artist Kim Hiorthøy, Spunk’s satellite electronic
band (X,Y,Z), Andreas Meiland, Spunk’s trumpeter Kristin
Andersen and many more. In turn close to the original
spirit of the compositions (Det Eneste Jeg Vet Er
At Det Var Et Horn Engang, Trully Falling Slowly,
Buljong) or completely reshaped (Fjernfjernkontrollkontroll,
Feil Remix), the tracks on this album demonstrate
and support the revolutionary character of the quartet’s
music. On Spunk’s album, melodies are in essence scarce
and, when discernable, disjointed. If most of the remixers
tend to bring the melodic elements to the surface and
make the music more accessible, it is with similar scarcity
that they apply conventional structures, retaining the
experimental fundamentals of the creations. The strangely
atmospheric imprint of Det Eneste… transpires
here as if uncompromissingly refracted through the distinct
universes of the artists involved.
Not an album for every ear, Filtered Through Friends
is definitely an interesting take on contemporary improvised
music. Spunk have proved to be an exiting and disconcerting
outfit, and this selection of variations builds on the
quartet’s excellence.
5/5 |
