Safe Crackers

The second best thing about Creative Commons music is I am constantly being introduced to musicians from around the world — artists who would have been hidden from me only twenty years ago. (The best thing is the exceptionally great music that is available for free!) Zenapolæ, a netlabel from New Jersey and just a stone’s throw from AoS headquarters, released Im Tresor by PANZERKNACK last month. PANZERKNACK is made up of three German experimental musicians: the duo phase~in (Gunnar Lettow and Sylvia Necker) and Thomas Maos.

In June 2011, the three musicians played together for the first time in a bunker in Tübingen and the result is this special experimental album. With Letter on bass, live electronics and fx; Maos, dobro and electronics; and Necker,  raumstation and fx, they have put together thirty minutes of exciting and vibrant improvised experimental music.  Just a quick note regarding raumstation, it’s English translation is space station which brings to mind epic science fiction stories and such, but I’m a bit unsure if this is the case. But after seeing some of the pictures here, I’m am even more bewildered by what Neckler means by raumstation. A little mystery is always a good thing.

I have been listening to a lot of improvised electronic/ectro-acoustic music lately, but this album showcases engaged musicians at their craft. On many music releases, whether improvised or not, one gets the feeling that the musicians are just going through the motions, renewing their same old and tired cliches with every release. But with Im Tresor, there is something indescribable  going — whatever it is, whatever Lettow, Necker and Maos are doing, Im Tresor has stuck with me for many weeks and I am grateful I got a chance to listen in.