Just listened the BRUME "Ainsi soit-il!" LP and just have to put it in own topic... Brume is something what I have been listening pretty much since I got into this kind of stuff. I always thought it was good, but it was somewhere in the "middle". It wasn't brutal, nor that noisy for most of time, and I did like what I hear, but it was hard to express really excitement over material. Especially when he changed into working under his own name, I felt little alienated from it due the often expressed dislike for "real artists" (in lack of better terms) opposed to just "bands".
For my great surprice this LP wasn't so re-issue, but infact works from 2009. Album starts almost like any slightly neo classical leaning industrial, with nearly symphonic slow loops, and grainy speech. It slowly shifts through detailed experimental sounds into drum machine beat, which has very "train like" tempo and sound, but clearly just drum machine. It gives steady drive to first side, but on the top is dense layering of sounds. From deep and well as high piercing drones of horns, some very slow random piano sounds on back, oscillations of synths, dramatic backwards echoes rising in top once in a while. Repeated "I saw his face.. " appears between few minutes. Sound is very well made. Perhaps one could say clean and bright. But that in positive sense.
Material simply drifts fowards. When beat fades out, it continues with quite modern sounding experimental ambient.
What I can put as reference is simply band that's been talked on this board extensively. Contrastate. It is no way 100% similar, but one could place some of the moods into similar category. Before the next rhythmic loop pattern starts, there is amazing physical/field recordings. Bells that sound like decayed fluttering bells, enviromental sounds, etc. Beat what is created from looping percussion is very dominating. It has no tribal or techno feeling, but something else? It doesn't sound very electric, but neither handmade. In mix compared to great layers of other sounds it may be little bit too dominating, but I won't complain. End of album goes to noisier realms, which sounds almost like grinding stones through extensive reverb. And slowly some distant speech you can't really understand is rising from depth.
One could try to show me another 2009 recording, where side of LP, has been so seamlessly composed into extreme success??
B-side starts with more dramatic "electro-acostic" feeling what comes to composition. But goes to much more. It's like mix of busy classical music with other racket, what abruptly does changes into various obscurities. But while for a moment you hear this dirty hand made percussion, it seems more as gimmick what launches suddenly stupid funky bass and clean drum machine with simple disco beat. New Age'y keyboards and few funky guitar samples thrown in mix does give some unbelievable contrast to old spoken word pieces about national socialism, but this is really like new age muzak version of electro funk or something?!
It's about half of the side when this torment finally lets you from its grip. Almost. Then after short bridge beat changes to almost breakbeat'ish mode. There is speech through extensive effects and various effects. One wonders, what the fuck happened? Also, the backwards reverb sound being repeated maybe already 15th time, you start to realize his ideas perhaps ran out after remarkable 1st side. Few elements that stood out amazing, won't be that after same sound is recycled in every few minutes. Side finally calms done into ethereal keyboard tones slowly drifting into distance, but it is too late to save this atrocity you just whitnessed for about 15-20 minutes prior it. The surprice of sick sound collage in the end does bring some points back.
Hand numbered to 250.. yeah. I know, it's pretty much what the "untrendy" experimental LP is bound to sell nowadays, but it still makes me wonder if material like this should be sold more? But to which audience? Don't really know. And that A side you can easily recommend, but B-side is pretty much unbearable experience. If you could cut away most of B-side. Just add the last 5 mins of B to the end of a-side this release would be gold.
So, what's the Brume to get and what's Brume to avoid? Russian label has done pretty extensive job to re-issue old Brume works. Waiting for some copies of those, but could also just re-visit the old tapes sitting in shelves...
Normal (Relapse)
Very well recorded/produced. Better still, very widely distruted. This one, and others recorded thenabouts ('98), quite emphatically cement Brume's status as one of the great composers of our time. In a way, a blueprint for this kind of detailed deformed-sample-based work. Not unduly busy, but quite dense and complex interplay of individual events, often anchored nicely by unassuming backing ambience. The movement proper elaborates in a way that feels unrushed, even lilting, clearly marking passage from one section to the next. The scope of this shit is staggering, every listening session exhausting - and very very addictive.
Quote from: Bloated Slutbag on February 16, 2010, 03:22:29 PM
Normal (Relapse)
This one, and others recorded thenabouts ('98), quite emphatically cement Brume's status as one of the great composers of our time.
That about says it all for me as well. Unbelievable richness of ideas and sounds, all the while not getting muddled down with any part of it, or himself. The guy was in a zone, much like Null during his Water Period. I particularly like Normal because of how the French electro-acoustic tradition feels so influential and is at the pinnacle of his skill set here.
My favorite Brume releases tend to have pretty loud, clear mastering without sacrificing the organic qualities. Most of his stuff past a certain point seems very "pro" and it works for him because he's so good at what he does. One of the best kinds of artists because he can make electronics sound like something physical, but also makes field recordings sound like an automated machine, so you never know exactly where everything is coming from.... and that's beyond the fact that everything is arranged in such a complex way to begin with.
"Normal", "Drafts of Collisions", "Krieg" and the drone records 7" are my favorites. I haven't heard anywhere close to all of what he's released... some of the earlier releases are okay, where it's mostly tribal rhythms and loops. You can hear some of the rhythmic stuff he was doing later, it was definitely an ongoing "theme", but I like it more when it's chopped up as just one part of a mutilated electro-acoustic track.
On "Normal" that voice sample from the beginning is something I think about on a regular basis.
Brume did an excellent reworking of Deutsch Nepal's Horse give birth to flies. Really broken up and still haunting as hell.
I'm usually most into the more tribal/rhythmic/organic side of Brume. Iswari is my favorite release from Brume. I can guess you can summon up the release as Zoviet'Franceish but with Christians trademark style. Good with these threads. Now I just have to find that tape box...
Went back and re-visited Krieg 1999. It has aged much better than I thought it would - at the time, maybe fell into the shadows of Normal and Drafts of Collisions more than it deserved - another fine, fine Brume album.
Brume - Musique Pour Les Etres Humains C-60 1993 (http://sickness-still-abounds.blogspot.com/2010/02/brume-musique-pour-les-etres-humains-mc.html)
If you could throw one of Muslimgauze's bazaar recordings into a blender with Zoviet France, with maybe a small pinch of Small Cruel Party, this might be a tape you'd find.
Was listening today his collaboration LP with German TBC on Wachsender Prozess - almost total sonic joy! Just few dull moments at the end with boring repetitive piano part in the last track.
Also remember that pic 10" on Ant-Zen was actually pretty good?
Saw there was upcoming new LP on Rotorelief in april. Also new tapes on...was it Blossoming Noise? How was that one? And upcoming tape on Cipher appearently.
Quote from: bogskaggmannen on March 29, 2012, 11:48:19 PMAlso remember that pic 10" on Ant-Zen was actually pretty good?
very good
never really checked Brume, makes this topic very welcome!......i remember checking the Autoportrait tape quite a lot....interesting stuff.
I remember the best I heard with Brume is the 2LP with Brume and Telepherque. The cd Draft of Collisions is also among the better I've heard with Brume.
Indeed a lot of his stuff is quite similar to each other ... but here are the jewels:
BRUME "NNN" Tape
His most psychotic, dark, but also musical album. One of the best industrial releases I know!
BRUME "HYSTERICAL" CDR
A best of album with material of the good old times, like from NNN + more
CHRISTIAN RENOU "Transfer" LP (Waystyx)
Fantastic experimental.
CHRISTIAN RENOU/ANEMONE TUBE "Transference" CD (Auf Abwegen)
Dark, melancholic Ambient/Experimental.
... and hereby I want to announce his new album to be released end of April 2012:
BRUME / OUBLIER ET MOURIR " A YEAR TO LIVE" Split + Collab. 12" LP
OUBLIER ET MOURIR is the new side-project of ANEMONE TUBE combining contemplative and melancholic ambient soundscapes & melodramatic pop. This release is the second collaboration between Christian Renou (BRUME) and ANEMONE TUBE and ties in with the Christian Renou / Anemone Tube "Transference" CD, released by Auf Abwegen in 2003.
(http://africanpaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/BRUME-OETM-LP-Frontcover.jpg)
another favorite is "Drug" cdr from 1999, probably his most psychedelic. I need to check more of his releases under his real name, the cd on Ground Fault was a great work of modern musique concrete.
Glad to see theres a new release on vinyl coming out!
Frankly speaking I haven't listened weak albums of this composer. I have got something about 40 releases and all of them are very good.
Quote from: Jarl on March 30, 2012, 05:02:06 PM
I remember the best I heard with Brume is the 2LP with Brume and Telepherque.
I didn't care for this. I remember being excited about the pairing. I like both projects a lot. It is a long, tedious, non-eventful listen. One of those collaborations when neither artist leaves their signature and also when they don't create a new signature, either. It was inexpensive and easily found, too.
Quote from: bogskaggmannen on March 29, 2012, 11:48:19 PM
And upcoming tape on Cipher appearently.
Just finished dubbing the last copy, now on to the packaging. I think it should appeal to those into the earlier tapes, that was kind of my request when approaching Christian about the release. Some 'pulse', largely derived from bass guitar, but no real overt rhythm and, as has been said here, an engaging and transitional experience over what is about 64 minutes.
Should be finished about the end of the month.
I see the Anastomose PD10" has been reissued on CD. I remember it being a favorite at the time. Not enough time to keep up and keep acquainted.
http://www.discogs.com/Brume-Anastomose-Other-Stories/release/4523466
Was going to reply to this but saw I posted in it three years ago. All I can say is truly in a league of his own separate from anything else that ever was.
Even when it gets too goofball for me it's still an impressive approach to sound.
I don't normally care for cackling/laughter, grunts, screams, and other goofy vocals, but Kommissar Hjuler und Frau - Salicylat 2010 is one of those smart, skilled exceptions; so much so that I'm tempted to seek out more Kommissar. There is a workable tonality to this guy's voice that plays well with Brume's fine production sense, and the result is well within the richer side of the French electro-acoustic tradition. And the acoustics and ambient flow is typical Brume top shelf. The feel and my response reminded me of Nurse with Wound's Merzbild Schwet. Impressive.
Quote from: Bloated Slutbag on February 16, 2010, 03:22:29 PM...often anchored nicely by unassuming backing ambience.
Brume - The Prehistoric Tapes
http://www.discogs.com/Brume-The-Prehistoric-Tapes/release/1340811
"These recordings were the very 1st electronic experiments I made, just after I gave up Uria, and just before I create Brume. The main stuff was inspired by music like Heldon, Suicide ... but also progressive music and German krautrock."
Recorded from 1979 to 1983 at Primitive Studio and Brume Rec.
And he did it incredibly well. One of those folks who obviously has an exceptional, very upper percentile ear. I went into this not thinking it would be anywhere near the quality it is. Someone could have re-packaged this and pawned it off as a lost, newly unearthed krautrock gem. Where I didn't prepare to be impressed, I thoroughly am. Speaking of box sets, if he has more of this type material tucked away, it is deserving of its own collection.
Thanks for highlighting this. The only Brume I know is Draft of Collisions and Normal...both great of course. I should pull those out soon as I haven't played them in awhile.
Had picked up the Charlemagne 7" a bit back... It completely warped my skull. Really, one of the, if not the, best Brume release I've ever heard.
Agreed, great 7"! One of my favorites!
I listened "In Heaven" a lot and it's really great release. Anyone can suggest me some similar album from him?
Quote from: Dr Alex on March 25, 2014, 10:55:39 AM
I listened "In Heaven" a lot and it's really great release. Anyone can suggest me some similar album from him?
I can't think of any Brume with quite that level of sustained... ominous, brooding, atmosphere. What's funny to me is just how close it is to what I had expected – having read the label blurb and of course played back the Eraserhead soundtrack several times in anticipation of impending In Heaven arrival. So the closest thing I could recommend would be the (second half of) the above-mentioned OST. I also couldn't help hallucinating (the atmospheric dimensions of) Swans Public Castration Is A Good Idea, always a Good Thing.
Brume-wise... perhaps Draft Of Confusion, recorded just one year earlier (2009) and itself a reworking of a soundtrack credited to C.Renou. A bit less deliberately creepy, maybe, but quite the full-bodied delivery of amorphous textures and equally a Brume anomaly.
Parts of House Unwillently, the Brume & TBC collabo, might also slake certain cravings in these regards. These regards, namely: darkambient atmospherics jizzed up with fat wads of industrial-strength thundersplooge.
I might also suggest a review of Lustmord's (soundtrack for) Zoetrope. Where the inimitable B offers something rather more lustmordian (read: considerably more melodramatic/hollywoodesque) there are nevertheless parallels in the use of burbling undercurrents and the occasional percussive wallop.
To the gent who name-checked Charlemagne – fuck yeah! But certainly another anomaly. More for the sort of person who might occasionally peruse a power electronics discussion board... if not really, methinks, showcasing his true compositional talents.
Thank you!
Brume – Two Characters 10" on Drone Records is absolutely brilliant! More dark ambient sound but still amazing.
Brume: Emergence
2009 Waystyx 2xCD Reissue (original 1990)
https://www.discogs.com/Brume-Emergence/release/2030727?ev=item-vc
Call me clueless. Can someone explain to me how to, as the instructions note:
These 2 CDs could be played together on 2 CD players, both should be connected to a single usual Hi-Fi amp in order to get some dephasings & maximum effects
Are each of these CDs mono - thus connecting one output to the left channel and the other CD to the right channel of a stereo receiver single input? Or is there some way to feed two stereo inputs simultaneously to the speaker output on a typical amplifier? I can't see any way to do that on mine.
Thanks for the help / info.
Quote from: MyrtleLake on October 31, 2019, 04:25:16 PM
r is there some way to feed two stereo inputs simultaneously to the speaker output on a typical amplifier? I can't see any way to do that on mine.
Thanks for the help / info.
A CD dj mixer unit would achieve this easily
This looks it would be the cheapest way of doing it (https://www.prebeat.co.uk/media-players-c24/dual-media-players-c26/gemini-cdm4000-dual-cd-mixer-combo-p261/s274?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=gemini-cdm4000-dual-cd-mixer-combo-cdm4000&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjOrtBRCcARIsAEq4rW6Jxh6R70wTZhBc68_oRSduyexqWBcmvZ9w8sd2Vlu5lVszBEA9E-QaAkhqEALw_wcB)
Sounds like something other than my two CD players and stereo amplifier is needed. Possibly a simple mixer unit would work? Re: "...in order to get some dephasings & maximum effects" I don't know *exactly* what that entails nor requires (if anything).
What about this approach?
>>Rolls MX51s Mini-Mix 2 stereo line mixer (https://rolls.com/product/MX51s)<<
Quote from: MyrtleLake on October 31, 2019, 04:25:16 PM
These 2 CDs could be played together on 2 CD players, both should be connected to a single usual Hi-Fi amp in order to get some dephasings & maximum effects
Are each of these CDs mono - thus connecting one output to the left channel and the other CD to the right channel of a stereo receiver single input? Or is there some way to feed two stereo inputs simultaneously to the speaker output on a typical amplifier? I can't see any way to do that on mine.
The sleeve notes suggest that both CDs are mono, otherwise you would need to run them via 2 amps quadraphonic to get the desired results.
So either of these should work:
CD player 1 OUT -> amp IN (L)
CD player 2 OUT -> amp IN (R)
or
CD player 1 OUT -> mixer ch. 1 (pan left)
CD player 2 OUT -> mixer ch. 2 (pan right)
mixer OUT -> amp IN
The effects created by this setup are depending on both source materials. I haven't listened to the release (yet) but there could be phase cancellations, panning effects, amplitude & frequency interferences of all kinds especially noticable if the separate channel sounds are just slightly off.
Could be a good idea to use headphones if you don't have a well balanced stereo system.
Buying a mixer just for listening to this one album sounds a bit overkill.