Search - Elliott Sharp, Bernhard Lang :: Donaueschinger Musiktage 2007: War Zones

Innovation without impact

R. Hutchinson | a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds | 01/12/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This disc documents world premiere live performances of commissioned works from the Donaueschinger Musiktage 2007 in Germany (October 19 & 20 to be exact). Elliott Sharp and Bernhard Lang are the composers, and the performing unit is the same for both, presented under the heading WAR ZONES: Elliott Sharp on 8-string guitarbass & electronics, Bernhard Lang on keyboards & electronics, Philip Jeck on turntables, Hans Koch on reeds, Fredy Studer on percussion, LaTasha N. Nevada Diggs on vocals, and mixmastertodd on electronics & vocals.



The entire project was motivated by opposition to the U.S. war in Iraq and the war on terror and its attendant restriction of civil liberties. This is made clear in the liner notes. But the music fails to pack a punch commensurate with these concerns. At its best the music coheres into a funky groove that sounds somewhat like Tackhead fronted by Peter Brotzmann on sax. But the lyrics and vocals lack urgency and the novel instrumentation is not shaped into anything particularly noteworthy on either aesthetic or political grounds.



A missed opportunity, but perhaps it was more impressive live and in-the-moment."