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Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
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Reviews

Blast4tet — Altrastrata
(ReR Megacorp BLAST 1, 2002, CD)

by Mike Ezzo, Published 2003-12-01

Altrastrata Cover art

I’ve never heard Blast before, but a couple of the members were part of the group Otolithen, whom some readers may recall. Altrastrata is the fifth recording from this four-man ensemble, based in The Netherlands. On it, chamber-rrr-r-rock meets head on with random electro-acoustic sound events. The Blast sonic character is pluralistic and multi-faceted not only in orchestration, but in mode of execution, with often a finely composed layer enmeshed within a semi-noisy or improvisational layer. Fabrizio Sperra’s fluid drumming provides the musculature to keep the body stable and connected, while bass plays an active rather than supportive role. Woodwinds and twangy experimental guitar weave together skewed, sometimes explosive, melodic fragments that suborn attempts to identify what is extemporaneous and what is planned. No keyboardist appears, luckily, as this allows the band to play at volume levels low enough to maintain a kind of subtlety that evinces connections even with jazz. Structural collapse, though a permanent threat, never does actually materialize, wherein lies Blast’s most striking quality. They are clearly masters of the form. A lot of American bands attempt this and they end up thrashing around, revealing an obvious lack of forethought and rehearsal time. But you’ll find nothing of that ilk anywhere on this meticulously rendered project. I won’t bother trying to namedrop — Blast is a cosmic singularity; they sound like nobody else! And Altrastrata is the zenith for those interested in the most experimental side of music.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 28, 2002 releases

Related artist(s): Blast / Blast4tet, Frank Crijns, Dirk Bruinsma

More info
http://blast4tet.bandcamp.com/album/altra-strata

 

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