NOVY SVET - Là-Bas(s) Communion - MCD - 7 tracks - Nekofutschata - 2004

Released a few months ago as a very limited edition of 333 copies on Novy Svet's own label, 'Là-Bas(s) Communion' is the first part of an ongoing mcd-series. It contains some musical parts taken from a forthcoming Novy Svet album titled 'Desde Infiernos De Flores' and planned to be released later this year.

Throughout these seven short tracks, Novy Svet explore a different musical style. With the assistance of their friends, Demian/Ô Paradis, Flavio Rivabella/D.B.P.I.T., Tristan Sasao/Unidad Sasao…, they manage to deliver a recording 'that at the same time transforms all the black energy into something new, (en)lightening, and that come so very close to my idea about what music should be' to quote J. Weber words.
For sure, 'Là-Bas(s) Communion' is far from the dark and pessimist atmosphere floating over the 'fin.finito.infinito' lp...

Passed the opening vinyl cracking sounds mixed with everyday bar sounds, J. Weber's spoken words are progressively combined with some field recordings (crickets) and a drawn out melody played in the background by the trumpet, rhythmed by soft percussions… In the continuity, track 2 (my favourite!) begins with the same cricket recordings mixed with scratches and the repetitive sound of a gun being reloaded. Juergen's vocals and characteristic little sounds from Demian (and his presence on backing vocals?) as well as the strung out trumpet sounds make this song a kind of true drum'n'bass hit!
Track 3 is really strange… guided by the repetitive bass- lines, Juergen's vocals and percussions, the strength of this track resides in the sudden silences that leave place to some dissonant trumpet notes mixed with spoken words and multiple field recordings. The next track is built upon a false-rhythm where birds' songs are present alongside throbbing male vocals and hammering background percussions. It is followed by a sort of Marry Poppins like interlude, which announces a new drum'n'bass track based on a catchy keyboard melody, whispered male vocals, percussions and the constant vinyl cracking sounds…
Track 6 is definitely the kind of music to listen to when you're sitting down in your bungalow, smoking… The atmosphere surrounding this track (heat, good company…) could even explain why he'll never go home…
Finally, the repetitive sample used in the last track proves that Juergen Weber, 'even far away', remains a true fan of a wrongfully imprisoned French rock star…

The mcd comes in a two-sided cardboard slipcase featuring informative notes about the realisation of 'Là-Bas(s) Communion' and an intriguing cover painting by Ricard Recio. A name that may sound familiar to some of you since he had already provided some superb graphics in the past for the Ô Paradis album 'Serpiente de Luna de Luna Serpiente de Sol'.

A very interesting Novy Svet record that makes the release of the parts 2 and 3 (planned for this year) highly awaited and that also augurs the best for the forthcoming album, of course.

Nathalie F.
Winter 2004/05

Contacts :
Novy Svet: www.artcraf.it/novysvet.htm
groups.yahoo.com/group/novy_svet