Altsounds

 Audiobulb “are a Sheffield based exploratory electronic record label that is home to some of the finest purveyors
 of all things experimental. “Works supported by Audiobulb often explore the interface between the electronic and
 natural world. We embrace the complexity of unique electronics, intricate acoustics and detailed microsound.

 To be honest, in this day and age I will applaud any artists that will try and explore new realms of sound and 
 rhythm. These artists stick true to their ideas, that are born from imagination and invention, without trying to pigeon
 hole their sound into genres or even worse - trends and fashions.

 Hans van Eck is a collaboration between the Schreck Ensemble (as yet I have not discovered if they are in any 
 way related to the cartoon character) and sound artist / instrument designer “Hans van Koolwijk” (I have not 
 discovered, as yet, the wig maker either). The idea is that large bass speakers are placed inside a “BassBox” 
 which is a cabinet with only two small holes for letting the air escape. These holes are placed in close proximity 
 to flutes, so that the vibrations from the speakers cause the flutes to play, and it is these noises that are recorded.

 From reading this it is probably quite difficult to imagine what the album actually sounds like. Well it is a mixture of 
 heart arresting tractor like drones and throbs like on Track One 'Deep Roll,' to the delicate and complex rhythmic 
 melodies heard on Track Three 'House.'

 “BassBox” is never going to appeal to a mass market, but that was never the point. The experimental music 
 collective is seen as a method of creating sound that is not only new and distinct but also a sound that has a life 
 of its own. The creators of “Bassbox” are certainly able to have slight control over what the overall song sounds 
 like, but I am sure that it is never what they originally completely intended. This means that the music almost has a 
 life of its own. A structure that is in harmony with the natural world and a meaning that is very hard to decipher, 
 yet alone understand.

 In the music spectrum there is definitely a place for this sort of “experiment”. Audiobulb Records see and hear a 
 depth to this type of music that many will not understand.

 On “BassBox” there are glimpses as to why and how this music can be so effective. Intricate flute melodies that
 seem to build up on themselves, outlining a driving yet underlying subtle melody which drowns the listener in 
 delicate, yet complex structures like those in evidence on 'House' and Track Seven 'Shaken Rhythm.

 When the BassBoxes are used to create the kind of low frequency drones that make you want to visit the 
 bathroom, I personally, am not so sure. 'Deep Roll' and Track Two 'Scintillating' are not exactly musical, but 
 remain effective. Fans of “Noise” and “Drone” music will certainly be interested, and taking into account that 
 there is little or no “post-recording” production, bar amplification, the noises and sound-scapes are highly 
 interesting, if not overtly musical.

 All in all, I applaud Hans van Eck’s enthusiasm, imagination and drive. Hans van Eck have stayed true to their 
 ideas and never veered from their distinct path and that in today’s fickle world, must be applauded.

 VITAL WEEKLY

 It doesn't happen a lot, the excitement of mail arriving and then there is the new work by *** (fill in the blank), the 
 much rumored new work. At the Vital HQ lots of mail arrive, and mail means work, its that simple. You may find 
 it hard to believe but there was some old fashioned excitement when opening a small parcel by Audiobulb, which
 contained, much to my surprise, a CD by Hans van Eck. Who? His name popped up in the announcement section
 a couple of times, as part of the Schreck Ensemble, with whom he performs works of twentieth century serious
 composers. My first encounter with his music was a cassette only release in the late 80s, 'Blind Area' (which I 
 think you can download on the Schreck website) of works created when studying sonology. Serious electronic 
 music, but which sounded to my ears great. Never heard much of his music again, so that may explain some of 
 the excitement. Here he works with a bassbox, 'an electronic air pump which pumps wind in measured quantities 
 through flutes, giving rise to rhythmically fascinating sounds'. The vibrations of bass escape through two small 
 holes and go into bamboo flutes. A simple and effective idea. And that brings me straight to the problem I have 
 with the CD. There are seven pieces on this CD, and there is only one, 'Rivieren', which sound distinctly different
 than the other six. The six pieces are variations to a theme it seems. Maybe the speed changes a bit, the amount 
 of air blown into the bamboo (even within a piece, which makes this sound like Reich's phase shifting), but after 
 the third piece I had enough. I took it off, highly disappointed, but when I started to review the review I went back, 
 and it seemed the fourth piece 'Rivieren' was different, more like sine wave like experiment. Maybe I was wrong 
 and I played the CD to the end. But no. That track is the odd ball, and the rest is standard. That I think is a great pity. 
 I can imagine the bassbox is a nice thing to see in action, but as a whole the CD is a bit disappointing. Having said 
 that, the pieces as pieces are actually nice. Nothing wrong with them as such, but to play it in one go, is just a bit 
 too much. Hard to imagine, but play one or two pieces of this and then move to something else and then back to 
 here. Seems like a lot of work. Audiobulb took a brave step by moving away from their usual musical releases 
 and that's great too.

 BLOW UP MAGAZINE

 Dell'olandese Hans van Eck ricordiamo una cassettina pubblicata nella seconda metà dagli anni '80 dalla Decay 
 International, ponderose composizioni elettroniche realizzate in gran parte negli studi dell'Institute of Sonology di 
 Utrecht presso il quale l'autore si è laureato in musicologia. Poi l'attività nell'ambito della musica contemporanea con
 lo Schreck Ensemble e poi la collaborazione con lo scultore Hans van Koolvijk per il design di strumenti musicali non
 ortodossi. Come la BassBox, una pompa azionata elettronicamente che veicola masse d'aria in due flauti di bambù
 piazzati allo sommità dello strumento a produrre drones ribollenti e ondeggiamenti ritmici. Tutto molto affascinante, 
 ma anche non poco monotono. (6) Nicola Catalano

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 Audiobulb Is an exploratory music label designed to support the work of innovative artists. 


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