Anders Dahl Hundloka, Flockblomstringa 1 CD - Import

Continuing in the vein of previous releases, on Hundloka, flockblomstringa 1 Anders Dahl works to balance found sound environmental recordings with instrumental work to create an often soothing collage of atmospheric drone. Less immediate than some of the harsher field tape work the 21st century has produced, Hundloka could just as easily be a traditional studio recording at many parts, but whatever the exact origins of any particular piece, Dahl's skill at creating something quietly attractive most often makes for good enough listening. All three tracks are called "Hundloka," further identified by the exact instruments that went into their creation. Opening "Guitar, Bouzouki, Violin, Prepared Speakers" plays around the most with older styles of recorded meditation, with some instruments sounding like sitars while others suggest an extremely strung-out and slowed down John Fahey. The longest of the three compositions, it benefits the most from the length, a 20-minute arrangement that deliberately stretches out to a nails-on-chalkboard break before crumbling into a low, lengthy crackle of quiet static. "Percussion, Guitar, Bouzouki" starts out practically as a continuation of the previous track, being fragmentary and barely audible at many points -- it's almost as if it could be a random jam from a group -- but then it's further chopped and remixed into a murky, rough collage of tape edits. "Clarinet, Recorder, Computer, Guitar, Bouzouki, Percussion" concludes Hundloka by striking a middle ground between the two tracks, with lower key drones floating through the mix as more random cut-ups and static bursts jam through the mix, not to mention the occasional soft guitar figure, before concluding on a thoroughly minimal, calm note. ~ Ned Raggett

This is Sweden-based anders dahl's first release on the hapna label. From documentary audio recordings of his travels to India, electronic manipulation of toxic coze to wildlife recordings of digital birds dahl goes places where the natural and the digital wold meet and obfuscate one another Using steel bowls bouzoukis bottles pans drums guitars electronics and anything else on hand or in his surroundings Anders Dahl much like his esteemed botanist compatriot of the same name seeks to minutely observe identify and record even the smallest environmental event.Hapna. 2006

Recording information: Skaarre (2003-2006).

Personnel: Anders Dahl (guitar, bouzouki, violin, recorder, clarinet, percussion, computer); Henrik Olsson (percussion); Anders Dahl.

Audio Mixer: Anders Dahl.