Institute for Certified Nomadic Illicit Sonic Practices
Calisthenics
BRAZIL SEMINAL RECORDS #085 LP (2023)
The artist name here may suggest an academic foundation of some sort, or a government-funded research body, but in fact it’s two Brazilian musicians Marina Cyrino and Matthias Koole who happen to be based in Berlin just now, where they recorded this record. In their own language, the name is Instituto de Práticas Sônicas Nômades Ilícitas Certificadas, which sounds even more enticing. They liken their music to performing physical exercise – hence the album title, which is partly inspired by a 19th century book on Calisthenics and Gymnastics, a tome which contained some juicy illustrations and diagrams. Cyrino plays flute, Koole plays electric guitar, and what with the mixing desk, prepared objects and “inside amplification”, I suppose you could say they operate their own species of electro-acoustic improvisation, especially given the audible results where it’s almost impossible to recognise any of the original instrumentation, so distorted are the sources.
I wish their playing were more inspired; there’s plenty of scratchy energy and frantic movements, instantly suggesting the busy gymnasium they wish to evoke. But as free improvised music goes, it’s unengaging and pointless, totally lacking in technique, no discernible efforts made to develop a musical language, to interact with each other, or explore the avenues suggested by their limited set-up. The electro-acoustic treatments and transformations are likewise drab, creating surfaces and sounds that are simply irritating rather than aesthetically pleasing. (02/02/2023)