Narrative from the Subtropics Jan Bang

• 1Iron Balcony01:01
• 2Singers Ashes03:01
• 3Tide03:43
• 4Smashing Windows01:47
• 5The Deep Serene02:29
• 6Singers Childhood05:22
• 7Funeral Voyage05:30
• 8Interlude Night Creatures01:18
• 9Melee Of Suitcases04:09
• 10Artificial Reeves03:11
• 11Sinking Ship04:10
• 12Flooded Corridors03:00
• 13Lifeboat02:30
• Total Runtime41:11

Info for Narrative from the Subtropics

„Narrative from the Subtropics“ is an esoteric, yet remarkably attractive set of compositions from Norwegian producer, composer and electronic musician Jan Bang. Featuring Nils Petter Molvaer, Arve Henriksen, Tigran Hamasyan, Sidsel Endresen and Lars Danielsson.

Recorded over a period of three years, this set of thirteen miniatures includes a stellar roster of musicians. The delicate trumpet of Nils Petter Molvaer and synthesizer programming of Erik Honoré on 'Funeral Voyage', the naked trumpet and vocals on 'Sinking Ship' courtesy of Arve Henriksen, and contributions from the two equally distinctive guitarists Eivind Aarset and Stian Westerhus. The genuinely unique singer Sidsel Endresen appears on the Undark/Russell Mills collaboration 'Tide' where Erik Honoré contributes with a field recording along with the sparse double bass of Swede, Lars Danielsson.

The Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan contacted Bang to record on his solo album and, in return, Hamasyan was invited back by Bang to contribute on 'Singers Childhood', a traditional Estonian song. This led to an ongoing relationship with musicians in Tallinn, including guitarist and member of Weekend Guitar Trio, Robert Jurjendal who also introduced Bang to the traditional singer and kannel player, Tuule Kann. Both are present, on 'Singers Childhood', which was recorded in both Tallinn and Paris, with editing and final mixing performed at Ban's Punkt studio in Kristiansand.

Jan Bang, Akai sampler (1-13), programming (1-7, 9-13), synthesizer (3, 5), mpc (7), dictaphone (7), kaoss pad (10)
Nils Chr. Moe Repstad, voice
Eivind Aarset, sampled guitar (2), guitars (3, 5, 7), bass (7)
Sidsel Endresen, vocal (3, 9)
Lars Danielsson, double bass (3)
Undark, organ (3)
Erik Honoré, field crickets (3), synthesizer (7)
Arve Henriksen, sampled trumpet (4), trumpet (6, 8, 11)
Tuule Kann, vocal (6), kannel (6)
Tigran Hamasyan, piano (6)
Robert Jürjendal, guitars (6)
Stian Westerhus, sampled guitar (6), guitar (8)
Nils Petter Molvæe, trumpet (7)
Dai Fujikara, piano (9), electronics (9), cello samples (12)
David Soler, sampled guitar (11)

Jan Bang
The musical spheres Jan Bang works in revolve around such luminaries as Jon Hassell, David Sylvian, Brian Eno, Sidsel Endresen, Nils Petter Molvaer and Arve Henriksen. From his work as successful pop producer in the 1990s his creative thrust and pioneering work in developing the concept of live remix- improvising with electronics alongside more conventional instruments and performers - has led today to him being constantly in-demand as producer and performer. In 2005 he launched, together with Erik Honoré the internationally renowned Punkt Festival where Bang’s live sampling, his own musical instrument, works within the framework of overlapping concerts one being the original, the other the remix. The Punkt brand has already travelled abroad to the UK, Germany and has plans to visit the United States. Bang’s recent recorded work includes the acclaimed CDs Cartography by Arve Henriksen and Jon Hassell’s Last Night the Moon Came, both on ECM. Recent live performances and tours have included with Jon Hassell to Sidney Opera House as part of Eno´s own festival and last year playing Carnegie Hall in NYC and Royce Hall, LA. In November -08, as curator of "Scene Norway during the opening of King´s Place in london - BBC´s Fiona Talkington invited Punkt for a three day festival as part of the London Jazz Festival.

In the '70s, two American musicians were able to revolutionize the use and language of their instrument as well as its orchestral context. Two trumpeters: one, Miles Davis, the other, Jon Hassell, who made his first appearance five years after Miles' brilliant "On the Corner" with his "Vernal Equinox" (1977). And at that point, the electro-acoustic revolution became concretized: sound effects galore, vocalization of the sound of the trumpet, sound loops and, especially, development of a new temporality. Jon Hassell continues to expand and challenge this definition - most recently with his 2009 album on ECM, Last Night the Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes in the Street, featuring the "live sampling" virtuosity of the Norwegian musician, Jan Bang. "Live sampling" refers to a process that can be considered a completely new instrument with no "native" sound of its own. The virtuoso player is able to capture the actual sound of any instrument in the middle of a performance via instantaneous sampling and then manipulating that musical "cell" in a nearly limitless spectrum of digital transformation.For instance, a sustained keyboard chord, seamlessly blended into it's digital mirror image, can suddenly "take flight," up and away from the limitations of the physical instrument.

This album contains no booklet.