a r t i s t : Mapstation
t i t l e : The African Chamber
d a t e : 2009
l a b e l : Scape
g e n r e : Lo-Fi
r l s. d a t e : Feb/2010
t r a c k s : 13
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 46,1 MB
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After three years of production, we welcome the sound of "The
Africa Chamber", the third album by Mapstation. Since 2001,
Stefan Schneider has been working under this moniker.
Nevertheless, this new release marks a premiere for the
Dusseldorf-based artist: it is the first album produced by
Schneider himself. Delving deeper into the sounds and subjects
already explored on his previous outings ôMap Of Africaö
(2002) and ôLoin DÆAfriqueö (2006), this record expands on
MapstationÆs tentative love and study of the African
continent.
Like his earlier aural collages, äThe Africa Chamberô treats
this region not only as a geographic location, but more so as
a symbol of unknown terrain, of distant shores awaiting our
exploration. Indebted to myth rather than reality, this
destination becomes an envisioned and visionary realm û which
in turn triggers responses in our body. Here, we find
ourselves confronted by the unknown and unfamiliar, by things
that might take us to uncharted territories. To this end,
music serves as an enchanted means for getting seduced and
whisked away by the unknown.
Unfettered by the fetish of authenticity, but rather bolstered
by various encounters on neutral, diasporic grounds like
European Internet cafes (äUnitelô), African beauty parlours
(äThe Protectorô) or folkloristic kitsch figurines (ôReturn Of
The Hunterö), Schneider prefers an associative approach to
music that is firmly û and deliberately û rooted in
speculation. His ôAfrica Chamberö becomes a fanciful
wunderkammer of would-be African sounds. In this spirit, the
album retraces the subconscious cultural amalgamations that
shape our contemporary mainstream culture and reciprocal
influences, from the digital replication and recreation of
jungle ambience for the Antwerp Zoo (ôNocturamaö) to the
illustrated Swedish porcelain gracing MapstationÆs cover,
heavily influenced by African art.
In a fitting twist, SchneiderÆs inimitable Mapstation sound û
conjuring up broad and expansive soundscapes from a bare
minimum of synthesizer arpeggiators û has started to
incorporate more and more analogue percussion for a coarser,
less predictably textured sound.
Amplifiers are miked up. Distortion, overamplification and
feedback claim their rightful space. Meaning: sounds are
confronted, not neutralised. Besides a plethora of percussive
hollowware like vases or pitchers and prepared piano passages
û recorded in the studio of Dusseldorf-based pianist and
composer Volker Bertelmann aka Hauschka û the album relies
mainly on digital synths, reawakened and injected with new
warmth.
Continuing his tradition of collaboration, Schneider also
invited an eclectic range of master musicians to join him on
this sonic journey. Annie Whitehead, on-stage staple of a. o.
Robert Wyatt, Afrika Express/Damon Albarn or James Blood Ulmer
and a welcome addition to SchneiderÆs previous album ôDistance
Told Me Things To Be Saidö (scape 38), fleshed out two tracks
(ôEnsemble Of Fourö, ôCarmelö) with her spellbinding trombone.
Nicholas Addo-Nettey, a vital addition to the ôThe Africa
Chamberö since the early days (2006), also played percussion û
alongside Tony Allen û for the seminal Fela Kuti Band in the
1970s. He has been living in Berlin since 1979 where he also
music with his own band.
Drummer Thomas Klein completes MapstationÆs trio of
collaborators: When he does not provide driving rhythms to
SchneiderÆs quiet contemplation, he plays drums for Kreidler,
the Dusseldorf band that started Stefan SchneiderÆs own career
between 1994 and 1999. In electronic music, Klein has few
rivals when it comes to distinct and influential drumming.
Looking far and between, inspiration strikes in the most
unlikely places.
Once fascination extends its grip, you will encounter it
anywhere.
Stefan Schneider: percussion, piano, electronics
Nicholas Addo-Nettey: percussion
Annie Whitehead: trombone
Thomas Klein: drums
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01-Mchiki Cha [03:32]
02-Unitel [02:43]
03-Cobra [02:04]
04-Enseble Of Four [00:27]
05-Bells and Lions [03:41]
06-The Protector [06:34]
07-My Son The Dancer [01:48]
08-Darkheart [03:15]
09-Carmel [02:45]
10-Work Song [04:39]
11-Nocturama [00:34]
12-Return Of The Hunters [05:28]
13-After All This Freedom [03:45]
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41:15 min