Following and promoting their debut album ‘FACE VALUE’, this brand new trio TRANSITION UNIT featuring the magnificent Portuguese musicians RODRIGO PINHEIRO on piano, JOSÉ LENCASTRE on sax and Belgian guitarist DIRK SERRIES, is playing an one-off concert at jazzclub PlusEtage in Baarle-Nassau (Netherlands) Saturday December 14th, 2024. All info and ticketing, visit the PlusEtage website here.
“…..And I must say it’s both a wonderful engaging album, which marvellously darts, twists, and broods… Let’s hope there is more to come from Transition Unit!.” Musique Machine – UK
DIRK SERRIES contributed a fine ambient piece (which incorporates the purr sounds of his house cat Kuro) to the beautiful compilation – all profits go to the aid of older shelter cats.
★ NAME-YOUR-PRICE DOWNLOAD ★ For Charity!
This collection stars our beloved cats whose purrs fill the heart of each track. Fourteen artists in the electronic, ambient, space music, and drone genres weave their kitty’s purrs into the mix highlighting the warmth and unique presence our feline companions add to our lives. Though some of these magnificent beings have passed on, their essence runs throughout. With all royalties and profits going to an elder-cat charity, PURR24 is nearly 100 minutes following sonic tangents and red dots of light created with our furbabies in our thoughts.
Projekt-founder Sam Rosenthal’s 18-year-old collaborator Nova Cat passed away in April. “When Nova died,” he reflects, “I lifted my spirits thinking of the five years she spent with me, enjoying our friendship in her final forever home. I emailed Michael Stearns as we previously chatted about a kitten he found in Los Angeles in the 80s who lived to 23 (108 in human years!) I knew he could empathize with my attachment to older cats who need more care yet offer a wealth of wisdom and love. With ideas of a benefit album and royalties donated to an elder-cat charity, I asked Michael if he’d create a song incorporating his kitty’s purrs. I’d already released two collaborative albums with my Nova (as ‘Nova Cat Purring Sounds’). I was interested in what other artists would create within the purr + music concept.”
Rosenthal continues, “Collectively, we’ve been in the music business for more than 400 years; over those centuries many felines have shared our lives. They hang out in the studio, run around like madmen in the other room while we’re trying to create, and sometimes lie at the feet of our cellists curled up and purring to the deep tones. There’s a lot of ASMR of cat purrs available, but not much where the purrs are incorporated into music. The results here are loving, lovely and warm. My new kitties like listening to everyone’s purrs.”
In 1999, Rosenthal compiled (and released on Projekt) the darkwave collection A CAT-SHAPED HOLE IN MY HEART, raising over $10,000 for charity. With some help from feline-loving fans on social media and today’s streaming economy, there’s no telling what this album might raise! All artists royalties and profits are contributed to charity, starting with Senior Cat Action Network seniorcatnetwork.org/donate (and changing over time).
Out for a little bit over a week is this digital-only solo album of DIRK SERRIES. Following his recent albums AT FUTURE DAWN (Cloudchamber Recordings) and DEFIANCE OF SELF(Silentes) the composer continues to explore different sonic terrain. Still on the electric guitar with a motherboard of analog pedal, the 4 tracks on ZONAL DISTURBANCES start to give signs of a new signature style of ambience Dirk is constructing. Organic, brooding and eerie. You can purchase the album here :
AMBIENT LANDSCAPE REVIEW: “This is an amazing, semi-ambient excursion from Mr. Serries. At once caustic & experimental, Dirk deviates into a sonic world of sublimely drone-scaped melancholy contained within an ambient substructure that resonates not so subtle undertones of deliberate aural chaos. The sounds that Serries pries from his guitar are astounding; if you dig your #ambient with an edge, you owe it to yourself to give Zonal Disturbances an intentional listen!”
MOORS MAGAZINE REVIEW: “Dirk Serries is een buitengewoon veelzijdige Belgische gitarist die meestal op een archtop gitaar met anderen geïmproviseerde jazz maakt, maar hij heeft ook een zwak voor ambient, en dan haalt hij zijn elektrische gitaar tevoorschijn, en zijn effectenpedalen, en dan gaat hij los op een onnavolgbare manier. Denk dan niet aan kalme drones en rustgevende ambient, want wat je hier te horen krijgt is ambient met een ruw randje, regelmatig aanschurend tegen wat wij hier wel genietend “heerlijke pokkeherrie” noemen. Zonal Disturbances heeft Serries in één keer in zijn eigen homestudio opgenomen in oktober 2024, gemixed en gemastered en meteen uitgebracht. Bij een eerste beluistering mag het wellicht wat weerbarstige muziek lijken, maar als je vaker luistert (de drie fragmenten die ik je hier laat horen zou ik zeker drie keer beluisteren) hoor je de details en de kleine finesses die er in verstopt zitten, en kom je er achter hoe spannend en tegelijk melancholiek deze muziek is. Het is overigens bijna ongelofelijk dat Serries alles wat we hier horen aan zijn gitaar weet te ontlokken. Verbazingwekkend.”
Last Friday we organised a concert of a fine new quartet bringing together COLIN WEBSTER (on baritone saxophone), DIRK SERRIES (on archtop guitar), PHILIPP ERNSTING (on drums) and GONÇALO ALMEIDA (on double bass) at the beautiful chapel in Brecht. This quartet is a keeper. Here are some lovely photos from the show, courtesy of Jan Kees Helms and Jef Vandebroek.
UK’s MUSIQUE MACHINE just reviewed two of our 4 new albums. TONUS’ Analog Deviation proves to be a difficult album, although one of our faves over here at the office, but luckily compensated with the 4 out of 5 stars rated review of TRANSITION UNIT’s debut album ‘Face Value’. Both albums are available here.
“4 out of 5 stars rating! Face Value is an improv album that rewardingly shifts between darting angularity, glum moodiness, and pulse-pumping manic-ness. Transition Unit is a three-piece project- bringing together two Portuguese musicians saxophonist José Lencastre and pianist Rodrigo Pinheiro, with Belgian guitarist Dirk Serries. The CD release appears on New Wave Of Jazz- a label focusing on the more difficult/ noisy/ experimental side of the improv/ modern composition/ jazz genres. The CD comes presented in a four-panel mini monochrome gatefold- on its front cover, we have a photo of a twisted & turned mosque with a dense shadow beneath, and on the back cover minimal text. This release is Ltd to 200 physical copies and can be purchased directly from here. The album takes in six tracks in all- which have runtimes between four and ten minutes. We open with “Idea Assumption” which brings together long grating bows & jarring neck picks, tip-taping to cascading keywork, and piping-at-points- almost sassily harmonic horn work. The tracks start things off in a rewardingly off-centre tone. As we move through the record we have the tinkling key darts, manic horn honks, and jagged strum ‘n’ bay of “A Western Decorative Pattern”- a great breathtaking, and heart-pounding track- which is akin to a massive caffeine, while trying to tap-dance. There’s the title track- which is a mix of creaking & atmospheric pick/ twang, moodily baying horn tones, and taunt/ fraught key cascading. With the album playing out with the nearing eleven minutes of “The Utopian Dadaist”. It opens with a tautly woven sound mat of rapidly darting keys, busy neck picks, and this sort of semi-galloping horn piping. As the track progresses the whole thing takes off in a wonderful manic/ speeding manner, before shifting through slowing deconstruction, and moody pipes, flirts, and bounds. As far as I can gather Face Value is the first release from Transition Unit – though of course all of the members have been active within the European improv/avant-jazz movement. And I must say it’s both a wonderful engaging album, which marvellously darts, twists, and broods… Let’s hope there is more to come from Transition Unit!.” Musique Machine – UK
“Analog Deviation takes in two twenty-five-to-thirty-minute examples of wandering, sparse, at times abstract or noisy improv. Tonus is a three-piece collective bringing together Dirk Serries- Archtop guitar, Benedict Taylor- Viola, and Martina Verhoeven- grand piano. On the front cover of this CD album, we find a monochrome picture of what looks like the stone archway/ crude flint celling of a crypt, and there most certainly is a feeling of grim tone/ mood here, though equally, we get a feeling of discord/ lo-fi noise sourness too. The two tracks featured are simply titled “Inbound” and “Outbound”. The first tack slips into awkward audio existence with a pared-back/ lose mix of angular sting fork, guitar neck grate, and inside piano pick ‘n’ knock. By the eight-half-minute mark, we’ve certainly moved into gloomier realms- as we find bleak key hits, eerie creaks, brooding twangs, and sinister plucks. Before later on shifting into starker/pared-back mixes of grates, sears, knocks and sudden baying fumbles/bounds/ discordant scrabs. The second track is the longest of the two at nearly half an hour mark. We open with a decidedly loose/spaced-out mix of key plucks, drags ‘n’ creaks, and brooding key strikes/slides. By the ten-and-a-half-minute mark, we find a sparse/stretched-out flow of string scrab/ bay, crude textual bang ‘n’ knock, and circling creak ‘n’ death bed twang. Before later shifting into crude key descend, neck scuttle, and dense fiddle ‘n’ grate. Analog Deviation very much sits at the more sparse, loose, and abstract side of the improv genre. I can certainly appreciate both the player’s talents, and what they are trying to do here- but more often than not it felt just a bit too pared-back/ awkward for my tastes.” Musique Machine – UK
VIDNA OBMANA – TWILIGHT OF PERCEPTION REDUX VOLUME ONE (1990-1998) (3CD, Zoharum)
After quite a numerous series of reissues of classic albums, it’s time for another real treat for fans of the VIDNA OBMANA. The compilation “Twilight Of Perception Redux Volume One 1990-1998” opens a collection of rare recordings, often unreleased before or scattered on various types of samplers, small formats, which are practically impossible to obtain today. Now these tracks have been collected in one place, rearranged, remastered and provided with a proper commentary by Dirk Serries. This collection, planned for at least four parts of three-disc compilations, is both a reliable compendium and a supplement to VIDNA OBMANA extensive discography. This edition released in an eight-panel digipack with graphics designed based on photos by Martina Verhoeven.
At an introductory price this first installment is now available with a 15% discount. Use the code : twilight2024 to order the digital album Use the code : twilight2024cd to order the 3xCD release. Valid till November 8th !
Following his recent albums AT FUTURE DAWN(Cloudchamber Recordings) and DEFIANCE OF SELF(Silentes) DIRK SERRIES continues to explore different sonic terrain. Still on the electric guitar with a motherboard of analog pedal, the 4 tracks on ZONAL DISTURBANCES start to give signs of a new signature style of ambience Dirk is constructing. Organic, brooding and eerie. You can purchase the album here : https://dirkserries.bandcamp.com/album/zonal-disturbances
Some label-related news : While José Lencastre and Dirk Serries are also member of the fine LEMADI TRIO (with Martina Verhoeven), they have been playing together in duo. For this limited 7 inch lathe cut release José and Dirk are in prime duo form. On alto sax and acoustic archtop guitar, and recorded at the Oude Klooster chapel in Brecht, Belgium, two beautiful examples of their interaction and ability to find an unified sound that is clearly their own, between the lyrical and warm tones of José on the alto sax and the spicky wilful style of Dirk on the guitar.
Information : This title will be available for purchase on lathe cut vinyl between 3 November and 10 November. Any orders placed during this period will be cut and fulfilled. Afterward, the title will be deleted on vinyl. While lathe cut vinyl is beautiful, it is also expensive, time-consuming, and labor-intensive to produce. Each lathe cut record is made in real time, making every piece a unique work of art. Please note that orders are limited to one copy per person or household. After these 7 days the order will be closed and the release goes into production so get your copy now here : https://championversion.bandcamp.com/album/arcas-callisto
MARTINA VERHOEVEN QUINTET is probably one of the most free jazz and exciting live bands on our label. Fully routed in tradition but executed by a quintet of 5 excellent free improvisers. Dutch magazine Moors Magazine shines their light on the album with a very sympathetic and positive review.
“Het Martina Verhoeven Quintet draait rond de verbazingwekkende pianovirtuositeit van de Belgische multi-instrumentaliste Martina Verhoeven. De musici die ze hier rond zich verzameld heeft zijn niet de minsten in de jazz/improvisatiewereld. Dirk Serries op akoestische gitaar, Onno Govaert op drums, Gonçalo Almeida op contrabas, en Colin Webster op saxofoon. Ik heb hier al eerder aandacht besteed aan een album van deze improv-superband – Driven – live at Roadburn, en nu is de opname uitgebracht die ze maakten in het Tilburgse Paradox op 12 februari 2023. Denk dan niet dat meer van hetzelfde krijgt, want dan onderschat je deze vijf topmusici schromelijk. Ik ga hier iets tamelijk ongewoons doen – ik knip maar liefst zes fragmenten van iets minder dan een minuut uit dat optreden dat drie kwartier duurde en nodig je hierbij uit tot een stukje close listening. Dat wil zeggen dat je elk fragment minstens twee of drie keer aandachtig beluistert. Dan weet je uiteraard nog niet hoe deze musici de overgangen van intieme, ingetogen stukken naar de wilde, uitbundige delen voor elkaar kregen, maar iki hoop dat ik je met deze fragmenten nieuwsgierig genoeg gemaakt heb om het optreden een keer in zijn overrompelende geheel te gaan beluisteren. Dat kan via bandcamp, waar je het album, dat in een zeer fraai hoesje is gestoken (met wonderbaarlijk mooie foto’s van Martina Verhoeven, die vele talenten blijkt te hebben, ook voor een zacht prijsje kunt aanschaffen.”
EYAL HAREUVENI has been reviewing our releases almost since day one, for which we are really grateful. We need these voices out there to share the word that this music is alive. For SALT PEANUTS he just wrote two short reviews on LEMADI TRIO’s Canonical Discourse and TRANSITION UNIT’s Face Value in a feature on José Lencastre’s recent albums, collaborations and works.
TRANSITION UNIT – FACE VALUE “Transition Unit is a newly-founded trio of Lencastre, Series and fellow Portuguese pianist Rodrigo Pinheiro (who plays in Lencastre’s Nau Quartet and of RED Trio), recorded at Estúdio Timbuktu in Lisbon in May 2023. Serries traveled to Portugal to play a few duo performances with Lencastre but then Pinheiro, who runs with Lencastre the Phonogram Unit label, surprised him and initiated a recording. Lencastre was a logical addition to this session, as he and Pinheiro are kindred souls and feel at home in such a free improvised format as on free jazz dynamics. The dynamics of this trio turned out to be mostly introspective and patient, almost chamber one, as Lencastre, Series and Pinheiro also correspond with the spacious Estúdio Timbuktu, but alternate with a few eruptions that experiment with thorny and tense frictions.”
LEMADI TRIO – CANONICAL DISCOURSE “Lemadi Trio features Lencastre with Belgian pianist Martina Verhoeven (a gifted photographer who took the cover photo) and guitarist Dirk Serries (he and Verhoeven are partners in life in music). Canonical Discourse is the trio’s sophomore album, following Tryptophan Suite (A New Wave of Jazz Axix, 2023), and was recorded at Serries and Verhoeven’s home studio in Brecht in March 2024. The atmosphere is different from the trio’s debut album where Verhoeven played the vintage electric Crumar piano and leaned toward a chamber one. The four extended, free-improvised pieces deepen the slow-cooking, often fragile and sparse, but attentive and tension-filled dynamics of the trio, attuned to each sound and the most abstract timbres of the alto sax, archtop guitar and grand piano, with all the extended, breathing, bowing and percussive techniques. Lencastre provides the melodic core of these improvisations, contrasting the spiky guitar lines of Serries and the inside-the-piano percussive-resonant sounds of Verhoeven. A challenge and a treat for the ears.”
dirkserries.com 