melo X are four saxophones, voice, drums & electronics. Tranzglobal Music. World music. Jazz. Funk. Meditation. Groove.
do – experience do – area do – breathe
do – curiosity do – pulse do – sound
do – paraphernalia do – high spirits do – path
do – to do do – all the time do – offhand
do – space do – ad lib
„do“ is the Japanese term for a never-ending path. It is the path melo x are travelling along on their musical journey. In a single word: drum´n´sax.
about the tracks
Kompule
The Dark continent and outer space. Neil Armstrong’s voice and the Pygmies´ chants. The origin of our civilisation in contrast to the world of high tech. The quiet introduction and the melodic theme facing a Suaheli-Klingonic rap. Both worlds are finally bridged by Neil Armstrong’s „Everything is looking good“.
Eloor
takes you to the world of the Inuit, to a world of fishermen and hunters. An Inuit is telling a story. The monotone rhythm of the drums – the hunt for fish. The whales´ song – the Inuit peoples´ respect for life.
Tuva Rap
Sainkho Namtchylak offers us an insight into the fascinating world of shamanistic vocal technique. The sample, which Tuva Rap is based on, reflects the vocal acrobatics of the Tuvan people who are even known to hold competitions in „fast speaking“. The galloping rhythms and the melodies of the recitative are picked up and further developed by the horns´ riff. „Lower tone singing“, a special form of „throat singing“ is especially cultivated in Tuva.
Rölmo
A journey from Tibet to New York. Rölmo – Tibetan drums. Mantras – Chants from Tibetan monks. In the sample of this Mantra you will find the bass line which is picked up by the baritone saxophone as well as the melody of the Mantra played by alto and tenor saxes. The joyful life of the Tibetan people clashes with New York’s hectic atmosphere. Huge contrast – similar rhythm.
Laos
The riff of a Khen – a Central Asian bamboo mouth organ – transcribed as a neck breaking arrangement for saxophones. A journey through the jungle to a village festival. The joyous celebration, the solos played by Wolfgang Puschnig on the Hojak, Bansuri and alto saxophone, riding along on the groove of the Khen riff. The saxophones return – the visitors are leaving the celebration.
Gorgon
This miniature „radio play“ deals with one of the foremost future problems of mankind, the shortage of water. The desert could soon be everywhere. An acoustic hallucination.
Shakaio
A return to the world of the Inuit. Shakaio is the twilight world which you enter when you die. A review of life as death approaches. In dark, quiet colours of clarinettes, saxophones and a cello, an old Inuit is reflecting on her life. The melody conveys the story of her passage from youth to old age. At the end she turns to us and addresses us with her voice before she fades to Shakaio.
Gabis´ Gabon
From death to birth – from the Inuit to Africa. The song and clapping of women from the Central African Gabon tribe during a fertility ritual. Three themes are based on these motifs:
The initial motif of the horns, the bass groove lying beneath the voice sample, which invites us to this journey. Finally the grooving saxophone arrangement which, through its impact, could keep up with a fully blown Big Band. The baritone saxophone is followed by the women’s choir as the journey fades…
Anateknotol
Anatolia. Stormy weather. Despite the rain you can hear the hedgehogs. You leave your country and make your way to the western world of technology. Yet a quiet melody is floating above the techno groove of drums and baritone saxophone. The arrival in a new world. Hectic. Our traveller faces the conflict with the Unknown and is ruthlessly chased. A nervous saxophone blends into these sounds. In his attempt to escape he awakens to the beauty of his home.
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Line-Up
Arne Marsel – ss, midi
Nicole Marsel – as, afl
Gabriele Riegler – ts, bcl
Christian Eder – bs, as, cl
Mario Lackner – drums, voc
Guests
Sainkho Namtchylak – voc
Wolfgang Puschnig – as, bansuri, hojak
Agnes Heginger, Peter Jocham, Lisa Haag – voc
Wolfgang Schalk – git
Peter Herbert – kb
Melissa Coleman – vcl
Gant Kralicek – synth. ba
Adam Reid – speaker
