Originally posted on Fat Planet.
DOWNLOAD: BETELGEUSE error
one of the main routes for researching and sourcing music for fat planet is drawing on tracks found on regional label compilations. it’s by no means a bad thing, those compilations do a fantastic job of pulling together artists from specific geographic regions and distributing their music worldwide. however, at the retail end of the food chain, most retailers seem to naturally choose to stock compilations that have more sales potential – those that feature tracks or remixes from known artists, or feature a genre that typically defines that country or region. for example, most african compilations found in record stores will be either traditional indigenous music or western remixes of old-school afrobeat tracks. try to source contemporary african productions from the ‘world music’ section of your local store and you’re in trouble – even though there are apparently over 2,000 hip hop groups in senegal alone.
this rather long winded tract is designed to show that most contemporary spanish compilations found on australian shelves will be hawking modern derivations of tango, or 21st century flamenco. and whilst some of that deserves a thorough listen, it just further proves the point that it’s nigh on impossible to pick up any spanish alt.rock, electronica or hiphop outside of the region.
which brings us to david ortola and jose antonio serrano aka betelgeuse – delivering some long overdue spanish electronica to ‘fat planet’. ortola is known for his work as lontano, whilst serrano records solo material under the name of noisome; together with dj chelis, they’ve established the ‘kontakte’ label and the debut betelgeuse e.p. ‘kontakt’ is first out of the traps. the label aesthetic is described as “abstract electronic music to glitchcore through experimental pop, soundscape, classical music poetry, jazz and IDM” – an inspired menu.
for me, the recording signifies a rich step forward in the humanisation of experimental electronica. for too long the genre has driven us to cold abstract climes, and it’s taken the clumsily titled ‘folktronica’ to bring us back down to nature. betelgeuse opt for a different tactic, drawing instead on ortola’s classical background – marrying traditional acoustic, piano and string instrumentation with innovative electronic constructions, and the results are wonderfully unique. this is most evident on the oddly titled ‘r3lach3 du quarks’, full of soft micro-editing and warm glitches. on ‘error’, betelgeuse are in no mood to rush the job, instead developing a wide configuration of dark acoustic and electronic sounds, presenting new ideas almost as quickly as they are stolen away. and if that wasn’t enough to whet your appetite, dropping in for a visit on the flip side is spanish resident dj rupture, with his ‘rust belt blues remix’ of the lead track. ‘kontakt’ succeeds as a strong signal of both label and artist intent, and leaves us with high expectations for the next release from serrano’s noisome project – preview his work atmyspace.com/noiseom3.
kontakterecords.com
betelgeuse.kontakterecords.com