|
 Tarwater
It's the sound, not the song. At
least at the beginning. Bernd Jestram and Ronald Lippok
sit in their recording studio located in the heart of
their city and turn the knobs, press the buttons, shift
the regulators. Until they find a sound, until a sound
finds its way to them. A rhythm, a melody, a noise.
"Then, we slowly write the song afterwards."
For "spider smile" Tarwater have found astonishing
decided pop songs - as indicated already by their debut
on morr music "the needle is travelling",
released in 2005. They, the electro duo, each of them
with his roots in East-Berlin's sub culture and avantgarde.
Their songs being full of allusions and references shall
encourage the listener to link his/her own stories with
the ones by Tarwater. For instance, the sun that rises
and sets again and again in "arkestra" shines
for everyone at another place. The song "arkestra",
by the way, originates from a joint bus trip with members
of "Sun Ra Arkestra" through the hilly landscape
of Scotland. Another one of these stories that one doesn't
have to know. But that still reveals much of the record
telling a lot of places and spaces. America - or rather
a lot of different ideas of what America is like - is
its essential motif. It is the song "shirley temple"
that marks the beginning, a clouded electro-overture.
The recording studio still is Bernd Jestram's and Ronald
Lippok's favourite instrument. Nonetheless, for "spider
smile" a number of analogue instruments landed
up in front of the microphones. A harmonica, for example.
And with it the blues. It changes in Tarwater's "witchpark"
into a dark dub-landscape. Marchy woods, alligators.
Guitars send several songs on their way - like the all
pushing "world of things to touch". Violines
are plucked distinctly in other songs and moods, an
oboe spreads melancholy patina ("roderick usher").
Later, there is the playing with repetition and modification,
song- and soundwriting from the spirit of modulation
- a central motif within the music of Tarwater ("when
love was the law in los angeles"). Or, the album's
only cover version: "sweethome under white clouds"
of Virgin Prunes" that took its way through an
echo-chamber. "Home is where the heart is",
a line like an incantation. At the same time this resume
sums up the entire album very well.
Links
www.morrmusic.com
www.tarwater.de
|
