MICHEL BANABILA -
"The Latest Research From The Department
Of Electrical Engineering"

(published by Tapu Records
in collabs with AudioTong and Lumberton Trading Company, 2011)


We are happy to present here the newest work from Dutch composer Michel Banabila. This release has been published by Tapu Records in collaboration with us and fine Lumberton Trading Company.

Here's the publisher's information about the CD:

Hereby a new Banabila album,'The Latest Research From The Department Of Electrical Engineering'. Sources of inspiration include themes like electricity, the work of Nicolai Tesla, and the world of cybergames.

Some of the recordings arose from earlier mix-versions of these tracks, originally made for the dance performance ZOUT, by Conny Janssen Danst & Anne Soldaat.

This time unlike previous Banabila albums, there is very little of the so-called 'world music', voice samples or jazz influences, but instead a mainly electronic angle, with a special contribution on the long intro of track 6, 'More Signals From KrakRot', by sound-artist/performer Zenial (AudioTong, Vivo Records).

This CD comes in a limited edition of 300 copies, comprising 40 minutes over 8 tracks, and is also available worldwide in mp3 format via EDM on iTunes.





CD Contents:

1. Voltage Voltage
2. I Won't Play Your Game
3. Guerilla Tactics
4. A Cold Wind Over Europe
5. Machinery Aesthetics
6. More Signals From KrakRot
7. Monochrome Pictures
8. New Energy Forms


Michel Banabila: electronics on 1-8
Zenial (Lukasz Szalankiewicz): electronics on 6

Recorded, composed and produced by Michel Banabila

All Rights Reserved 2011 (C) Tapu Records TRB0P06


Visit also:
www.banabila.com
www.connyjanssendanst.nl
www.lumberton-trading.com

Banabila/Zenial - "Signals From KrakRot" free download album on AudioTong


Order CD:
6,50 EU (incl. shipping worldwide)

Buy from Serpent.pl:

REVIEWS:

For those familiar with the work of Michel Banabila, his new album "The Latest Research from the Department of Electrical Engineering" may come as a noisy surprise.

Created entirely from electrical sound sources that are fiercely mixed and meant to play LOUD, this has nothing much to do with his gentle 'world-ambient' output. In his catalogue it is loosely connected to the two "Spherics" released, that also contained strictly electronic music. But it's different in sound and in using thumping industrial beats.

Some of the basic tracks of "The Latest Research..." originated from preparations for the music for "Zout ", a choreography by Conny Janssen Danst featuring music by Michel Banabila and dutch guitarist Anne Soldaat.

But from there, the music found it's own way into this release, presenting Banabila's 'New Energy Forms' in eight tracks totalling 40 minutes. Most of the tracks span about 3-4 minutes, with the exception of "More Signals from KrakRot" (10:37, with additional electronics by Zenial), and the closing track "New Energy Forms" (6:42)

The album kicks in with a loud and noisy intro (of 'Voltage Voltage'), and keeps up the atmosphere for a few tracks, until suddenly "A Cold Wind over Europe" introduces a strange 'jazzy' arrangement (making it sound like a demented Weather Report cover). In the end the energetic atmosphere finally comes to rest in the two closing pieces ("Monochrome Pictures" and "New Energy Forms").

The music is created mainly from electrical sources, but the approach is not as clinical as, let's say, Raster Noton artists such as Alva Noto (and other) or Ryoiji Ikeda. The music is mechanic, loud, intrusive, but also a has a distinct human factor to it. It is clearly Banabila doing the engineering here, obviously enjoying his new 'mad scientist' incarnation.

Michel Banabila daringly cuts loose from all expectations based on his earlier work and clearly finds new inspiration in this new direction...now let's hope that his fans are brave enough to follow him there.

(Peter van Cooten, ambientblog.net)


The Polish Audio Tong label released the new cd by Michel Banabila in a limited edition of 300. Banabila is a Dutch artist who is already around for more then 25 years around I guess. His records and collaborations are numerous . Remember Chi and East Meets West, the triphop of Flying Dutchman, his collaborations with Bahia El Idrissi, Omar Ka and Yasar Saka. For his 'Voiz Noiz'-project he worked with jazz trumpetplayer Eric Vloeimans. Besides Banabila composed a lot for film, dance and theatre productions. Some of the music on this new release was originally made for the dance performance ZOUT, by Conny Janssen Danst & Anne Soldaat. After so many years his work is not that surprising anymore, but of a consistent high level. In contrast with many of his earlier work, influences of world music can hardly be detected here. This time Banabila choses for a pure electronic work, in line with his soloworks 'Spherics' and 'Spherics II', showing however a more noisy face like in the opening of 'Voltage Voltage' and 'A Cold Wind Over Europe'. 'Guerilla Tactics' is of a hypnotizing simplicity. The most lengthy piece 'More Signals from Krakrot' starts with dots of little and fine sounds plus treated voice. Gradually a beat sets in moving towards a finale. 'Monochrome Pictures' breaths a contemplative mood with choir-like sounds in the background. Also the closing 'New Energy Forms' continues a quiet meditative atmosphere.

(Dolf Mulder, Vital Weekly)