Nörz produce teeny, precise gestures of indeterminate electroacoustic origin arranged into shifty, haphazard pieces with gradual, barely discernible development. Dynamics vary from dangerously high-pitched sine tones a la Sachiko M to dense low end potholes that would catch up the likes of Deathprod, but their improvisatory methods ensure a relatively steady hand is maintained, sparing us the kind of violent leaps in attack found in Mego productions. The duo of Andreas Trobollowitsch and Johannes Tröndle employ tape, guitars, melodica, cello, live electronics, radio and more in creating this melange, and while the cello and radio static dominate the mystery remains.
The eight tracks are joined at the seams, and vary from the low-grade hiss and spare guitar of opening ‘mo’ to the heavier menace of droning ‘su’. ‘So’ contrasts short bursts of white noise with dead koto-like plunks, ‘ra’ chatters away like an insect conversation, while the final ‘li’ foregrounds the melodica over confused rustled matter. Nörz work in an increasingly populated field, but they demonstrate enough control here to place them near the front of the pack.
Joshua Meggitt
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