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ANTANAS JASENKA (b. 1965) is one of most interesting Lithuanian composers and electronic music/sound artist. In 2002 he was awarded by Lithuanian Composer's Union for the best electroacoustic music composition "Deusexmachine", released by Electroshock Records and broadcasted in the world radio stations. Next to his activity at the academic electroacoustic music field, Antanas Jasenka is a constant member of independent experimental electronic music scene. He creates and processes the sound material of new quality- electronic noise. Also he has composed music for animated cartoons, movies and theatre together with the following directros: Gytis Padegimas, Oskaras Korsunovas, Mantas Verbiejus and others. Since 2000 Antanas Jasenka is working in interdisciplinary field of contemporary media arts like: sonic art, visual art, sound and multimedia installations, interactive performances, live electronic and experimental music. The works of the artist are released not only in Lithuania, but also by European, Russian, USA and Canadian companies. The compositions of Jasenka are performed in many European countries as well as in USA, it is broadcasted all over the world (Europe, USA, Australia, New Zealand etc.). The composer has taken part abroad in various projects of multimedia together with well known artists: Ralf Wehowsky, Jim O. Rourke, Brume, Achim Wollscheid, Toshiya Tsunoda, John Duncan, Ryoji Ikeda, Merzbow, The Hafler Trio, Antanas Kucinskas, Atrac, Arturas Bumsteinas, Raimundas Eimontas, Darius Ciuta, Orlandas Narusis, Gintas K, Dziugas Katinas, Skardas and others.
Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre
Here in the West, the belief is still common that the music of Russia is lagging behind. Well perhaps this CD will cause a number of listeners to re-evaluate their thoughts.
The ambient begins on "Inflight" with high pitched interference albeit kept low in the mix providing a sort of beat for the textures and weird noises to slowly envelop the piece. Thankfully the composer and arranger realizes just when to prevent the track sliding out of control. At first I was not sure about it, but like all good compositions, it takes a little time to acclimatize and now after only the second listen I have been converted to liking this marvelous opener.
The second track "Ear-Mind Bodies" is very different and has passages of grandiose classical to assist the female spoken voice of Rita Marija Malikonyte delivering poetry.
Its not easy listening as the ambient gloves comes off on the quite abrasive "Transmitter".
It all finishes with a piano chord and then goes back to gentle ambiences on "Tonus".
The last part of the "Artac" suite is entitled "Skyjack Air" and consists of a modulated low note which gives the piece a slightly sinister feel onto which classical style notes are added. It is rather strange, especially when the whole timbre suddenly changes, but also very fascinating. I consider this to be a very mature composition and not what I expected.
The 20 min "Electronic Sutartines" is based upon the ancient Lithuanian art of polyphonic singing and the folk ensemble Trys Keturiose, have been sampled to provide a totally new sound. The singing is hardly recognizable, but it's still a very intriguing section of electronica.This is no easy musical outing as hinted by the label title and the difficult passages of what to some may seem like a cacophony of sound on the last track will do little to change their viewpoint. If you wish to be challenged, then Jasenka has shown the way.
2005. Brooky / Modern Dance
Aficionados of experimental music only need apply here. Jasenka takes the listener on an aural voyage of eerie electronically produced timbres and heavily processed found sounds that surround spoken lyrics in different languages.
The pace is slow and the trip often disturbed by unexpected sonics that jar the senses.
Five tracks feature the voice of Rita Marija Malikonyte's reading of her poem "Artac", which concerns the transmission of sound.
Track 6 is a 20 minute tribute to an ancient tradition of Lithuanian folk singing called "sutartines". The ensemble Trys Keturiose provided vocal samples, which Jasenka's has seriously processed and deeply encased in electroacoustic tones.
Multiple listenings may be required before Jasenka's music grows appealing.
2005. Mark Vail / Keyboard
Deusexmachina" - a denouement which occurs as a consequence of unexpected situation.
Sometimes in a scope of antique tragedy the denouement happens after interferation of a god, which appears on stage as mechanical figure (with help of machine)": this is the definition of the famous Latin words that Lithuanian Anatanas Jasenka provides on his first CD: 55 minutes that for some weird unexplainable reason are divided into 10 tracks on the cover but only into 3 tracks on the actual CD - 55 minutes of noise ranging from ambient noise to industrial noise.
As a matter of fact, if you think about what Electroshock roster of artist is like, it's not easy to file Jasenka in their catalogue.
A record like this would probably look better on the shelves of Ant Zen, Staalplaat, Multimood, Drone or other similar labels.
But regardless of that, if you are vaccinated for harsh noise but that's not all your are looking for, don't miss out, listen to this as you may find a number of new dimensions usually left unexplored by those who perform the most extreme arts of sound.
In fact, even though occasional bursts of violence are part of the wide range of moods to be found, this CD represents much more than just another Masonna album.
It's a complete composition of compositions, composed by blasting decomposed sounds and very quite composite noise. For example, beautiful ambience with manipulated and reversed vocals on soft ethereal string-like grounds are to be found at the other end of the spectrum as well.My only discontent is about the length of the tracks, even though the evolution takes place slowly, it is a little too slow at times, in my humble opinion. In other words, dynamism is key here, so be patient and let yourself in on some multifaceted noise art.
2003. Marc Urselli-Scharer / Chain D.L.K
Antanas Jasenka's recent CD "Deusexmachina" enjoys wide popularity among radio broadcasters in many countries. A title of the Antanas Jasenka's new CD "Deusexmachina", released this year by the Electroshock Records, permits a host of morphological improvisations rising from an old Latin expression 'Deus exmachina' (God from a machine).
Obviously, it is composer's long-term relationship with electroacoustic and noise music which has drawn most of attention from the record labels involved with experimental music. However this may have been, now it is provided with some solid evidence: the present "Deusexmachina" is a first-born portrait edition of Antanas Jasenka's electroacoustic music.To transform sounds coming from a multitude of natural and artificial sources, he applies the cut-off technique, which enables him to deconstruct whatever sound material he uses and to re-group it into a new constellation of sounds. Antanas Jasenka thus generates a wide spectrum of sound colours and moods ranging from strident industrial noise to the meditatively ambient soundscapes.
The recent release has already enjoyed a growing international success among deejays of experimental music programmes broadcasting either the entire contents of CD or certain tracks ("Silence" and "Across" being absolute hits among them).
"Deusexmachina" has been on the air of the Dutch, American, Croatian, Canadian, German, Australian radio broadcasters Rotterdam Cable Network, KCPR, KRCL, WWSP, WMUA,RSZ, RLF-Cadena Joven, CFLX, PBS, KKUP, Radio Marabu, and elsewhere.
2003. Linas Paulauskis / Vilnius
ANTANAS JASENKA AND HIS "DEUSEXMACHINA", A DISC OF FANTASTIC NOISE ART. THE ALBUM GOES FROM MOMENTS OF TENSED-UP SILENCES AND SLOW-BUILDING BACKGROUND NOISES A LA FRANCISCO LOPEZ TO OUTBURSTS OF FINELY CHISELLED HARSH NOISE THE LIKES OF MERZBOW OR SICKNESS. A LOT OF ACTION TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THESE TWO POLES, CINEMATIC SCENES THAT PAIR FOUND SOUNDS WITH DIGITAL TREATMENTS TO PRODUCE CAPTIVATING SONIC ENVIRONMENTS. IN "ACCSIDENT" (SIC) STRINGS, BRUSHES, AND A VOICE SAMPLE ARE ARRANGED INTO A POST-ROCK INTERLUDE THAT DEGENERATES IN SCREAMS, ELECTRIC GUITAR, AND ANOTHER BUILD-UP OF TENSION. JASENKA HAS THE ARTISTRY BUT MOST OF ALL THE FLAIR TO ORCHESTRATE AN ALBUM IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT ANTICIPATES THE LISTENER'S REACTIONS. HE IS CONSTANTLY TWO STEPS AHEAD OF YOU. THE MUSIC OF LABELMATES ARTEMIY ARTEMIEV, STANISLAV KREITCHI, OR ANATOLY PERESLEGIN SOUND HIGHLY DISTINCTIVE BECAUSE IT HAS DEVELOPED IN A CLOSED-UP UNIVERSE...
FRANCOIS COUTURE / ALL-MUSIC GUIDE
"An Artist and a Plane" Antans Jasenka's second release for "Electroshock Records" is divided up into two parts: "Artac" a 40 minutes long musical suite made of five tracks and "Electronic Sutartines" a 20 minutes piece. Ambient, minimalist, post industrial, atmospheric, these are the words which could help to define Jasenka's style. Also sometimes the kind of sounds he produces is close to sonic events created on stage by performance artists. He likes to take little mechanical noises and build cyclic patterns that, somehow, could be further developed into rhythms but never are; everything is done in a slightly restrained way. Cut up vocals, foghorns, sirens, drones, crackles, creaking sounds, steam hisses, whistling sounds are delicately woven together to create strangely evocative sonic landscapes with a touch of humor here and there. A piece like "Tonus" is very musical if not melodious. Musical expression remains minimal: for example Track 5 "Skyjack Air", is mainly based on a repeated A minor chord sample over a C drone. So when a whispering woman voice sample suddenly appears this event takes monumental proportions becoming the apex of the piece and then starts a new musical cycle which is in fact irregular repetitions of a weirdly elongated major cadence in E. For "Electronic Sutartines", the most ambitious and longest CD piece, Antanas Jasenka explained in the CD booklet how he tried to built a bridge between the past and the future using a traditional Lithuanian folk song mixed with electronics. In my opinion to be completely satisfying, this piece would benefit from a warmer sound: digital distortion is not pleasant to the ear. But with "An Artist and a Plane" Lithuanian composer has certainly produced a far more complex and enjoyable CD than his previous "Electroshock" release "Deusexmachina".
Daniel Biry ("London Cinematic Composers")
Antanas Jasenka now available at last.fm! click here...
http://www.last.fm/music/Antanas+Jasenka
