Minimal music, maximal music, sound sculpture, field recording, chamber music, quiet beauty, harmony massif - they are all this and all this perfectly balanced. Furthermore, Kinn are renowned for their works in all of these areas. Labels such as Staubgold, Tomlab, Morrmusic, Beau Rivage, Autumn Records, Naiv Super and our own sinnbus have released their solo and collective works. Marcel Türkowsky plays the bass for the Au-revoir-rock-music-group Masonne and is a sound artist in his own right releasing on labels like Happy Zloty and Greg Davis´ Autumnrecords. The otherworldly precise multirhythms of Jan Thoben have their home with Gaston and Taunus. And then there is "Zweite Meer", radioplay artist, sound explorer and composer Frank Schültge Blumm's last album, which made Ralf Bei Der Kellen jubilate in German Spex magazine: "Let's hope Blumm never stops making music!"
Blumm does not stop making music. Everything's always just begun.
And so, after their self-titled debut (Tete-a-Tete, 2003), Kinn have reconstructed themselves. The new drums punch new dents into their sound, in which newly shredded words, sounds and chimes get caught gracefully. Many small parts, many loops and one-time notes merge into tracks and sketches, songs and miniatures. Executed matchlessly well, the melting of rhythm, harmonies, ambient noise and sound documents create a serene sensation, a spacious attraction. Released in the USA and Japan by Audio Dregs, it now enters other worlds via sinnbusrecords.
On "Karlshorst", Kinns collective biographies, their links to folk and minimal music, their slow motion yearnings, water measures and dynamic rapids exchange themes and sounds, interacting excellently. And all that pleasure in change, all that love for chance considered, Kinn's sophomore album is still always more than a study or a clever improv snapshot with minimalist flavour. "Karlshorst" is a record of stunning music, challenging your mind and making your heart spin. And - prefer what you will - vice versa. So look out and listen closely: Everything's always just begun.
KINN is a three piece band from Berlin: Guitar: Frank Schültge Blumm whose releases on labels like Staubgold, Tomlab and Audio Dregs go back to 1993, his latest album (Zweite Meer) came out on Morr Music in 2005. Bass: Marcel Türkowsky playing with Masonne whose solo-Performances as a tape-artist will soon find their way on a split LP with Zeitkratzer Reinhold Friedl on Bremens Happy Zloty label. Drums: Jan Thoben who released on Beau Rivage and plays in bands like Gaston and Taunus. KINN build up analogue loops and stumbling digital transformation with their instruments and electronic extensions. They create a unique musical suction; with which they achieve a wide range of dynamics and modes. Polyrhythmic structures and tonally diverse patterns flow in a sonic stream slowly morphing into rocky passages and leaving off for chamber-club-music. On Karlshorst KINN convincingly integrate field recordings into the rhythm and tonality of their instrumental playing. German guitarist Frank Schültge Blumm and bassist Marcel Türkowskys Kinn project follows the styles of such artists as John Fahey, Gastr Del Sol, Lennie Tristano and This Heat, with a hint of Steve Reich and Erik Saties looping minimalism thrown in for good measure. Kinn is a delight that recent converts of Steffen Basho-Junghans and the rest of the recent experimental guitar solo scene will find irresistible. Boosted by Türkowskys simple and expressive bass work, discreetly tempered with electronic effects, Blumms technique of allowing space to become an integral part of his playing style gives the music room to breathe and seep into the atmosphere. Rather than ending up as just another Ambient exercise, however, Kinns rich palette of different tones and worldly musical influences ensure listeners stay on their toes. Kinn - Kinn CD (Tete-a-Tete) Reviewed by Edwin Pouncey / Avant Rock / THE WIRE 232.
Kinn "Karlshorst" sec. edition CD Sinnbus 06/2006
Kinn "Karlshorst" CD Audio Dregs 04/2006
Kinn "Kinn" CD Tete A Tete 2003 sold out
V/A Autopilot Blackbox KINN - Leuchtende
CD Emphase Records 2005
V/A Wenn sonst nichts klappt: Wiederholung wiederholen
KINN - Ungezeichnetes // Book + CD materialverlag and b_books/polypen 2005
V/A a 1 - Instrument Compilation KINN - Dwa Newaljaschki
CD Emphase Records 2003
V/A foehn 06 KINN - Seetang CD foehnrecords 2003
