★Lao Ban
Foreign Policy
Foreign Policy is a 2019 release for Malaysian experimental label LaoBan Records featuring legendary Tokyo saxophonist Hirose Junji, no-input mixing board pioneer Toshimaru Nakamura and Australian master percussionist Darren Moore. The album was recorded live at Ftarri which is the undisputed centre for improvised music in Tokyo. Recorded over two live performances in 2017, the playing represents the trio's disdain for conforming; gliding seamlessly from minimalist Onkyo to maximalist free jazz …
cephas unisons
Ilia, Konstantin & Me is a new Norwegian-Russian (Ilia Belorukov — alto saxophone, Konstantin Samolovov — drums, objects, radio, voice recorder and Christian Meaas Svendsen — doublebass, voiceunion) which, in the borderlands of the known, seeks to find a common musical platform. The barriers are manifold: culture, references, language, upbringing, and education, along with voluntary and enforced indoctrination. Seemingly few things can unite the individuals and bring them into an elevated unity.…
The South of the East
The South of the East is the debut album from Tenggara Trio, comprising of improvisors from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. Like previous Lao Ban Records releases it has Yong Yandsen gargling, screeching, skronking and more on the tenor saxophone, but unlike previous releases, "The South of the East" is the most rocking (read: loud, aggressive, driving) release from Lao Ban Records hitherto. The other two members, Ikbal S. Lubys and Dharma both play electric guitar (with efx and objects), but…
Towers of Silence
“Towers of Silence”, released on Malaysian experimental music label LaoBan, features Malaysian saxophonist Yong Yandsen and Tokyo-based Australian drummer Darren Moore. Recorded at GOK Sound studio in October 2017, “Towers of Silence” points to a distillation of Yong and Moore's individual sounds, where ghost tones and sounds of unknown origins create rarefied space. “In the days of my youth, I often saw saxophonists as obstacles since I wanted hear more and more guitar playing. For the same rea…
Clinamina
His Hubris is saxophonist Yong Yandsen and Sudarshan Chandra Kumar on electronics. The duo is a result of their prior involvement in various other performative configurations and an effort to develop the techniques employed in their craft. Drawing from standard improv conventions, they utilize a synthesis of extended techniques and live audio signal processing to expand the nature of their practice.“Saxophonist Yong Yandsen and electronic musician Sudarshan Chandra Kumar represent the small circ…