Rupp-Rößler-Hall is a purely acoustic project with musicians from the Berlin Echtzeitscene, consisting of a veteran of the free improvisation community, guitarist Olaf Rupp, Australian drummer and percussionist Samuel Hall and double bassist Isabel Rößler. The most important characteristic of the project’s music is not to differentiate between backing band (drums and bass) and solo instrument (in this case the guitar); the individual voices should be equal and on an equal footing. Rupp plays acoustic guitar here, but his technique is strongly based on his playing on electric guitar. This means that there are many of his typical harmonics, flamenco-like chords and Phrygian cadences, which he likes to merge into a seemingly atonal chaos. All three musicians tug at their strings, extended playing techniques are used and the instruments are plowed in all possible ways. The whole thing gurgles, grinds, echoes and threatens to fall apart again and again - but this never happens. In this way, sound textures and structures are created and fanned out, as the flow of the music is very purposefully controlled. Samuel Hall’s contribution is reminiscent of Tony Oxley’s playing and that of Paul Lovens on their recordings with Cecil Taylor. Ultra-fast and high-pitched, yet very precise. Isabel Rößler’s bass is very powerful and massive, she can be very loud and knows how to hold her own against her partners in crime. Joëlle Léandre and Barry Guy shine through here again and again in a very pleasant way.
Especially in the first piece, “Die schlichte Freuden der Armen”, it becomes clear how well coordinated the tonal surfaces are; the whole thing never becomes too pleasant, but is always roughened and bulky. Obviously the music also serves as a commentary on our difficult times, because the titles of the pieces (translated they mean “The simple joys of the poor“, “All the heavy sand here is language, deposited by wind and tide“ and “Darkness is in our souls, don't you think?“) point to a gloomy atmosphere.
All in all, a nice collection of three fragments, hopefully there will be more to hear from this trio soon.
Rupp-Rößler-Hallis available on vinyl (as a 7-inch) and as a download.
You can listen to the music and here:
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