Bella Wakame [LP]

Bella Wakame - Bella Wakame [LP]

Andi Haberl and Florian Zimmer aka Bella Wakame have successfully channeled the magic of a 2024 live recording (captured at Berlin's Donau115 & Silent Green) into their first proper studio offering. You can hear inspirations ranging from Bitchin Bajas, Jeremiah Chiu, to Groupshow (Jelinek, Leichtmann, Pekler), the hypnotic, intricate battle between form and freedom (the fun of momentary formlessness) continuing to unfold over the course of ten new tracks, featuring album guest Indra Dunis (Peaking Lights). Constantly challenging each other, they're tapping a whole new energy. Tons of different energies. Based on the impulsive, propulsive interplay between drums/sensory percussion (Andi Haberl) and modular synthesizer (Florian Zimmer), the frenzied, free-form results take listeners into completely new dimensions -- sonic worlds that don't really sound anything like their other musical outlets (The Notwist, SUN, Saroos, Driftmachine etc.). Whereas most bands tend to notoriously overthink names/monikers, these guys obviously only care about the ecstatic push-and-pull that occurs once their instruments meet and overlap: it's wildly explosive textures with a booming heart. Moving restlessly between motorik club, electro-acoustic jazz experiments, ambient excursions, and fast-paced instrumental anthems that seem to explode at the seams, one can immediately tell how much they enjoy the newfound freedom, the turbulent encounters born on the spur of the moment. It's all about a quick-paced exchange of friendly blows, a chasing of tails into ever-new musical terrains. Relying on just enough form for that wildness to blossom within, their just-in-time dashes continually unfold, refold, return, grow bigger -- and leave you startled. 
01. Fresh Despair (4:07)
02. Shades of Nambei (4:06)
03. To Win Love (5:15)
04. Sundrops (3:18)
05. Toutpartout Pt. 2 (4:45)
06. Breakdowns, Full On (2:58)
07. The Island of Unknowns (4:01)
08. Grand Tour (1:01)
09. Manga Bois (4:11)
10. Spirit-Shelf (4:56)