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Down There From Up Here

by Johann Kloos

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1.
Dawn 03:11
2.
Revolution Now (free) 03:31
3.
Robot Love 04:08
4.
Fingers 04:14
5.
Constabulary Ducks (free) 04:14
6.
7.
Ambassador 02:43
8.
Phones 02:28
9.
10.
Baby Crap 03:25
11.
12.
13.
French Loaf 02:45

about

First released in 2003.

Read a review reprinted from Zoopaloop, a French e-zine...

Johann Kloos "Down there from up here."
(self released)

If we look very closely at the musical background of Johann Kloos we notice that he joined forces with the collective of musicians led by Clive Richards ( founder of Fragment Records ) within the band Erick in the mid 80's and this for few years time to release three albums ( "?", "Fuzzyfelt" and "Estranged" ). And as if the links between them were not strong enough Johann invited some of his partners involved in Erick to play on his debut solo album titled "Magic from the attic" which was released in 1991 through Fragment Records which was still in its infancy. But since then Johann remained very discreet and the 12 years separating "Magic from the attic" and "Down there from up here" are like the wilderness years.
In the meantime Johann moved to Manchester's area all the same so parting from the hard core of the Fragment's collective what surely left a gaping void in his life. This brief reminder shows oh how these musicians were prompted by the same will to explore, to try out, to improvise, to create some totally new soundscapes. And nowadays Johann is still motivated by this will which is finally the groundwork on which his compositions are based. Each piece has its own atmosphere and characteristics apart from the opening and closing numbers "Dawn" and "French loaf", both of them dating from 1991, which stress in a soft way his musical abilities. The clarinet is spinning round and round, more mischievous than ever, through a folk inspired draft. A certain form of carefree attitude even gushing forth from these so sweet coils which are somewhat reminiscent of the St Germain des Prés' stain of mind ( St Germain des Prés is an area of Paris where all the musicians, writers, poets, artists met and discussed just after the second world war ).
This carefree attitude seems to affect few of the other tracks as the groovy warm ragga influenced "We watched a lot" or the ska/punk inspired "The brotherhood of machinery" although the lyrics of the latter sound very ironic and sarcastic at the same time. Whether it is organic or not Johann seems to give a great importance to the groove. I think that over the last 12 years Johann has surely listened to lots of electronica whose influence is undeniable on different tracks, becoming immersed in the Manchester electro scene. In this fusion of rhythms, breaks, twists and turns each composition works like a well-oiled machine and provide some lively and catchy sequences besides all the clubbers should appreciate what these moments are worth ( "Baby crap", "Like a cloud's shadow across a field", "Revolution now" ). As a sort of sound architect, Johann gives free rein to his imagination, developing either some frantic almost jungle themes ( "Revolution now" ) or some more mature combinations of intimate ambiences and colder beats ( "Robot love", "Five'o'clock shadows", "Ambassador" ) even going so far as to write a song worthy of French singer Serge Gainsbourg whom would have had a try at electro music when he was alive ( "Fingers" ). Beyond the recreational aspect of Johann's music, his compositions sometimes sound like a quite caustic critique of our relations with machines. In 12 years the musical world has hugely changed and Johann has observed all these changes, he has dissected all the malfunctions of our daily behaviour to retranscribe them in an almost derisive way within the founder currents of electronic music themselves. And it is not by chance that the happier and most peaceful numbers are used as bookends.If you are open-minded I encourage you to listen to this album I think you won't be disappointed but don't forget that each of our failings is clearly nabbed here including mine and surely yours.

Reviewed by Renaud Rigart

perso.wanadoo.fr/zoopaloop

credits

released January 17, 2014

All titles by Johann Kloos, except where noted. I use short self made samples/loops, some given away with Computer Music magazine, and more obviously of other artist's music and text as part of my compositions. They are used creatively and often a starting point for developing compositions. See individual tracks for credits.

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Johann Kloos UK

Johann Kloos has been making music for several years as a solo artist and in several bands in Herts/Essex: Bankers Son's Daughters, the Decibels, Some People Are Asleep, Ha Ha Said The Car The Willy Brandt Co-op and Erick. In Salford/Manchester: The Sandells, KP2, The Bus Pass and Weimar-UK Band,

He has contributed substantially to critically acclaimed releases by Erick, Sandells and Weimar.
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