Yellow Swans with John Wiese
Portable Dunes CD Helicopter, H 56
DYS & JW's third release. Recorded together in Portland in the Branx basement a few days before Ju Suk/ Oblivia/ John Wiese recorded the "Inside And Out" 7". This recording sat in limbo for a while, but is now finally seeing the light of day! Lots of territory covered, from very loud to very light, with a lot of details in between. One of Yellow Swans final recordings to be released. Five tracks and a cover drawing from Liz Harris (Grouper).
John Wiese
Circle Snare CD No Fun Productions, NFP-49
Consider "Circle Snare" a hard-wrought souvenir. Composed and realized in the midst of a comprehensive Scandinavian/European tour in 2008, John Wiese found himself tangled deep in dialogue with his instruments and ideas. Wiese increasingly scrutinized his native tongue and vocabulary, seeking new forms of grammar and cadence, as only extensive dives in unfamiliar waters can inspire. His given electronic anatomy of drum machine, microphones, tapes, and MSP folded out of their hard accustomed formations, breaking out into a more cogent and vital arsenal. "Circle Snare" is the cumulative result — a finely detailed and dimensional evolution of an already unique voice. Those who have been stalking Wiese all along — through the landmark statement "Soft Punk," to the recent "Dramatic Accessories" LP — will find "Circle Snare" to be a revelatory work. As Wiese continues to travel and work relentlessly and restlessly, we have no choice but to keep up; the circle is a spiral from the side, and the greatest trap is standing still. — Label description
John Wiese
Circle Snare Book 150 pages, 6" x 9", b/w, perfect-bound, soft cover.
Coinciding with the CD release of Circle Snare, this book contains the complete set of drawings by John Wiese used on the album cover.
Evan Parker/John Wiese
C-Section CD Second Layer (UK), SLR-001
Real-time collaboration on the brand new Second Layer imprint. Deluxe 6-panel mini-LP style gatefold.
"Featuring Evan Parker on tenor & soprano saxes and John Wiese on electronics, tape and MSP. Although British saxist extraordinaire, Evan Parker, certainly needs no introduction, noise musician, John Wiese, also has an impressive resume with dozens of discs released under his own name, as well as collaborations with Merzbow, Sunn O))), KK Null, Lasse Marhaug, Pain Jerk & Wolf Eyes, a noisy bunch to say the least. Over the past few years, Evan Parker, has been working with more electronic musicians and assorted sound manipulators, so this collaboration should come as no surprise. What is surprising is how well it works to both of their advantages. It says on the CD to be played at maximum volume, so that is what I did at home. Starting with "The Jist", Evan's spiraling soprano is at the center of the storm with thick yet well-sculptured swirling layers of electronic/noise sounds. The electronic/noise sounds are rather industrial in their sonic textures, it often sounds as if the sounds are erupting with controlled violence. Another thing that this reminds me of is music concrete, popular in France in the fifties and sixties, when composers manipulated sounds by splicing tape. What I dig about this is the way Evan plays soprano, twisting and bending his notes, as well as repeating certain phrases, it works perfectly with John's equally twisted sonic landscape. "Little Black Book" is shorter and more restrained, yet just as effective with fractured sax and more spacious electronics in a rich yet subtle tapestry. On "No Shoes" it sounds like John is taking Evan's sax sounds and manipulating them further, looping certain lines in a more hypnotic way. The final piece, the oddly titled "Dog Cesarean" is the longest and most focused, evolving slowly through different sections. The music has a sort of calm center with kaleidoscopic noise swirling around the sax. Brilliant or too much, I guess that depends on your mood or stamina." — Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
KK Null/John Wiese
Mondo Paradoxa CD Aufabwegen (Germany), aatp26
"You know that life is on your side when you come into work and you're greeted by a KK Null/John Wiese CD. Both are frequent collaborators but as far as I am aware this is the first time they've done stuff together since a 7" in 2004. 'Mondo Paradoxa' is comprised of 10 untitled pieces & was created via mail over a two year period and it's a most pleasurable match made in (absolute) noise heaven. Both artists bring their styles into the mix. Null creates digital sculptures and futuristic oscillations whilst Wiese's sonic detritus and scummy audio junk adds a layer of dirt to Null's precise blips and tones. There are some gargantuan abrasive peaks of pure sound and screeing feedback as well as more subtle and deep layered pieces. Null's music always takes me somewhere else on this is no exception. I recommend listening before breakfast." —Norman Records Recommendation
