The German instrumental duo SANKT OTTEN (Stephan Otten, Oliver Klemm), founded in 1999, has been releasing music on Denovali Records since 2009.
Their 10th full length album called MÄNNERFREUNDSCHAFTEN UND METAPHYSIK (eng: Male Friendships and Metaphysics) is once again a collaboration record – this time with fellow countryman and experimental guitarist N (Hellmut Neidhardt). The eight pieces on the album are based on freely improvised studio sessions and have all been recorded live, with a few overdubs added by SANKT OTTEN later.
SANKT OTTEN’s Denovali labelmate N – for whom this album is release nr. 47 – is well-known for Noise, Ambient and Drone sounds standing apart from classical song writing. The aim of this collaboration was to combine the perspectives of the genres of both partners, with N adding a grave and menacing mood to SANKT OTTEN’s Electronica and Kraut Rock and SANKT OTTEN providing the sound walls of N with an unusual dynamics.
In this collaboration the instrumental krautrockers SANKT OTTEN explore new directions like Drone and Noise, while experimental guitarist N connects to the driving rhythm of the duo. The result is suprising but feels (and sounds) just natural at the same time. Think of BRIAN ENO meeting SUNN O))) with both going out for a ride.
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