Strotter Inst. - Minenhund CD / Digital Download

"Minenhund" (which loosely translates as "Miner Dogs" is the latest work from Strotter Inst. (aka Switzerland’s Christoph Hess.) Hess creates music through the use of old, modified, Lenco turntables. Rubber bands are stretched and plucked by the stylus, dubplates have tape affixed in patterns to create textural rhythms, electrical current is sent via live wires to the needle to create pulsing feedback. These sounds are then manipulated by Hess through effects pedals to create dense sound structures, looping rhythms and multilayered broken beats. For "Minenhund," Hess also introduced and manipulated sounds from other records, primarily spoken-word records purchased cheaply from second-hand stores.

The packaging for this release features black and white ink on recycled chipbard (printed by Portland's Stumptown Printers.) The two inner pockets contain the disc on one side and a foldout poster on the opposite side. Minenhund is co-released with the Swiss label, Hinterzimmer.

"A dark audible mind trip lies ahead for those who do not fear taking a leap into a sonic universe made out of molested vinyl and rebuilt turntables." -The Silent Ballet

"In a way the music seems like a recording of a mood, rather than music in the more traditional sense. What's interesting though is that the music never falls into the 'dark trap'. The atmosphere is never brooding or evil, it's just simply cavernous. The timing is unflawed, and the textures perfect. I simply cannot recommend this album enough."-Heathen Harvest

"8/10... The tracks on Minenhund have a certain minimalism in rhythmic approach and owe a lot to his background in industrial music, but are warm and dense in sound. The bass sound for one, is so spacious that it’ll blow out your mind. I enjoyed this album a lot, from beginning to end."-Earlabs

"Packed with obsessional, looping noises that emanate so much sheer grunge as to make your eyes water... like witnessing the slow death of an ancient, impossible machine whose gears are made of stale, hardened dough. Hess suggests he doesn't have much in common with the school of avant-garde turntabling (Jeck, Marclay) and is more about the transformation of the actual devices (the old decks are modified with rubber bands, sellotape and conflicting electrical currents) to generate his very-Industrial influenced textures. Fine disc!"-The Sound Projector

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Strotter Inst. is Christoph Hess

Release date: February 24, 2009

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