俳句 by Ranter’s Groove

Ranter’s Groove |俳句
Kaczynski Editions (CD/DL)

“A low profile minimalism, adequate to express in full”

Haiku (俳句) is a very short form of Japanese poetry in three phrases, typically characterized by three qualities. The essence of haiku is cutting (kiru). This is often represented by the juxtaposition of two images or ideas and a kireji (cutting word) between them, a kind of verbal punctuation mark that signals the moment of separation and colors the manner in which the juxtaposed elements are related. Ranter’s Groove is Niet f-n and Giuseppe Fantini, hailing from Italy and this album is their homage to Masaoka Shiki, the man who coined haiku.

From the beginning to the end of 俳句 (haiku in English), I was sensually touched by a rainfall of short experimental sound bits, no more than 2’:25” each, in absolute relation with the haiku form and at the same time, strongly based on musique concrète with a contemporary experimental approach. Each piece is constructed based upon Masoka Shiki haiku poems, recited with a deformed (via effects) voice of Nina Minorikawa.

Accompanied by electronic chunks, loops, altered field recordings, static sounds, noises and electronic percussion, all masterfully put together. The delay effect dominates all and rightfully so. Add some ambient and IDM elements and you will have the whole picture of Ranter’s Groove – a peculiar world. A full world, compressed in small dimensions, maximal in content and absent of anything unnecessary.   

Evidently, every aspect of 俳句 is defined by a strong sense of minimalism. A low profile minimalism, adequate to express in full, the concept of the album. Seems like the Japanese tradition is flowing easily in these recordings, but without being just “exotic”. Effort and creativity are apparent qualities, in a one-of-a-kind materialization, having total devotion to what they wished to pay tribute. Sixteen sonic haiku pieces, clocking to thirty-three minutes.  A wonderful album, released in two CD editions, the limited one, 20 copies and the digipak one, 70 copies.