RLW – Herzblutanteil (I.K.K. IV)

Tracks 2 and 3 have been switched in the track listing.

Once upon a time, in far 1794 year, Christoph Schmid wrote the lyrics for Ihr Kinderlein Kommet, which was performed soon after in Thanhausen an der Mindel. He united it then with the melody, composed by contemporary composer Johann Abraham Peter Schulz. In the end of 2001, a few weeks before Christmas, I recorded my daughter Sonja (aged 5 then) singing some of her favourite xmas tunes, including I.K.K. When Jos Moers (owner of Meeuw Muzak label) was asking me to contribute to a series of xmas 7"s he is doing once every year, I used 2 of those recordings for 2003's yearly event: merry merry (Merry Merry - I.K.K. release #1 in retrospect). Side one has Sonja's singing (Stille Nacht = silent night) unedited "live". Side 2 has a funny piece composed from a transformed Ihr Kinderlein Kommet. When the 7" was done i had the impression that the transformed sounds had a quality of their own, so i used them for further transformations and to compose a new piece of about 15 mins length: I.K.K. - Purpur - Scharlachrot. Following my course of collaborative works I invited some friends to take part in this adventure. The result, I.K.K. - Purpur (CD, I.K.K. - Purpur), was released in 2006, including contributions from Dan Warburton, Andrew Deutsch, Chris Halliwell, then Strotter Inst., Stephen Vitiello, also Johannes Frisch and Bhob Rainey (I.K.K. #2). Two lengthy pieces by Domenico Sciajno and myself followed later that same year as Gelbe Tupfen CD, Gelbe Tupfen (I.K.K. release #3); not to mention a version by Reto Mader on his CD Fireproof In 8 Parts + Part 9, (Hinterzimmer 2007). But other projects needed their time, so it took until 2008 before I came back to the KInderlein. The distance made it easier to go back to the sources: an extract from the original recording and the meeuw version are presented here superimposed for your pleasure in the end of this release. And so, the starting point is set by C. Renou (Brume), who uses extracts from almost all the following pieces for a glorious introduction: Merry merry! Don't wish me a merry Christmas, I won't have one.

Track 1 deconstructed & reconstructed from RLW basics + additional effects, mix & master at Brume, 2008.
Track 2 recorded 10.2004 as part of an hour-long I.K.K. performance.
Track 3 recorded in Amsterdam, 2005; edited December 2008.
Track 4 - "In 02.2003 we did a recording with Bruce playing guitar along a tape of my electronics from I.K.K. — Purpur. The same procedure was undertaken with Johannes, playing double-bass. I mixed down a virtual trio, and did the final version in 2008."
Track 5 recorded & mixed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sept. 2006.
Track 6 recorded 03.2004 in Retonfey.
Track 7 recorded, mixed and mastered 07.2005.
Track 8 recorded 02.2005, Cambridge.
Track 9 - an extract from original performance, 2001. This realization: 2008.

Packaged in card sleeve with die-cutting and 11 small inserts.
Limited edition of 432 hand-numbered copies.