The International Nothing is the clarinet duo project of Berlin-based clarinetists Kai Fagaschinski and Michael Thieke. Since their debut album, "Mainstream," came out on the Ftarri label in 2006, they've released an album on Ftarri every four years--"Less Action, Less Excitement, Less Everything" in 2010, "The Dark Side of Success" in 2014, and "In Doubt We Trust" in 2018--all of which have earned international acclaim. Once again, four years after their previous recording, the duo's highly anticipated fifth album, "Just None of Those Things," has been released in 2022.
Both Fagaschinski and Thieke are well known as improvisers, but in The International Nothing they perform composed pieces that they've crafted and refined together over a long period. This album's one (42-minute) track, "Just One of Those Things," was likewise created in a thoughtful and unhurried way between 2019 and 2021, and recorded in the period of June 21-25, 2021.
Since the release of their debut album, the duo's music has been praised for its tremendous subtlety and delicacy, reinforced by superior technique. Amazingly, this new album, with its superb musical structure and performance, has reached even greater heights. This will surely be regarded as The International Nothing's most masterful work to date. Since the duo's first release, all their album covers (which are made of extra-thick card stock) have featured the exquisite artwork of Japanese designer tanabemse, reproduced on washi-like paper. The cover of this album is, once again, breathtakingly beautiful.
インターナショナル・ナッシング (The International Nothing) は、ドイツ、ベルリン在住のふたりのクラリネット奏者、カイ・ファガシンスキー (Kai Fagaschinski) とミヒャエル・ティーケ (Michael Thieke) のクラリネット・デュオ・プロジェクト。2006年にデビュー・アルバム『Mainstream』を Ftarri レーベルよりリリースして以降、2010年に『Less Action, Less Excitement, Less Everything』、2014年に『The Dark Side of Success』、2018年に『In Doubt We Trust』と、４年ごとに Ftarri よりアルバムをリリースし、世界的に高い評価を得てきた。そして再び前作から４年後の2022年、５作目となる『Just None of Those Things』が満を持しての登場となった。
ファガシンスキーとティーケはどちらも即興演奏家として知られるが、インターナショナル・ナッシングでは、ふたりが長期にわたり共同で丹念に練り上げた作曲作品を演奏することになっている。本アルバムには、42分の『Just None of Those Things』１曲が収録されているが、この曲も2019年～2021年に両者がじっくりと時間をかけて作り上げ、最終的に2021年6月21日～25日にレコーディングをおこなった。
Collectively composed by Kai Fagaschinski and Michael Thieke, 2019-2021
The International Nothing
Kai Fagaschinski: clarinet (right)
Michael Thieke: clarinet (left)
Recorded by Michael Thieke in Kai Fagaschinski's living room in Berlin-Kreuzberg between June 21st and 25th, 2021
Mixed by Michael Thieke and Kai Fagaschinski
Mastered by Werner Dafeldecker
Cover designed by tanabemse
Brash experimental electronic compositions from this Tulsa-based musician heavy on serrated sheets of sound that hiss and scald. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 27, 2023
