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1.
No Drone Rising 07:33
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2.
Cappa 02:43
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3.
Quiet Neighbours Moaning 06:43
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4.
Six Cobbings 06:59
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5.
Haiku Sonic 08:55
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6.
Ten Tones High 04:53
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7.
Four Way Four 03:08
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8.
Nosing_A Round 04:13
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9.
Tough and Rumble 07:47
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10.
Five Men Singing 07:03
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about

"You may call them sound poets, vocalists, or even singers, but when you gather all five of them on-stage they become pure entertainers. Five Men Singing is the genuine avant-garde voice summit. Recorded live at the 2003 Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, this performance is a delightful demonstration of what the human voice is capable of, what level of excitement group improvisation can provide, and what creative singing is all about. The performance is spontaneous, mischievous, occasionally deviant, often humorous (Koichi Makigami is the spiritual heir of Looney Tunes' voicemeister Mel Blanc), and extremely physical. Between the opening group dirge, the various subgroupings, and the cacophonous, intentionally messy passages, the listener is taken on a vocal roller coaster where the most powerful male voices in new music drone, groan, growl, buzz, weep, and shout in every possible way. Tracks are credited to single composers and, indeed, the group appeared on-stage holding sheets of paper. Some passages are clearly scored, like the "Five Men Singing" finale and the Bob Cobbing medley "Six Cobbings," while other pieces are very spontaneous, as the madness of "Four Way Four" (where Koichi Makigami yelps in the most disturbing way, answered by shrieks from David Moss) can testify. All five singers enjoy high-profile careers on the international avant-garde circuit and rich discographies, but this album stands as a highlight for every one of them. It can become difficult to keep track of who does what, especially if you are not familiar with each artist's favorite extended techniques, but it matters little since they achieve a compelling, fascinating group sound. Most of all, it's a lot of fun and a liberating listening experience. Highly recommended." -François Couture

"The singers shape their song into a repeated chant that loops in on itself in darkened circles. Then, within a single drawn breath, ahhhhhhh, the picture changes, or maybe it simply changes into a picture with everyone in their cherished role. Then, the song of the singers on that mound is pulsed through the crowd on everyone's voice and tongue, and it becomes the one song of that moment no longer owned or even made by those 5 men singing in the center, not followed or learned by the townspeople. Suddenly, on that single in-drawn AHHHHHHH, comes the pleasure and fullness of a task needing to be done and a song waiting to be sung. This is how singing really works: you find yourself humming the song of a stranger who passes you in the warm evening air and you take the melody in your arms and run away!" -David Moss.
—

credits

released July 25, 2021

Recorded live at Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, Canada, May 16, 2003
credits
released June 23, 2004

Recording: Guy Charbonneau and Norman Dionne
Editing and mastering: Denis Frenette and Mario Gauthier
Graphic design: François Bienvenue
Cover photos:
Jaap Blonk by Arthur Nieuwenhuijs
Paul Dutton by Steve Payne
Koichi Makigami by Ayako Makigami
Phil Minton and David Moss by Martin Morissette
Produced by Joanne Vézina and Michel Levasseur

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Jaap Blonk / Kontrans Records image

Jaap Blonk / Kontrans Records Arnhem, Netherlands

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