Makigami Koichi - Electric Eel (1998)

A truly fascinating, if bizarre project, Electric Eel is a composition which pairs Tuvan throat singing techniques (and other vocals) with duets on newly invented versions of the jaw harp. The Electric Trämpi is not played with the fingers; it is instead controlled by electronic impulses that are capable of producing continuous sounds. The left hand holds the instrument up to the mouth as usual, but the right hand is free to add additional resonators, like tubes or pots. The Hydro Trämpi, or water harp, is an Electro Trämpi which is clamped to a tube and placed into a larger tube which is filled with water, resulting in a completely unique sound; it can also reach much lower tones than would otherwise be possible. Indeed, it is the variety of sounds that Anton Brühin and Makigani Koichi are able to create that make this album most interesting. As a series of sound poems, these compositions are not particularly evocative, but they do combine a variety of rhythmic sounds in a way that is both playful and creative. © Stacia Proefrock