Alva Noto — Xerrox Vol. 5 [29 November 2024]

https://noton.info/product/n-062/

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NOTON is pleased to announce the release of Xerrox Vol. 5, the final installment of Alva Noto’s Xerrox series.

For anyone who has been following the series since its inception in 2007, the concept of Xerrox no longer requires introduction. Originally, it aimed to create copies of images—both visual and acoustic—that are more memorable than the originals. The exploration of the relationship between the original and the copy, along with the invention of the copier, not only inspired the series name but also informed its underlying concept. In 2024, this series comes to an end, marking the culmination of a journey that began with the first recording in 2005/2006. Over nearly two decades, the five albums in this series have accompanied the artist’s evolving perspective and conceptual approach.

Initially characterized by rawness and a conceptual focus on seeking resolution in white noise, the later works engage with themes of dissolution while shifting their emphasis toward acoustic particles. The copying process is now less visible through software manipulation; rather, it unfolds as the artist describes melodic and acoustic images that are then manipulated, copied, and transformed into new patterns during composition.

Nicolai describes this evolution as a journey encompassing buildup, exploration, and resolution, drawing parallels to the Odyssey and the stories of Jules Verne, particularly those featuring Captain Nemo.

The conclusion of this album holds a sense of finality for the artist. “I aimed to create a whole cycle of tracks that frame both the beginning and the end,” Nicolai explains. “The motif of the journey continues, but this time, the story reaches a dissolution through a conceptual object that embarks on its own journey into infinity. The word “dissolution” (“Auflösung” in German) is a wonderful concept. On one hand, you can solve a riddle, on the other hand, a pill can completely dissolve in water. Here, I am deliberately describing the process of dissolution.”

In crafting Volume 5, Nicolai has evolved his compositional process, eschewing samples in favor of original melodies. “This album probably took the longest to complete,” he reveals. “I first created melodic sketches, which became the foundation for the pieces. These recordings are created entirely from scratch. Based on these sketches, I constructed the process of copying, manipulating, and reshaping.”

Drawing from his recent experiences working with film and larger ensembles, Nicolai’s approach to composition reflects a growing influence of classical instrumentation. “This experience of working with acoustic classical instruments has flowed into the compositional process for Xerrox Vol. 5. Certain instruments are designed with potential orchestral translation in mind.”

The sonic atmosphere of Xerrox Vol. 5 is one of profound dissolution. “I wasn’t initially interested in strong, emotional melodic aspects,” Nicolai shares, “but I realized that the fragment plays a central role.” This shift leads to an emotionally charged experience, imbued with melancholy and the bittersweet essence of farewell. The passing of Ryuichi Sakamoto, an admirer of the series, has further deepened the album’s emotional resonance.

“Xerrox Vol. 5 has a lot to do with farewell,” the artist explains. “Not only the farewell to the series itself, which I’ve nurtured for almost two decades, but also there have been many farewells to people who were close to me. I believe these people are recognizable in the music. It’s a very emotional, personal album.”

Listeners can expect a visual dimension to the music, though Nicolai intentionally leaves this open to interpretation. “I prefer to allow the music to evoke personal experiences and images rather than dictate a specific narrative,” he states. The result is a layered listening experience that invites tenderness and introspection.

Xerrox Vol. 5 will be released as a limited edition vinyl, digitally, and on CD by NOTON on November 29, 2024.

Album art designed by Carsten Nicolai & Nibo.
Mastering by Bo at Calyx.

Tracklist:

• 01. Xerrox Topia
• 02. Xerrox Sans Nom I
• 03. Xerrox Sans Nom II
• 04. Xerrox Ascent I
• 05. Xerrox Ascent II
• 06. Xerrox Sans Repit
• 07. Xerrox Nausicaa
• 08. Xerrox Xenonym
• 09. Xerrox Ada
• 10. Xerrox Arc
• 11. Xerrox Kryogen
• 12. Xerrox Isotope

 

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The last track must be cold af  

Lets gooo

xeroxing my erect penis and sending it to carsten

Found out a while ago you can take a CD to hospital when you're getting an MRI scan (to help calm your nerves) and they play it over the supplied headset when the procedure takes place. I grabbed Xerrox 3 (or might've been 4) and never have I been more submersed in an album before - The real world clonks and static-y noises and hums & the chest vibrations and pressure when it scans your body .... combined with everything from the album playing through the headset was just *chef's kiss*

Might need to book another appointment with the hospital when this drops 

It's real

https://www.juno.co.uk/products/alva-noto-xerrox-vol-5-cd/1046891-01/

https://deejay.de/Alva_Noto_Xerrox_Vol_5_LP_2x12_N-062-2_Vinyl__1098655

Hell yes ! Wonder if he'll do a box set with all 5 volumes in a big foldy-out-sleeve spelling xerrox?

Hnnngh, gonna listen to these samples so hard when my daughter is asleep!

Edit: Samples remind me a little bit of The Revenant soundtrack in places. 

  On 9/30/2024 at 5:57 PM, mcbpete said:

Hell yes ! Wonder if he'll do a box set with all 5 volumes in a big foldy-out-sleeve spelling xerrox?

He loves a box set, so fingers crossed. 

  On 9/30/2024 at 6:21 PM, Scaramouche said:

Samples remind me a little bit of The Revenant soundtrack in places.

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Oh fuck. I’m already sold. 

Bit too ambient, is the entire xerrox series like this?

HELL YEAH LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

4 is one of my favorite albums of the decade so far

  On 9/30/2024 at 7:32 PM, thumbass said:

Bit too ambient, is the entire xerrox series like this?

Nah. Volume 1 is almost a noise album and it progressively shoots out into space from there on out, emphasizes texture in a different way without being ear-intensive.

This one seems to have an opposite theme, one of decay, "dissolution" per the press release, so I'm really into how this final volume is gonna approach that sonically.

Digging Noto's other works (and have been for years now) but for some reason i never checked out this series.

  On 9/30/2024 at 9:25 PM, someguy said:

Nah. Volume 1 is almost a noise album and it progressively shoots out into space from there on out, emphasizes texture in a different way without being ear-intensive.

This one seems to have an opposite theme, one of decay, "dissolution" per the press release, so I'm really into how this final volume is gonna approach that sonically.

Your description sounds interesting. I'll check it out!

  On 9/30/2024 at 9:25 PM, someguy said:

Nah. Volume 1 is almost a noise album

I'd say V1 is still pretty much an ambient-y album .... just that the bit and sample rates get turned right down to super crunch level - like a black and white photocopy of a photocopy of a photocopy (or xerox  ) of an ambient album

  On 9/30/2024 at 9:32 PM, mcbpete said:

I'd say V1 is still pretty much an ambient-y album

In retrospect oops yeah, it's been a while since I've listened to it (and Copy 1 & Copy 111 are burned into my mind from overlistening thru the years hence the noise bias). More appropriate to call it pretty intense ambient.

Every album in the series develops from the last, moving away from pretty distorted digital ambient, through modern classical sampling bits into the more directly ambient later volumes. 2 is my favourite so far, but very excited to hear this. I'm hoping the whole series gets a nice reissue, not just as a boxset (like fuck can I afford a 10LP box), but as individuals too.

As time goes on, I find myself less drawn to intricately detailed, still, minimal music, but Carsten is one of very few artists who still grabs my attention.

Finally got around to listening to the samples. No real stand outs so far. One thing is for sure though... someone needs to stop Alva Noto from creating those awful "glockenspiel" melodies that he has been messing around with on his latest albums. Just stop it, Carsten. God.

honestly i loved HYbr:ID III so much that i kinda forgot this was going to happen... still excited of course!

Love me some Xerrox, can't fucking wait!

  On 10/1/2024 at 8:14 AM, Squee said:

Finally got around to listening to the samples. No real stand outs so far. One thing is for sure though... someone needs to stop Alva Noto from creating those awful "glockenspiel" melodies that he has been messing around with on his latest albums. Just stop it, Carsten. God.

Less dings more strings

  On 10/1/2024 at 11:57 AM, mcbpete said:

Less dings more strings

Just like you've always said.

  On 10/1/2024 at 8:14 AM, Squee said:

Finally got around to listening to the samples. No real stand outs so far. One thing is for sure though... someone needs to stop Alva Noto from creating those awful "glockenspiel" melodies that he has been messing around with on his latest albums. Just stop it, Carsten. God.

I think you've put into words what I have been feeling with the diminishing returns of Vol's 3 and 4. I've rinsed the absolute arse out of vol's 1 and 2 over the years, but I couldn't tell you the last time I managed to listen to 3 or 4 from beginning to end.

3 & 4 remind me of the OST to this game:

Not necessarily a bad thing .... just not quite up to 1 & 2 (particularly 2) levels of