Chris Watson/ BJ Nilsen - Storm

Heavy weather

During the autumns and winters of 2000 to 2004 Chris Watson (known for his stints in Cabaret Voltaire and The Hafler Trio, and now a respected solo artist) and BJ Nilsen recorded several heavy storms on the English, Scottish and Swedish coasts. In 2006 these recordings were mixed into three long pieces: one solo piece per artist and one where the two join forces. Watson’s solo (the 15-minute No Man’s Land) is full of gushing winds and seabirds galore and is exactly what you’d expect from a natural disaster. Played loud, it’s intensely fierce. Nielsen’s solo piece, Austrvegr (recorded at various locations, including barns and open fields), and the 18 minutes of Watson/Nilsen combined, SIGWX, are more subdued. The forces of nature shine through its underbelly of dark, resonating, sea sounds and threatening rain. Beautifully packaged in the usual Touch tradition, this is the perfect soundtrack to the rainy season.

Touch | CD TONE 27

Reviewed by Freek Kinkelaar
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