Damiak Micalavera CATMD147

Abe Dichi who's musical works are released via the Damaik alias is what you would classify as a true cosmopolitan musical entity. Spending most of his life moving between Mexico, Europe and the United States somehow gives his debut album "Micalavera" for n5MD an undercurrent of international, almost globalized, method. Add in the mixing and mastering of Mio and Valgeir Sigurdsson (Bjork, Mum, Bonnie "Prince" Billy) at Greehouse Studios in Iceland and this compounds the borderless sense of musical place that Micalavera embodies. The album title which roughly translates to "my skeleton" utilizes guitars, melodium, harmodium, violin, piano, field recordings, and live drums as well as electronic elements and edits that may recall similar moments to Sigurdsson's copatriots Mum and Blindfold or even to the more delicate moments of Dntel. Micalavera is an absorbing mix of many musical styles interwoven into a bright, affectionate, yet cohesive whole that features 12 vignettes of multi-cultural instrumentation, technique, and raw wondrous emotion. [ learn more about Damiak]

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Damiak, the work of Mexican-born multi-instrumentalist Abe Dichi, has been part of the N5md family since 2004. Despite this, his recorded output to date for the Californian label has been meagre, amounting to a two-track 7-inch ("Pesero") and a track contribution on "The Mafia Rip Bin" compilation. Eagerly anticipated by fans of n5MD, this record has been a long time in the making.

While "Pesero" was glitch-laden and full of rapid IDM beats, "Micalavera" (his first full release on n5MD) is a major departure and is instead a cosmopolitan mix of electro-acoustic instrumentation and digital editing. It seems Dichi has spent the time between releases wisely, choosing to re-learn instruments from his youth while adding new weapons to his already impressive aural arsenal.

Roughly translating as 'My Skeleton', "Micalavera" marries organic instruments (guitar, harmonium, melodium, violin and piano) with field recordings and electronic editing techniques. The mix of the analogue and the digital is a key factor in what gives this album its air of individuality.

"Tepid Coat" is an obvious highlight that starts with sombre piano and tentative waves of live percussion. Developing in a brooding manner, the listener is soon catapulted into post-rock euphoria as labelmate Bitcrush unleashes an avalanche of distorted guitar amidst chiming xylophone tones that fall like crystal-clear raindrops.

"Iridescent Wings", on the other hand, is an interesting ambient piece ruptured with glitch style editing that recalls Colleen at her most fragmented. Elsewhere, "Step Behind The Yellow Line" mixes cracked electronics with live drums as Rhodes piano tones wander around forming a gorgeous, sun-kissed melody.

"Mira Arriba" delivers a folkish almost Efterklang style vibe to proceedings with choppy percussion, spectral synths and muted guitar work. While, "Extended Slide" brings to mind the playful nature of Four Tet with crunchy programming and skewed violins.

On "Micalavera" Damiak proves to be an adept mixologist, capturing the promise of merging instrumentation with clinical production skills where so many others fail. At times it sounds magnificent and others majestic, as each of the twelve compositions have a timeless aura around them.

Not so much a left turn, but a natural progression for Damiak and his colourful way with melody and programming. An album that defies categorisation, "Micalavera" is a crucial release in the evolution of the n5MD sound. textura

Abe Dichi (aka Damiak) has spent his life moving between Mexico, Europe, and the United States (he's currently residing in San Francisco ) so perhaps it shouldn't surprise too much that his debut album Micalavera (‘my skeleton,' roughly translated) reveals an equally broad multitude of styles and sounds. Throughout the electro-acoustic collection, Dichi puts his piano, violin, and guitar training to good effect but complements that with melodica, glockenspiel, field recordings, drums, and electronic sounds.

The album balances aggressive (like a marriage of post-rock and shoegaze, “Tepid Coat” slowly builds in intensity while “Faificun” is bolstered by an impassioned drum punch and scalding electric guitars) with low-key moments (like the delicate outro “Cualidades” and “Iridescent Wings,” a heavily-processed construction of bright glimmerings and meditative tones). Dichi's strong melodic gifts are effectively displayed, and in its rich sonic palette and melancholy compositional emphasis, Micalavera often resembles a vocal-less Múm (“Tenuous Gears,” “Extended Slide”), as both groups share a penchant for creaky rhythms and broad, even eccentric instrumental colour. Uniting those two stylistic tendencies, “Step Behind the Yellow Line” could pass for a Tortoise-Múm collaboration, and is distinguished by Dichi's powerful drumming. Even better is “Tall Hat Greeting,” a particularly affecting foray into wide-screen, post-rock territory, which is rendered most memorable when the sweetly melancholy cry of a melodica sings out over a surging base of rollicking drums and vibraphone patterns. debug

Gerne auch sehr abstrakte Tracks, in denen die eingeworfenen Foundsoundsamples und digitalen Effekte, aber auch die wenigen und gerne spartanisch eingesetzten klassischen Instrumente immer wieder so wirken, als wären sie sich ihrer Fragmenthaftigkeit durch und durch bewusst und als ginge es nicht so sehr darum ganze Tracks zu erzeugen, sondern eher darum, den ersten Eindruck der Entzückung bei einem Sound nicht zu verlieren. Auch wenn manchmal typische Sounds aus klingelnden Glöckchen, Harmonika und ein paar kantigen Beats auftauchen, ist doch dieser Zufallseffekt, der die Stücke immer wieder auf den Boden des materiellen herunterholt, überall hörbar. Sehr beruhigende und doch intensive Musik. cold room

Voilà un album d’une ravageuse distinction. On le sait, la mélodie est un art et le maîtriser demande souvent un peu de volonté et de courage. En ce qui concerne Abe Dichi, c’est une seconde nature. En incorporant à son electronica délicate et brillante l’apport non négligeable d’une vraie recherche instrumentale (basse, mélodica, violon, accordéon, …) il est parvenu à propulser son travail vers des sphères autrement plus hautes que celles purement analogiques. Avec peut-être plus de virtuosité encore que son compagnon d’écurie, Bitcrush. Mais le but à atteindre n’est pas le même. Ici, l’auditeur se trouve très précisément à la frontière de deux mondes, là où les distinctions se font tenues. Parfois le ton se veut aérien et terriblement analgésique, parfois le désordre sonore vient fugacement mélanger les cartes et à nouveau, la douce harmonie reprend ses droits et son mouvement tranquille. Il est même possible de déceler l’influence des origines sud-américaines de Abe au détour d’une gamme, d’un groove un peu "folkisant" qui ne fait qu’apporter un supplément de chaleur et de sincérité. Une belle production qui a de la classe, à la fois électroniquement, langoureuse et harmoniquement riche.

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