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Protokols

by Rutger Muller Ensemble

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  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    140 grams 12" black vinyl
    printed outer sleeve (double sided)
    printed inner stickers/labels (double sided)
    printed inner sleeve (double sided, custom)
    printed inlay sheet (double sided, custom)

    Includes unlimited streaming of Protokols via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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    edition of 200 
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1.
Cirkulae 05:51
2.
Xermony 08:30
3.
Panikon 06:28
4.
Penduliack 05:49
5.
Polymateris 09:45
6.
Cynquery 06:10
7.
8.

about

Protokols started as my personal search for new mysticism in ambient-techno. I wanted to tap into 
cathartic dark energy on the edge between meditative tranquility and chaotic turmoil. Avant-garde (classical) music
 and techno both shape abstract, spiritual sound worlds in which we can process some of our inner chaos, subconsciously...



The otherworldly textures and hypnotic patterns of techno propel us into the cosmos, but simultaneously offer us a portal to the
 ancient, visceral energy of tribal rituals. Avant-garde instrumentalists invent "extended techniques", deconstructing hundreds of years 
of instrument innovation to re-explore nature's intricacies and imperfections. Creativity and spirituality are non-linear.



The mystic minimalist of 20th century classical music – such as Ligeti, Feldman, Penderecki and Scelsi – mesmerized me with their elegant fusions
of dark friction and spiritual calmth. Their influence helped me shape the drones and ambiences at the base of the compositions. I also found
 inspiration in Steve Roach's cosmic 'new age' synths, John Dowland's mournful Renaissance drones and Murcof's cavernous glitch-techno.



Subsequently, I started my search for free improvisers, to deepen the album's organic-cosmic contrasts. This lead to friendships with 
Josephine Bode (recorders, vocals), Wen Chin Fu (cello) and Christian Tan (double bass). Their ability to morph into "abstract
 characters" lead to dynamically layered soundscapes, as well as some playful baroque-esque solos.

My initial concept of using using four-to-the-floor rhythms gradually fell apart into less symmetrical shapes. Though still
 aimed at the "post-human" aesthetic of techno, the grooves took on various electroacoustic, glitchy transformations 
of dancehall, breakcore, footwork, thrash-jazz... tapping even more into mystic tension.


–––Rutger Muller Ensemble–––

Josephine Bode, Wen Chin Fu, and Rutger Muller roam around in the mystic grey zone between meditative and uncanny sound. Through improvisation, live sound processing, unorthodox instrumental techniques, historical references, and theatrical elements, the ensemble's compositions and performances are ever evolving, and thus a continuous opposition to time-space duality.

Founded in 2013, Rutger Muller Ensemble bases its music on ambient abstractions of all members' influences. Muller sets the composition process in motion by generating one or more drone layers, based on processed samples of acoustic instruments or found sounds.

Subsequently, during rehearsals, Bode and Fu interact with this backdrop, and develop an improvisation idiom. Parts of these studio recordings are processed and integrated into the base of the composition, until an ethereal sound world is crystallised.

In concert, Muller adds transformation to the live improvisations of Bode and Fu, which feeds back into their inspiration. Through these circular processes, the compositions keep evolving.

credits

released April 30, 2021

Album Art (Acrylic on Canvas Painting): Joeri Lefévre
Album Design: Ede Studio
Album Duration: 42:28 (A-Side: 20:49, B-Side: 21:39)
Album Mastering: Cem Oral (Jammin Masters, Berlin)

A1: Cirkulae (5:50)

Wen Chin Fu: Cello, Co-Composer
Josephine Bode: Vocals, Co-Composer
Christian Tan: Double Bass
Rutger Muller: Composer, Producer, Electronic
Freesound Samples by: markgia, j1987, Andrew Duke
(see which samples on the individual track's page)

A2: Xermony (8:29)

Wen Chin Fu: Cello, Co-Composer
Josephine Bode: Recorder, Co-Composer
Rutger Muller: Composer, Producer, Electronics
Freesound Samples by: starpause, patchen, VEXST, tambascot
(see which samples on the individual track's page)

A3: Panikon (6:30)

Rutger Muller: Composer, Producer, Electronics
Freesound Samples by: laurent, sphion, Heigh-hoo
(see which samples on the individual track's page)

[Digital Bonus A3-V2] Panikon V2 (6:30):
Rutger Muller: Composer, Producer, Electronics
Josephine Bode: Vocals, Co-Composer
Wen Chin Fu: Cello, Co-Composer

B1: Penduliack (5:44)

Wen Chin Fu: Cello, Co-Composer
Josephine Bode: Paetzold, Co-Composer
Rutger Muller: Composer, Producer, Electronics
Freesound Samples by: bigjoedrummer, CGEffex
(see which samples on the individual track's page)

B2: Polymateris (9:44)

Josephine Bode: Recorder, Vocals, Co-Composer
Wen Chin: Cello, Co-Composer
Rutger Muller: Composer, Producer, Electronics
Freesound Samples by: Black Boe, Pogotron, bigjoedrummer, menegas, RutgerMuller, Drewskie7, felix.blume (see which samples on the individual track's page)

B3: Cynquery (6:11)

Josephine Bode: Vocals, Co-Composer
Rutger Muller: Composer, Producer, Electronics
Freesound Samples by: lezef, ERH, richtcello, mattwasser, digifishmusic, tsbertalan, sandyrb, CGEffex, qubodup, blackie666 (see which samples on the individual track's page)

[Digital Bonus B3-V2] Cynquery V2 (6:11)
Rutger Muller: Composer, Producer, Electronics
Josephine Bode: Vocals, Co-Composer
Wen Chin Fu: Cello, Co-Composer

Thank you for supporting my Protokols journey:

Josephine Bode, Wen Chin Fu, Christian Tan, Hans Timmermans, Jorrit Tamminga, Dianne Verdonk, Max Thijssen, Shane Burmania, Bronne Keesmaat, Floor Spapens, Ruth Timmermans, Maarten Schermer, Chris Ede, Raluca Tudorache, Pieter Kers, Peter Kirn, Justina Nekrašaitė, Anastasija Piroženko, Cammy Mai Tran, Coen Klösters, Neil Chatterjee, Vladimir Grafov, Sarah Jeffery, Minhong Yu, Bob Rusche, Joeri Lefévre, Tom Swart – and many others!

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tags

about

Rutger Muller Netherlands

I'm an electroacoustic composer interested in mystic, spiritual and ritual sound. I approach music through the intricacies of timbre, acoustics and spatiality, and I extract compositions or "soundspaces" from elements of ancient/classical music, (dark) ambient, (dub) techno, free improvisation and architectural ideas. ... more

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