Great Barrier – Repetition (Vinyl)

Great Barrier is a project undertaken by Constantine Dino Karlis (HDU, Dimmer, Alastair Galbraith, Sonic Boom/Spectrum, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Foundling) and two neuroscientist-musicians hewas artistically drawn to: Jason Kerr (My Deviant Daughter, Southkill) and Richard Hahnloser. The latters piano and synthesizerplaying adds a minimalist-jazz-inspired harmonic flow to the bandsidiosyncratic sound which amalgamates drone, improv, noise, dub, andfield recordings. In creating the body of work titled Repetition, the lineupof Kerr (Dunedin expat, lives in Bonn, Germany) on guitar and bass, Karlis (Dunedin expat, lives in Berlin, Germany) on drums, and Hahnloser (from Zurich, Switzerland)is augmented by late NZ musician and composer Dean Roberts (Thela, White Winged Moth, Thurston Moore) who contributed guitar on one song. Roberts died unexpectedly last year, aged 49.

The influences are many and evolving, you can most likely hear them. Thats what happens the more you do this kind of thing, the surprises are few and far between, but when they arrive, they are welcome. Karlis, Kerr, and Roberts brought the drone and noise from their collective experience,but they turned it way down, adding depth and a churning groove.

Hahnlosers melodic and textural improvs provide the focus. The result lies in an interstitial space:between the complex simplicity of The Necks; Porter Ricks woozy throb; Can fronted by adisoriented Keith Jarrett; Joy Division in a tropical rainforest; the isolationism of FSOLs ISDN;Earths endless chordscapes.

The band navigates the margins with subtlety, crafting pieces that are equal parts unsettling andsoothing. Their combined histories seep through, but its the understated shifts and textures here thatgenuinely captivate. Its a slow-burning dialogue that offers rewards.

Lean in and listen closely.

Tracklist:

1. Systolic 08:44
2. Read Only 09:25
3. Diastolic 10:49
4. Deep Concern 03:16
5. Extinctathon 07:28

Richard Hahnloser

Constantine Karlis

Jason Kerr

Recorded in Berlin and Bonn, Germany.

Dean Roberts played on track 3

Ed Bentley recorded track 1 & 3

Mixed by Tim Gowdy

Mastered by Angus McNaughton

Images of Inis Mein by Damien Marshall.