Laszlo UMBREIT, Sirah FOIGHEL BRUTMANN & Eitan EFRAT
“Là”

Là is an immersive, politically charged sound journey – a lament for the Al Naqab desert in Palestine. It is the result of a collaboration between Sirah Foighel Brutmann, Eitan Efrat, Laszlo Umbreit, and Ot Lemmens. The album combines acoustic instruments like flute and cymbals with processed electronics and mechanical sounds.

The track Ensemble is made from sound recordings of eleven 16mm film projectors, playing simultaneously and in intervals, creating a texture centered around a single pitch – La/A.

The tracks For Her, There, and No are recordings of live sessions played by Laszlo Umbreit and Eitan Efrat.

The album also features an extended text by Rose Higham-Stainton titled Strategies for Survival, spread across a 12-page booklet.

“The music is quite lovely as it is, if I am allowed to use that word for such serious matters. The four pieces (three of which are nine minutes, and the last one is six) are spacious and drone-like, but from an acoustic point of view. Maybe stringed instruments mixed with electronics, even if the details aren’t precise. ‘For Her’ contains flute and effects by Efrat and Umbreit plays “NR2X and effects”. Only ‘There’ contains a rhythm, played by Efrat on the wooden temple block and tom, while Umbreit plays “Monomachine and effects”. The four pieces have a rather desolate feeling, which goes with the dessert idea, I guess. ‘Ensemble’ is the most significant piece, in terms of action, with many players, who, I assume, either use their voices to hum or play string instruments. This is also the album’s most contemporary piece, usually not my strong suit, but in combination with the text and the other pieces, something that works well. I doubt if my little review does the music, or rather, the total product, much justice, but hopefully it piqued your curiosity enough to investigate. This is a great record, even if just from a musical point of view.” (Vital Weekly)