Tonight a 2 hours radio session with Dirk Serries.
The Belgian-based artist Dirk Serries has experimented with music on the border between avant-garde, industrial, experimental and ambient for more than 30 years. He released his earliest work behind the pseudonym vidnaObmana up to 2007 when he closed the book on this project (realizing an extensive discography). Other projects like Fear Falls Burning and his Microphonics series made him collaborate with several key-players like Steven Wilson, Justin K. Broadrick, Cult Of Luna, Steve Roach and toured extensively on the sides of Jesu, MONO, Low, My Bloody Valentine and Cult Of Luna.
In October 2013 Dirk Serries re-booted his classic vidnaObmana ambient sound from the mid eighties/early nineties with releasing 3 albums on limited edition 180 gram vinyl. The pieces are unedited, live run-throughs meant to fill up a side of a vinyl record, released on the boutique Tonefloat:Ikon imprint. These 3 LPs were followed by a few digital-only releases on the same imprint. This Streams Of Consciousness series continues.
Dirk Serries returned last year to Projekt Records with The Origin Reversal, a further exploration in re-enstating of his classic vidnaObmana sound. This is ambient music that flows from its discreet origins: sonic purity, washes of harmony, and organic textures which slow time to a phase of transcendence. On the spot, improvised and real-time. Recently he works together some of the key players in the independent music label scene like Tonefloat, Consouling Sounds and Important Records.
The long-awaited and highly-anticipated new Microphonics XXVI-XXX : Resolution Heart album, as follow-up to his critically-acclaimed predecessor of 2013, is set to be released on November 18th 2016..
He currently runs the Tonefloat’s New Wave Of Jazz vinyl/cassette imprint dedicated to his fascination and ongoing explorations in improvisation and free-jazz while intensily performing live with some of the best and modern improvisors like saxophonists John Dikeman and Colin Webster, drummers Tomas Järmyr, Steve Noble and Andrew Lisle, and tuba player Kristoffer Lo.
“Microphonics XXI-XXV bevestigt Serries’ status als een van de vooraanstaande artiesten binnen de wereld van het gitaarminimalisme. Het is een subtiele, rijke en persoonlijk plaat geworden, waarin elke zinderende galm en korrelige gitaaraanslag een rol te vervullen heeft. Een luisterervaring zoals je ze zelden te horen krijgt.“ Enola – Belgium
“Enthralling and engulfing, it is a delight to hear one of the genre’s masters return at last. Continuing his return to the gentle flowing soundscapes of his formative years, Disorientation Flow is another fine example of the wonder Dirk Serries can conjure. An easy, relaxing drift to the five pieces surround and embrace the listener, a shade of sadness heightening the warmth of the aural hug. Deliberately eschewing volatility, this is for the darkest moments of the night, an escape from reality.” The Music Fix – UK
“It’s deceptively simple sounding on the surface, but as you go deeper into it, it gives up its sonic truths and shows a lot of thought, heart, and soul. Superb work from Serries, as Always.” Hypnagogue – USA
“Disorientation Flow brings in a contemplative atmosphere in which one might ponder and think about what lies beyond and the topography that might exist in such an area. It feels “not of this world” as it ebbs and flows throughout the subconscious and washes out the skeletons from our closets with an impressive fury. Please be aware that if you listen to this album, you will indeed find yourself lost in thought. Nevertheless, I feel that contemplation and all-around thinking in general is something that a large majority of people just don’t do anymore. So sit down, relax your mind and be ready to face the flow.” The Grim Lord – USA
“Wat Dirk Serries op Microphonics XXI-XXV namelijk bereikt is een alomvattend iets, een totaalervaring waarvoor woorden hopeloos tekortschieten. En eenmaal ondergedompeld als luisteraar kan er maar één weg zijn: die van totale overgave. Met grote, over je wangen rollende tranen waarbij nooit duidelijk wordt of dit vanuit verdriet of geluk voortkomt. Grootser, gelukzaliger, intenser, emotioneler zul je dit jaar geen plaat horen.”Kindamuzik – The Netherlands
“The Origin Reversal is masterfully done, admirably inspired and absolutely distinctive drone ambient, representing the trademark sound of an artist who has rightfully gained his place among the greats of contemporary electronic and ambient music.” Santa Sangre Magazine – Poland
“during the album peak, “There's a Light In Vein,” where the guitarist assumes the guise of impressionistic scene-painter in generating huge, glorious swaths of heavenly sound. Serries uses his arsenal of effects to create a slow-building swell of Fripp-styled ambient washes that is so stunning” Textura – Canada
Selective Discography:
vidnaObmana :
Testament Of Tape 1984-1987 (3xLP box-set, Vinyl On Demand)
Chasing The Odyssee 1987 - 2007 (8xLP box-set, Tonefloat)
Well Of Souls (2xCD, Projekt 1995) with STEVE ROACH
Motives For Recycling (2xCD, Soleilmoon 1998) with ASMUS TIETCHENS
Ascension Of Shadows (3xCD, Projekt 2000) with STEVE ROACH
Tracers (CD, Klanggalerie 2001) with DAVID LEE MYERS
Tremor, Spore, Legacy (3xCD, Relapse Records 2001-2004)
Fear Falls Burning :
The Carnival Of Ourselves (LP, Tonefloat 2006)
Once We All Walk Through Solid Objects (5xLP, Tonefloat 2007) with JUSTIN K. BROADRICK,STEVEN WILSON,STEVE VON TILL,etc.
Frenzy Of The Absolute (CD, 2xLP Conspiracy Records 2008)
Disorder Of Roots (2x10”, CD Tonefloat 2012)
Microphonics : I-V (CD+LP, Tonefloat 2008)
XXI-XXV(2x10”+CD, Tonefloat 2013)
Resolution Heart (7”, Tonefloat 2016) with JESU
XXVI – XXX (LP, Tonefloat 2016)
Solo :
Streams Of Consciousness 130806, 131006,131106 (3xLP, Tonefloat/Ikon 2013)
The Origin Reversal (CD, Projekt 2014)
Disorientation Flow (CD, Projekt 2015)
Unseen Descending And Lamentations (CD/LP, Consouling Sounds 2015)
Buoyant (CD/LP, Consouling Sounds 2015) with RUTGER ZUYDERVELT
Obscured By Beams Of Sorrow (CD, White Paddy Mountain 2015) with HAKOBUNE
The Storm Of Silence (CD, Glacial Movements 2016) with CHIHEI HATAKEYAMA
Hymnal (TAPE, Important Records 2016) with STEVEN R SMITH
3 Seconds Of Air (w/Paul Van Den Berg,Martina Verhoeven) :
The Flight Of Song (LP+CD, Tonefloat 2009)
We Are Dust Under The Dying Sun (LP+CD, Tonefloat 2011)
Continuum (w/Steven Wilson) :
I+II 2007-2009 (3xLP, Tonefloat 2014)
I (2xCD, Tonefloat 2016) II (2xCD, Tonefloat 2016)
DIKEMAN/NOBLE/SERRIES (w/John Dikeman,Steve Noble) :
Obscure Fluctuations (LP+CD, Trost Records 2015)
DIKEMAN/LISLE/SERRIES/WEBSTER (w/John Dikeman,Andrew Lisle,Colin Webster) :
Live At Café Oto (CD, Raw Tonk Records 2015)
Tonefloat’s New Wave Of Jazz :
YODOK III - s/t (LP,2014)
YODOK III - The Sky Flashes, The Great Sea Yearns (2xLP,2015)
THE VOID OF EXPANSION - Ashes And Blues (LP,2014)
DIKEMAN/SERRIES - Cult Exposure (LP,2015)
SERRIES/VERHOEVEN/WEBSTER - Cinepalace (LP,2015)
FANTOOM - Sluimer (LP,2015) KODIAN TRIO – I (LP, 2016)
DIKEMAN/LISLE/SERRIES/WEBSTER – APPARITIONS (2xLP, 2016)
YODOK III :
Legion Of Radiance – Live at Dokkhuset (CD, Consouling Sounds 2016)
s/t/The Sky Flashes, The Great Sea Yearns (3xCD,Tonefloat 2016)
The Mountain Of Void – Live at Roadburn (LP/CD, Tonefloat 2016