When like minded people meet, beautiful things can grow. Take the instrumental brothers in arms Kombynat Robotron and DUNDDW; they found each other on the European road touring and immediately felt a connection. Now they release a stunning looking split vinyl record through a cool collaboration of labels allover the world and every fan of adventurous instrumental improvisational jams will rejoice.
Striking in the first place about this split is the beautiful artwork, a piece of visual art by DUNDDW’s Huibert der Weduwen (also in Bismut and Phosphor visuals) depicting both bands’ practice spaces in Kiel, Germany, and Nijmegen, The Netherlands on an amazing looking old world map. Together with the blue/orange edition of the vinyl it makes up a package that will sell out quickly (and probably is by the time this article is published).
But hey, let’s not forget the music either. Of course we all know and love Kombynat Robotron and their organic sounding space jams. We get two for this record, and both radiate a comfortable warmth that make them very fitting for the weather at the moment. They are jams that make you long for the festival summer, lying on your back in a grass patch and spacing out of your wits.
DUNDDW on the other hand is the lesser known of the two here. Of course we know Bismut, the thunderous instrumental stoner unit two thirds of this ensemble derives of, but with DUNDDW the scope is different, and the feel out of this world. It is a trio that starts out exploring themselves and the space they are in, and slowly but certainly they work their jams out into the very cosmos and its outer reaches. To boldly go where no one went before, and to do so intuitively, without any premeditated plans. It is a bold proposition, but DUNDDW makes. it work. We have not heard the last of them yet.
For this split release Weirdo Shrine decided to talk to both bands, and ask them the same sets of questions, about the album, and about each other. DUNDDW starts off, typing their answers on the road just returning from a gig in Germany, while Kombynat Robotron handed theirs in a little later because they were also in full tour mode. It is. a good time to be a jam band, that is for certain.
DUNDDW:
How are you these days? What’s happening at the moment?
At the moment of answering these questions, we are driving home from a cool 3 day festival in the east of Germany: GockelScream (4th edition). We played a 45 minute jam in picturesque surroundings for a sympathetic crowd, alongside great bands like Bees Made Honey in the Vein Tree and Temple Fang.
Tell me about your new split album! What is the best thing about it?
We think it is a fruitful collaboration between 2 improvising bands, across different countries. With the labels Spinda Records (from Spain) and Sunhair Music (from Germany) involved in releasing the album, it feels like a great German/Spanish/Dutch partnership. Musically, it represents 2 different approaches to improvised music with a spacy and kraut-like sound.
What can you tell me about the other band?
Not much… just kidding: Kombynat Robotron is a great band, with jams that keep on going and evolving. They really know how to keep a flow going. We also admire their DIY-attitude, with an impressive variety of (solo and split) releases over the past couple of years. That has really solidified their reputation. The idea of the split album originated when Bismut shared the stage with KR at Altena Sounds (and helped them out with car troubles) – 2/3 of DUNDDW also play in Bismut.
What can you tell me about the stunning artwork?
We are very fortunate to have a visual artist as one of our band members: Huibert is part of Phosphor Visuals: a collective that creates analog visuals at concerts. He made the artwork for the split. The attentive observer will see that the artwork also shows maps of the cities where Kombynat Robotron and DUNDDW rehearse/jam out (Kiel in Germany + Nijmegen in the Netherlands).
What do you have in store for us in the near future? Will there be more collaborations?
For sure: we would love to do more collaborations with bands/artists that we like and are inspired by. So in the future we might release a live recording from a gig with a guest artist, or another split like this one.
What tips/tricks can you teach us about learning to play improv/jams?
Don’t think about it too much, and try to make contact with your band members. Not necessarily through eye contact, but by getting on the same wave length. Or ride another wave and see what happens: see where you find each other again, or let the waves intertwine or flow their own way. That’s the beauty of improv: there is no right or wrong, just vibrations that merge (and hopefully appeal to us and the listener).
What should the Weirdo Shrine readers do after reading this interview?
Buy the split album quickly, because it is almost sold out! And check out more Weirdo Shrine posts to find boundary streching music. And support your local scene.
Kombynat Robotron:
How are you these days? What’s happening at the moment?
We feel good these days and are happy to have the split with our friends of DUNNDW out now. The response so far is great and that´s something we needed yet. We changed our line-up and play as a three-piece now. With the first two shows a few weeks ago and this split record we know we’re on the right track and it feels good to be back after half a year of a break. All three of us playing in other bands that are more active these days, but its always good to come together and have some jams.
Tell me about your new split album! What is the best thing about it?
The split songs were recorded almost 1 1/2 a year ago in another session we had at the Dickfehler Studio in East Frisia. They are different as we jammed the songs and then re-recorded them. So, it´s not 100% improvised. More like 90%. :D. And that is the different and maybe the best thing about our side of the split. It’s a special form of KR music.
And of course, it was a no-brainer to work with DUNNDW, Spinda Records and Sunhair Music together. What a pleasure all around!
What can you tell me about the other band?
We know Peter and Huibert for a long time now. They played a few times with Bismut in our Hometown Kiel. and we met them on the road here and there. So it´s an absolute highlight to see them jamming with another guitarist and make some different music. We heard the tracks a couple of months ago and could not wait to get this project finalized.
What can you tell me about the stunning artwork?
Its Huibert´s magic. He came up with the idea to use parts of maps showing our locations of both bands’ rehearsal rooms. With that Psychedelic layer it matches perfect for the split album. Plus, our hometown looks pretty good from above.
What do you have in store for us in the near future? Will there be more collaborations?
We have new album coming later this year on a label we worked together before. It’s from the same session as the split tracks are. And we hope to have another collab coming this or next year but it’s still in talks and we cant tell you any details yet. But when it will happen, it’s going to be huge! We played a video session in Lübeck a month ago, the videos will be online in a few weeks and of course we recorded some new material we are looking forward to release next year.. At the moment we’re working on the concept for that stuff. We have not many shows booked for this year, but we hope to play a little tour in the UK next year. If anybody wants to help feel free to hit us up, we appreciate the help.
What tips/tricks can you teach us about learning to play improv/jams?
Jamming is very different in set and setting. When we started as a band, we had no concept or idea what direction it will take us.
But playing together over 5 years now, makes it easier to anticipate the vibe of each other.
Its important to leave the ego outside and work as a unit. Its about communication, listening to each other and recognise space and sometimes step back and make room for your bandmates.
When we recorded the sessions at the Dickfehler Studio, it was good to be in another place and have something like vacations to be on the same mindset.
What should the Weirdo Shrine readers do after reading this interview?
Check out all the labels we worked together and discover great bands.
Support the underground, go to concerts, buy merch and enjoy the growing scene.
Thanks for having us and thanks for reading.
Kombynat Robotron over and out.
Schauen Sie nicht ins Licht
Weirdo Shrine 