DIJKSTRA, RAYMOND - L'opus Ch (Artist Edition)

Limited, numbered edition of 50 copies. Collaged cover with handwritten and autographed centre labels. "Dutch artist/musician Raymond Dijkstra is one of the most radical and original composers around today. With a clear DIY ethos and self-imposed restrictions he has created a singular universe all by himself. In the past 7 years he has (self-)released countless LPs, 7 , 5" & 3" Vinyl releases in very tiny editions on his Le Souffleur label, all packaged in carefully edited artworks made by Dijkstra himself. "L Opus CH" will be one of his first widely available releases since 2003s collaboration with Timo van Luijk (Af Ursin, Noise Makers Fifes, In Camera, Nurse With Wound) as Asra. Dijkstra is using a minimal set-up for all of his compositions: harmonium, scraping metal & glass, and, exclusively to his "Opus" cycle the addition of tuba, strings and audio effects. He's exploring these small parameters in an improvised and highly personal, often trance-like, ecstatic setting comparable to "Automatic Writing" or "Surrealist Automatism" techniques. By offensively restricting and repeating his methods he is able to profoundly explore the depths of the particular sounds and, not least, of the player/composers psyche itself. "L Opus LH" is the second title in Dijkstras series "The Advantages of Schizophrenia". "All my work is highly autobiographical, highly subjective and highly emotional. In this sense my work is the complete opposite of that from most musicmakers out of the experimental corner whose work is mostly without any emotion. The reason for me making music is to strengthen my connection with life. For me my music is not experimental, simply because it was Never made to experiment. There is a bit of a problem with most experimental musicians, who are mostly only touching the surface of a subject after which they go beyond to find another experiment. I feel more connected to painters and sculptors who delve deep into the subject and explore it thoroughly, going into every possible direction, to really connect with their world. Even more interesting I find it when one connects with ones own genuine personal world. Just to come home to his self, instead of going out for a journey, what experimenting often is." -Dekorder