Enso: On the withered tree a flower blooms maintains “an unbroken churn of extended tones for nearly 45 minutes […] opening with a steady arco tone played by Schönegg that carries on uninterrupted for the first 35 minutes. The sound is gorgeous, but it’s the elusive entrance of Debacker and Nillesen that brings exponential depth and mystery. There’s no explanation of what anyone does on the CD sleeve—apart from listing their instruments—but the format is perfect for the latter's extended snare practice. I assume Debacker is using an e-bow or a conventional bow, because the sound thickens slightly over time, with viscous harmonies radiating outward. Beneath those heavy bass drones are sine wave-like modulations that I recognize as a distinguishing trait of Nillesen’s music, a kind of undulating, phasing presence that creates rhythmic counterpoint through pure tones. Those patterns, as well as other types of sonic motion, come and go, along the way. While I can’t really be sure who’s doing what, it hardly matters. This may feel like sonic research—and I suppose it is—but it sure works for me. Still, don’t bother listening to the piece below unless you’re willing to settle in and commit.”
Peter Margasak at Nowhere Street