Search - Maja Sk Ratkje :: Voice

Another hidden gem!

HeidiKakes | NY | 08/15/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just bought this album with no past knowledge of Maja Ratkje or any of the projects shes been involved in and as I listen to this now for the second time through I must say the only way to describe this is if Mike Patton had some equally demented sister. Track 3, "Trio," is so reminscent of Patton's work on Adult Themes For Voice as well as several of his John Zorn collaborations its not even funny. Also like Patton she can actually sing when she wants to which is demonstrated on "Vacuum" and a few other tracks.



The electronics on the album are cut-up, glitchy sound collages, conjuring up images of James Plotkin and Negativland as well as dark, surreal ambient/noise moments reminiscent of Nurse With Wound, Hafler Trio and Philip Jeck.



Overall this is a must for fans of truly bizarre performance art as well as abstract noise soundscapes. Next to Diamanda Galas, Maja may be one of the most experimental, extreme female vocalists to appear on the scene in quite a while."

A manual typewriter battles a nun and wins.

Victoria Garcia | 02/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Basically, this is the soundtrack to an otherwise silent film about an angel who drifts through the abandoned halls of NORAD while pondering the ritual slaughter of a dairy cow.



If that sounds good to you, you want this album.



If it sounds like the sort of thing that ought to be wonderful, but probably won't be, then you still will want track 5, Vacuum. It contains some of the best of the NORAD-angel bits, but none of the bovide-death-throes stuff.



For the longest time, I only listened to track five, but lately, the other ones have started to grow on me. Like track 7, "Dictaphone Jam." It sounds like a restraining order hearing between Tod Docstader and a young Lillian Gish, presided over by a muppet who speaks no English, with Diamanda Galas acting as court reporter.



And it's only $17.98!"