A sound with an avant-garde note, which cannot be exactly classified and which is precisely why it creates tension and atmosphere, is exactly what you can hear on “Rauland”, the album by the German-Austrian duo HUMMING LIGHTS.
One thing can definitely be said after listening to this album, it’s one that places itself quite clearly outside of the musical norm, and in a downright exciting way. Humming Lights – these are the Carinthian actress, musician and artist Susanne Kubelka and the Lübeck-born guitarist, electronics engineer and composer Dirk Schilling – move back and forth between the most diverse musical worlds on “Rauland” and in the process also build a bridge to literature and poetry . The character of the duo’s songs can be described in one word: diverse.
The songs all go their own way and tell their own musical stories, sometimes in a more accessible way, sometimes in a more experimental way, sometimes in the language of one genre, sometimes in that of another. Draw the bow Humming Lights from the catchy song format to the art of song, from pop to electronics to chanson. The beauty is that all the different elements really come together and weave together into something unified, a sound that creates atmosphere and depth throughout. The already captivating pieces find their refinement in the wonderfully multifaceted performance by Susanne Kubelka, who alternates between singing and spoken poetry and, with her mysterious texts, gives them an unmistakable touch.
In summary, “Rauland” is a musical experience, one that deserves attention. From January 26th to 29th, 2023 Humming Lights “Rauland” in the Klagenfurt ensemble together with the Japanese performance and installation artist Yoshie Shibahara as a theater piece.
Michael Ternai
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Links:
Humming Lights
Rauland (Spotify)