Charlemagne and Pippin

Marc Richter's new Black to Comm offering Charlemagne and Pippin churns out a slowly, methodically building single-tone battleship, that somehow manages to become more powerful, hopeful, and grandiose as it oscillates. Richter's characteristic organ noise is rounded off beautifully with various electronics, bells, metal percussion, toys, water, and violins, provided by band members Renate Nikolaus and Ulf Sschutte, which grow around the central note yet slowly move to the center themselves. The Bursting electronics, white noise, and buzzes become more frequent and attempt to overpower the mighty organ. Together, these three musicians bring about a musical pairing that suits the title. A pairing of power and play, father and son, age and youth. It's probably best to turn the lights off and the speakers up for this meditative 35-minute slab of drone excellence.