BlRR Recommended (*well, track four was recorded by chris)"  Interesting new works from Austin composer / player / conceptual kinda guy Josh Ronsen -- three fairly recent (2004-2005) pieces, and a reprise of 2000's "for i.d. ii," which appeared in its original form on the self-released cd-r he put out back then. "Haifa Hi-Fi" (from October, 2005) is a lengthy collaborative piece with Ronsen (electric guitar, clarinet), Jacob Green (oboe, organ, electronics), Glen Nuckolis (acoustic guitar, banjo, violin), and Genevieve Walsh (flute, snare drum), a largely sedate and free-flowing session that keeps circling back to a certain level of minimalism as they explore different instrument configurations and tonal variations. "Figure or Failure ii" (from December, 2005) is quieter and closer to incidental sound, as Ronsen employs turntable action, electronics, computer trickery, and vocals to create the drifting, droning ambience of the cosmic hum and eerie wailing that finally resolves into shimmering, bell-like tones. The collaborative piece "tuesday on sunday" (January, 2004), with Ronsen on electric guitar and guests Vanessa Arn (electronics), Jacob Green (oboe, organ), and Bill Thompson (computer), is built around a guitar sound that resembles a piano, with the rest of the ensemble contributing incidental and background sounds or subtle accompaniment. The final track, "for i.d. ii," was recorded by Chris McBeth in 2000 and is a solo for bowed bass guitar, with no overdubs or processing. It sounds like wire music, resonating with a bone-rattling bass hum and leavened with spooky harmonics and feedback, and sounds every bit as good now as it did back then. More whole-grain experimental goodness from the band with the name that cannot be easily spelled.Apart from a few appearances on compilations, this is my first full length encounter with the ever so oddly named Brekekekexkoaxkoax, the project with Josh Ronsen in the middle. You may recognize his name from his own Monk Mink Pink Punk magazine, or of ND Magazine (whatever happened there?) or his contributions to the Abrasion Ensemble, Frequency Curtain, the Gates Ensemble or the Austin New Music Co-op. This new release is a pretty long one, which according to Josh falls into three categories: two pieces are free improvisation quartets of Ronsen on electric guitar and clarinet and others on oboe, flute, snare drum, banjo, violin etc., one is an electro-acoustic sound collage and one is a 'piece of conceptual sound organization'. The first of the two improvisation pieces, I must admit didn't do much for me. The players move around too careful around each other, and there seems not to be much dialogue or interaction. In the other quartet piece however there is a lot of good tension between the players. The two other pieces are solo pieces and they are the best of the release. Especially 'For I.D. II', for bowed bass guitar, is an intense, minimal piece of music, that moves slowly around like a giant beast. But as said, all four pieces are a bit long and that makes this not the most easy thing to listen to. I think we could have done well enough without the first piece. That would have made a more consistent and easier to listen to release - despite the more difficult pieces." - FdW, Vital Weekly