The Return of Fenn O'Berg

AMG Review of The Return of Fenn O'Berg

François Couture
All Music Guide

Supergroups rarely live up to expectations. One exception to the rule is this trio, surely a supergroup by experimental electronica standards in 2002. The Return of Fenn O'berg is the second album from the trio formed by Fennesz, Jim O'Rourke, and Peter Rehberg (aka Pita) -- three influential and highly idiosyncratic figures. It could have turned into an ego bloodbath or a self-congratulatory merry-go-round of tested tricks and moves. It is not, simply because when you add up their talents, the result turns out quite different than the sum of the parts. Of course, you can recognize some of Fennesz's trademark textures (grainy filtered guitar, for instance) and Rehberg's deconstructed beats (in "Floating My Boat"), but in the end, The Return of Fenn O'berg is more about the exploration of a group sound -- and fun, lots of fun. Take "A Viennese Tragedy," for example: a snippet of Gustav Mahler goes through a few mutations, a man's voice and a bouzouki sample answer each other's stutters, amassed layers of sounds break off to reveal refreshing childish humor, all this wrapped in what feels like a narrative but surely is not. On the other hand, in "We Will Diffuse You," the three laptop improvisors unite forces to build a beautiful ambient piece. The first two tracks were recorded live in Vienna in May 2001, the last two in Paris two months earlier. One of the best discs of laptop improv in 2002 and a lesson to all the wannabes without character and those who take the laptop approach way too seriously. Highly recommended.