Nadja / OVO - The Life And Death Of A Wasp 12" (Adagio830)

Over the last few dogs days of summer 2008, Italy’s OvO and Canada’s Nadja, got together in their adoptive city of Berlin at Einstürzende Neubauten’s andereBaustelle Studio. With engineer Boris Wilsdorf at the board, each duo began two songs and had the other duo finish them, Bruno and Stefania adding heavy, pounding rhythms and harsh, eerie vocals to Aidan and Leah’s ambient textures and bass-heavy drones.
The album, while still heavy and still retaining signature sounds of both groups, turned out groovier and mellower than either band expected. But this mellowness gives the songs a greater sense of presence and allows for the intricacies and nuances of each individual’s contributions to be properly heard. With a final mastering by James Plotkin, this album sounds simultaneously harsh and lush, aggressive and warm.
Having coffee after the sessions in the back garden, a wasp drugged on sugar flew into Leah’s coffee cup and drowned itself, traumatizing everyone at the table.