Kontrans
Kontrans is the independent record label founded and operated by Dutch sound poet, composer, and vocalist Jaap Blonk. The label is structured as a non-profit foundation, originally started in 1986 to realize projects involving experimental music and other media. As a record label specifically, Kontrans began releasing music in 1993.
The label’s catalog is deeply intertwined with Blonk’s own artistic practice. The very first release on Kontrans was Splinks (Kontrans 739, 1993), a modern jazz septet recording, followed by Braaxtaal (Kontrans 939, 1993), featuring Blonk’s own voice/synthesizer/percussion trio. To date, the label has produced approximately 30 releases, most of which remain available as CDs. These releases span a diverse range of experimental music, including series such as the “Improvisors” series and the “Voice & Electronics” series.
Traces of Speech
Traces of Speech
“As if the language of human beings was adopted and enhanced by aliens who charged any basic articulation with tons of information, employing vocals as one but not the dominant practical in a chain of sounds, keeping its expressiveness and emotional delivery neutral. Now, after this radical alteration, only a margin of this intriguing form of communication can be deciphered by us humans, but all—earthlings and other forms of beings in the greater universe—can get a glimpse of its infinite options.” -Eyal Hareuveni, All About Jazz
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“For Traces of Speech I made drawings that derive from my functional sound poetry scores, but are somewhat emancipated from that, so they live somehow half-way between score and visual poetry.
By offering these drawings to optical character recognition software I created texts in English and German. They are of course nonsense texts with a large amount of punctuation signs and the like. I took up the challenge to recite these texts, finding different forms of interpretation: percussive sounds, glissandi, whispering etc.
The electronic sounds were generated by importing the same drawings as raw data files into audio software, and then treated algorithmically.
This material I reworked into a tightly knit musical statement with no intention of personal expression.” -Jaap Blonk
Pre-Zoic Cellways
Pre-Zoic Cellways
Since 1990 Jaap Blonk and Cor Fuhler have been collaborating in several groups in dutch improvised music, as well as in a pair of experimental radio plays. this is their first available recording as a duo.
JAAP BLONK – VOICE, POWERBOOK, EFFECTS
COR FUHLER – EMS SYNTHI-AKS, TURNTABLE
RECORDED MARCH 30, 2004 BY JURRE WIEMAN AT EDGETIP STUDIO, ARNHEM, NETHERLANDS
PRODUCED BY COR FUHLER AND JAAP BLONK
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JAAP BLONK FOR KONTRANS
DESIGN BY DANIEL GROSS
Post-Human Identities
Post-Human Identities
“The follow-up to Majaap, this duo’s first album, came out in Kontrans’ Electronic Music Series, which gives a first pointer as to how different it is. Post-Human Identities sounds closer to Fe-M@il, Maja Ratkje’s noise duo with Hild Sofie Tafjord, especially in the opening 18-minute piece, “Rotary Torso Extension.” The Scandinavian vocalist uses samplers, effects, and her trusty dictaphone. Jaap Blonk brings to the table his computer, samplers, and effects. The result is a joyously cacophonous blend of heavily processed shouts and gargles. Pitch bending, speed variation, and looping are heavily featured. The naked voices of Ratkje and Blonk still appear here and there, mostly as beacons signaling a shift in direction within a piece. Blonk has considerably developed his electronic vocabulary since Averschuw, the solo album on which he unveiled his interest in electronic treatments. This post-human meeting is actually as fruitful and well balanced as Ratkje and Blonk’s earlier acoustic effort. They obviously share the same kind of slapstick humor, no matter the medium. “Rotary Torso Excursion” is the most demanding track, its harsh textures and sharp turns seemingly designed specifically to lose the listener. “Of Strange Abductors” and “No Ecliptical Strainers” take a softer approach, letting the naked voice through, building bridges between the acoustic and the electronic. “The Abominable Crunch” comes back to a more densely treated form of improvisation, strongly reminiscent of the material found on Ratkje’s solo album Voice. Post-Human Identities was recorded live in May 2004 at three consecutive concerts.” -François Couture, All Music
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Maja Ratkje and Jaap Blonk have been performing and recording together since 2001. their first release was a cd of acoustic voice duets (majaap, Kontrans 850).
Voice, Computer [Powerbook], Sampler, Effects – Jaap Blonk
Voice, Sampler, Effects, Tape [Dictaphone] – Maja S. K. Ratkje
Queasy Chin Dip recorded 27 May 2004 in Oslo, Norway.
Rotary torso extension, Of strange abductors, No ecliptical strainers recorded 28 May 2004 in Aarhus, Denmark.
The abominable crunch recorded 29 May 2004 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Design by Daniel Gross
Off Shore
Off Shore
Double CD with eight longer pieces, with meticulous trio improvisations.
Bart van der Putten: clarinet, alto saxophone, harmonica
Paul Pallesen: electric guitar, banjo
Jaap Blonk: electronics, voice
All compositions by Jaap Blonk (Buma/Stemra)
Recorded and mixed by Jurre Wieman at Edgetip Recording Studio, Arnhem, Netherlands
March 25 and 26, 2003 (Erra, Flode, Gruimveld, Har, Skjull and Oi)
July 10, 2003 (Zikse and Ongronder)
New Start
New Start
“When I was about to turn 65, I thought: why not start a new band, and give it a name that asks for consistent challenge: Jaap Blonk’s Retirement Overdue. I am very happy these wonderful younger musicians joined me. And since it is 20 years ago that I last had a regular band that played mostly my pieces, this is a New Start.” —Jaap Blonk, March 2020
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Miguel Petruccelli guitar, bass guitar
Jasper Stadhouders guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, kologo
Frank Rosaly drums, percussion
Jaap Blonk voice, electronics
In the stereo image, Miguel is on the left and Jasper on the right
Recorded by Daniel Goldaracena at Studio Swamp, Hoboken (Antwerpen), Belgium, December 11 and 12, 2019
Mixed and mastered by Jaap with assistance of Jasper, Miguel and Frank
Produced by Jaap for Kontrans Records
Photo on front by Daniel Goldaracena, August 2018
Photo on back by Jef Vandebroek, May 2019
Graphic design by Melle Hammer
All compositions by Jaap Blonk (Buma/Stemra), except:
Wob Hape, Pook Naw, Kown Sah and Nem Boha: by Jaap Blonk, Miguel Petruccelli (Buma/Stemra), Frank Rosaly (BMI) and Jasper Stadhouders (Buma/Stemra)
Somewhere: music by Leonard Bernstein, text by Stephen Sondheim, arranged by Jaap Blonk
Rápido Y Leve: music by Jasper Stadhouders, text by Jaap Blonk
Lucht
Lucht
‘Lucht’ is Dutch for ‘Air’
The 12th volume in the Kontrans ‘improvisors’ series
Ricardo Arias – bass balloon kit, balloon scraps, breath
Jaap Blonk – voice, breath
Recorded at Tx101C Studio at Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, April 29, 2025.
Recording Engineer Andrés Blanco
Mixed and mastered by Ricardo Arias at BÖH, Bogotá, July 2025
Photo by Andrés Blanco
Graphic desigh by Melle Hammer
Produced by Jaap Blonk for Kontrans
JAJAA!
JAJAA!
The 10th title in the Kontrans ‘improvisors’ series!
Jasper Stadhouders – guitar
Jaap Blonk – electronics, voice
Recorded by Jasper Stadhouders at Zaal 100, Amsterdam, May 7, 2025
Mixed and mastered by Jaap Blonk
Photos by Johan Janssen, Antonio Bergamino
Sleeve design by Melle Hammer
Produced by Jaap Blonk for Kontrans
All music by Jasper Stadhouders and Jaap Blonk (Buma/Stemra)
Irrelevant Comments
Irrelevant Comments
“It is hard to tell which are vocal sounds and which are electronic or sampled since all are strange in different ways. What is most interesting is the way that Mr. Blonk blends all of the sounds into fascinating combinations, stretching and manipulating select sound in a most focused way. It might be hard to tell that there are vocals at the center of some of these pieces yet I was still captivated throughout.” -Bruce Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
Recorded in Arnhem, Netherlands, 2010-2016, except 8: 1996 and 10: 2003.
Hübsch, Van Bebber & Blonk
Hübsch, Van Bebber & Blonk
“For the last selection, “The Üblog Tide” (by far the longest piece at 12
minutes), Blonk is “trapped” in the left channel while Van Bebber finally
comes up with one of his monstrously effective vinyl superimpositions and Hübsch conjures up sounds that simply should not be coming out of any tuba.” -All Music Guide to Jazz
“I really like the final track, by far the longest piece, but all tracks are creative and interesting. Many moods here, from laid-back and kinda wandering around to humorous to quite intense.” -KFJC
“Blonk recites (?) sings (?) moans (?) in his usual fashion and is probably one of the more wilder characters in this kind of music. His elastic voice seems to be capable of just doing anything with it. It works really nice along the strange sounds produced on a tuba and the turntables.” -Vital Weekly
“On this beautifully conceived disc, he lines up alongside tuba player Carl Ludwig Hübsch and turntablist Claus van Bebber. The nonsense syllables of the opening track. “eh”, confirm Blonk’s interest in inventing fantasy languages. “to ilpehü” is pure vocalizing, with tuba and voice competing in rude noises against Van Bebber’s abrasive vinyl appliqué; “thobb” is a wheezy, throbbing machine; Blonk intones “loipt” in a Goon-like voice, teasing listeners into thinking he’d make sense if only he was properly audible. On “pheite bedog”, a winding down music box is followed by Blonk conducting an argument with himself while necking with the tuba. Blonk’s quirky, witty art might well be limited, but it’s superior to many an over-serious attempt to express the profound and sublime.” -The Wire
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Carl Ludwig Hübsch: tuba
Claus van Bebber: turntables
Jaap Blonk: voice
Recorded and mixed by Jurre Wieman at Edgetip Recording Studio, Arnhem, Netherlands
Recording dates October 1 and 2, 2002
Mastered by Hans Strikkers at Mediatrack, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Produced by HüBeBlo
Executive producer Jaap Blonk
Graphic design Melle Hammer
Deep Fried
Deep Fried
Engaging crossover between free improv and ambient.
Released September 13, 2012
Rutger Zuydervelt: electronics, objects
Jaap Blonk: electronics, voice
Recorded May 17, 2012 at STEIM, Amsterdam
Breezes
Breezes
The 11th volume in the Kontrans ‘improvisors’ series.
Birgit Ulher – trumpet, radio, loudspeakers, objects
Jaap Blonk – electronics, voice
Recorded by Boris Vogeler at Westwerk, Hamburg, Germany on August 28 (tracks 2, 6 and 8, live in concert) and 29 (other tracks), 2025.
Mixed and mastered by Jaap Blonk
Photo by Gero Sander
Graphic desigh by Melle Hammer
Produced by Jaap Blonk for Kontrans
Blonk, Smith & Zerang
Blonk, Smith & Zerang
The 9th title in the Kontrans ‘improvisors’ series.
Jaap Blonk: voice and electronics
Damon Smith: double bass
Michael Zerang: percussion
Recorded live in concert by Bill Harris at Hungry Brain, Chicago, April 6, 2025
Mixed and mastered by Weasel Walter
Photo by Michael Jackson, Chicago, taken right after the concert
Sleeve design by Melle Hammer
Produced by Jaap Blonk for Kontrans
Blonk, Gustafsson & Zerang
Blonk, Gustafsson & Zerang
Complete unedited session recorded live March 4, 1996 at Andra böker och skivor (Stockholm, Sweden).
Michael Zerang: Percussion –
Mats Gustafsson: Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Fluteophone, Flageolet
Jaap Blonk: Voice
Averschuw
Averschuw
“Since the summer of 2000 I have set out to record
pieces that would stay close to the simplicity and clarity of
a solo voice improvisation, but at the same time offer a greater
range and density of texture than the human voice is capable
of.
For each piece I experimented with a different configuration
of sound equipment, and made a recording at a stage where the
setup still held a certain amount of unpredictability for me.
I chose to stick to my voice as the sole source of sound in these
recording, using it straight as well as in sampled and processed
form.” -Jaap Blonk, April 2001
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Artwork – Catalogtree
Voice, Edited By, Composed By – Jaap Blonk
Recorded August-November 2000 at Akkerattic (Arnhem, The Netherlands).
Wrapped in a special plastic case designed by Arnhem based graphic design studio Catalogtree.
August Ananke
August Ananke
Eight meditations on just intonations. Electro-instrumental music of shining serenity.
Jaap Blonk: Electronics & voice
Cover [Typography] – Melle Hammer
Photo by Jaap Blonk
At the Hideout
At the Hideout
“The musicians joining Blonk for this gab extravaganza of the very unconventional sort are trombonist Jeb Bishop, turntable and electronics artist Lou Mallozzi and percussionist Frank Rosaly. Captured live at the legendary Chicago venue, this is music to shake, rattle and roll your ears and nerves and brain… which is all good.” —Paul Serralheiro, Squid’s Ear
“The group’s jagged improvisations [are] some of the most compelling and confrontational I’ve heard this year.” —Peter Margasak
An intense live session, recorded at The Hideout in Chicago.
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Jeb Bishop: Trombone
Jaap Blonk: Voice and electronics
Lou Mallozzi: Turntable and electronics
Frank Rosaly: drums and percussion
Recorded by David Zuchowski at The Hideout, Chicago, March 14, 2012
Mastered at Mediatrack, Amsterdam
Executive Producer Jaap Blonk
Design by Melle Hammer
All Tracks by Jeb Bishop (BMI), Jaap Blonk (Buma/Stemra), Lou Mallozzi (BMI) and Frank Rosaly (BMI)
Asemic Dialogues
Asemic Dialogues
“It is all very vibrant and energetic as the two move quickly between sounds, textures, moods, pitches and have near perfect control over their voices and electronics. All of that makes this is forty-
one minutes of very fine voice poetry.” -Vital Weekly, Netherlands
Live in Berlin: supported by their eloquent electronics, the two vocal heroes chase each other to every corner of the room.
Asemic: no words needed.
Producer – Jaap Blonk
Voice, Electronics, Composed By – Jaap Blonk, Tomomi Adachi
Recorded live in concert directly to stereo, at Lettrétahe, Berlin, July 31 2017