Flat F Harmonies Explored
In the vibrant music scene of Cologne, sound artist Andreas Oskar Hirsch has made a name for himself with his unique creations. His latest work, The Salamander Treaty, a fourth solo LP, showcases the potential of his self-built instrument, the Carbophone.
The Carbophone, a complex star system model in its own right, is composed of sticks, spheres, rubber bands, springs, and electronics. It resembles a natural evolution of a technique focused on plucking or tapping various components to create sounds. When played with many fingers, it produces cascading "waterfalls" of plops, plicks, and beeps that create immersive percussive textures and layers.
Hirsch's Carbophone matured from an initial rough concept into a refined tool that allows him to craft engaging sonic stories from relatively few elements. On tracks like "Rise," it supports a percussive dreamlike quality interrupted by bursts of electronic shock sounds. The album overall showcases adventurous rhythmic and textural uses of his homemade devices, highlighting a journey through decades of lo-fi and instrumental experimentations.
The Salamander Treaty is based on the utopian science fiction novel "The War with the Salamanders" (1936) by Czech author Karel Čapek. In Hirsch's world, salamanders leisurely drink tea and build diplomatic relations, painting a picture of a fantastical universe.
The LP was released by Hirsch on his own makiphone label in 2025. Andreas Oskar Hirsch's music, initially influenced by "mumbling surf sound" and "garage guitars," has evolved to create magical pop songs inspired by Cologne's Fluxus tradition.
In a separate event, the "Saar mouse" won the vote for Saarland's mascot, but it has no connection to musician Andreas Oskar Hirsch. Hirsch lived in a house on Kyffhäuser Street, where Fluxus artist Al Hansen died, further cementing his roots in the experimental music scene.
Unfortunately, German fire salamanders are currently affected by a plague, a reality that contrasts sharply with Hirsch's imaginative portrayal of these creatures in his music. However, the current status of the salamander community is not mentioned in relation to The Salamander Treaty.
In conclusion, the Carbophone, a self-constructed electronic instrument focused on tactile, percussive plucking sounds, plays a central role in shaping the unique sound atmosphere of The Salamander Treaty. It is part of Hirsch’s exploration of experimental instrument building rooted in Cologne's Fluxus art lineage.
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