Bombarde and the bagpipe Hümmelchen engage in an improvisational dialogue with the sounds of objects, samplers, and loopers. Orchestrated and transformed in real time with special effects, these interactions give rise to music that remains perpetually unfinished—always open to new interpretations, developments, and shifts in direction. The fluid, evolving soundscapes, sometimes defined by minimalist clarity and at other times by intense dynamic density, offer abundant points of entry for fresh improvisations and showcase opportunities for solo expression.

In autumn 2017, Herbert Bartmann and Christoffer Grunau convened in Oldenburg, Germany, for an informal jam session that lasted nearly three hours. Originally recorded merely for documentation, the extensive material later inspired the decision to release selected excerpts. From this session emerged four musical pieces, each roughly twenty minutes long, which were lightly edited and mixed in the studio—and are presented here in their original length.

Herbert Bartmann, born in Norden, Germany in 1958, began teaching himself various instruments during childhood. He went on to study European musical traditions, particularly those of the bagpipes, while also earning recognition for his Low German songs. Early in his career, he challenged genre boundaries and traditional instrumental roles, forging his own unique modes of expression. More recently, his work has been influenced increasingly by improvisation and contemporary classical music. He resides in Oldenburg as a freelance musician, performs with various ensembles and as a soloist, and offers lessons and workshops.

Christoffer Grunau, born in Potsdam in 1985, creates sound using anything he can lay his hands on. His early experiments involved tape recorders and unconventional objects, followed by free percussion in several bands. He later composed works focused on sound design and graphic notation in open contexts, and has participated in both ad hoc collaborations and permanent ensembles spanning electronic multimedia art, boundary-pushing trio music, and avant-garde lo-fi pop and aesthetic noise. He lives and works in Oldenburg as a freelance musician and graphic artist.