Karina Erhard and Fie Schouten have taken Holland's new music scene by storm over the last several years with their group, KAIDA. This debut shows why they've been winning prizes throughout Europe, whether playing in small city clubs, at the Darmstadt music festival or in the Concertgebouw. Between the funky grooves from David Lang and the ambient sounds of Salvatore Sciarrino, the music here is haunting, wild, and beautiful, and always impeccably played. Tracks: 1-3. Border Towns of Central Europe (1. Sopron, 2. Znjomo, 3. Gubno) Joe Cutler, 2004 8:29 4. Es war einmal... Gualtiero Dazzi, 1985 5:06 5. All'Aure in Una Lontananza Salvatore Sciarrino, 1977 12:21 6. Press Release David Lang, 1991 9:59 7. Veeg Jorrit Dijkstra, 2004 8:04 8. Lusuolo Ernesto Molinari & Philippe Racine, 1985 8:46 Karina Erhard flute, piccolo, alto flute Fie Schouten bass clarinet, Bb clarinet In 1999 the flute-player Karina Erhard together with the bass clarinet-player Fie Schouten founded Kaida. The first four years Kaida was a trio formation: flute, bassclarinet, piano. From the year 2004 onwards, Kaida is expanding their basic duo of flute and bassclarinet and plays in duo formation, but also in various other combinations or with different instrumentalists or other artforms. One of their main goals is to explore the connection between contemporary written and improvised music. Their refreshing approach to music and high level of playing are convincing: In 2003 KAIDA was awarded the special prize for improvisation at the ‘International Gaudeamus Competition’ as well as the special prize ‘Buffet-Crampon’ during the ‘International Chamber-music Competition Illzach’ (France). In 2001 the ensemble received the the ‘Stichting Tera de Marez Oyens Fonds’ prize. Apart from playing regular concerts, the ensemble performed at various large festivals in the Netherlands and abroad, including the International Gaudeamus Musicweek 2002 NL, Festival Spazio Musica Cagliari and Festival Nuovi Spazi Musicali Roma (Italy), tFerienkurse für Neue Musik Darmstadt (Germany), the Ciclo de Música Contemporánea at Tenerife and Bassclarinetfestival of Catalunia (Spain), the festival Music Accord in Illzach (France). KAIDA has not only comissioned new works from the following composers, but also has been asked to perform premieres from Calliope Tsoupaki, Vanessa Lann, Jorrit Dijkstra, Joe Cutler, Athanasia Tzanou, Filippo Perocco, Stevko Busch, Andrew Ford, Hanna Kulenty, Christiaan de Jong, Marco Beck, Tobias Klein, Andrea Fontemaggi, Nicolas Gilbert, Ned McGowan. Their first CD 'Of Villages and Spaces' came out in 2005 at Karnatic Lab Records. *Kaida is an Indian word meaning 'improvisation on a basic rhythmic pattern'