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Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Pariaso U.F.O. : In C (2002) Squealer
This Japanese band has come out with
stunning version of Terry Rileys In C. The SMCQ (in Montral) put out an In
C on the ATMA label which I thought was very
good. But this disc goes beyond
it. Coupled with two other
works by the band, In E and In D, this disc blew me right out of my chair. In C starts slowly but then
just blows it open three minutes in with a hard, rock-like and extremely fast
beat. In E is also interesting given the subtle screaming that becomes
apparent both by band members Casino and Atsushi. Epic, grand and beautifully packaged (with a picture of
Stonehenge inside), this disc is wonderfully timeless. Superb performances as well.
(Reviewed May 18, 2002)
Adams/Cox/Fink/Fox: Adams/Cox/Fink/Fox (2002) Cold Blue Music CB0009
Okay.
So after my enthusiasm for the Cold Blue sampler album, youd think Id
be all over this one but Im actually a little more wary. John Luther Adams is not to be confused
with the American minimalist John Adams.
This is a mistake I made in my teens and it took a better part of a day
to figure out why JLAs music was so weird. One word can describe a lot of this music. Static. It quite frankly doesnt go very far, it sort of lingers
around ideas, certain textures. At
times this can be quite beautiful, particularly in JLAs opener Dark
Wind. Im hot and cold on this
disc. Im all for simplicity but
at times I just feel like I could getting more from this music. Michael Jon Finks Thread of Summer
never completely wins me over.
Just when I think hes captured my attention, Im lost. Ive forgotten what it was I am
listening to. Oh well, and
then Im captured again by the lush sort of chordal qualities and the
shimmering of Rick Coxs When April May. This is worth a listen. Try out the Cold Blue sampler above and then, if youre
sold, move on to this one.
(Somewhere in between, depending on
the day, and my mood) 
(Reviewed April 21, 2002)
Laurie Anderson: Life on a String (2001) Nonesuch 79539-2
From the first track One White Whale, its quite clear that this is quite going to be a
very listenable Anderson disc.
At times the tracks resemble in an odd way Sinead OConnors style at others
an odd mix of old school Jane Siberry.
Often easy listening and certainly never terribly challenging it
nevertheless grew on me the more I listened. That said, theres no clincher really. Andersons strange mix of folk, pop and
(pseudo) experimental left me a little hungry for more. Pieces and Parts
struck me as simplistically quaint, but a bit like listening to Raffi while
Slip Away left me wondering what exactly the Chinese instrumental references
were meant to signify? This
odd cross-cultural trip was unconvincing.
This is a strange disc.
While at times quite aurally rewarding, in general I kept looking for
more commitment. Not up to
Andersons past masterpieces.
(Reviewed May 4, 2002)
Erik Belgum: strange neonatal
cry (2001) Innova 527
A difficult work to pull off and full
credit to Belgum for trying.
However mixed spoken word and ambient music doesnt often work and
unfortunately here it fails. I was
unable to see any connection between the ambient noises and the spoken word. The music seemed to be an
afterthought, but I wasnt particularly inspired by his poetry or his reading
voice either. If youre curious
about this style of music may I suggest Harold Budd?
(Reviewed March 11, 2002)
Michle Bokanowski: LՎtoile Absinthe Metamkine MKCD031
2002
Bokanowski,
like Chion, is a star on Frances EA/ Concrte music scene and deservedly
so. In the 1970s she studied with
the acousmatic grandfather, Pierre Schafer at the ORTF. Her disc for Empreintes Digitales, Cirque, remains one of my favourites of the genre. LՎtoile Absinthe is in keeping with Bokanowskis unique sound. She is uses crescendos and
articulations to brilliant results.
She also likes the human voice (but not recognisable words) and is great
at manipulating it.
Bokanowskis piece is based on the controversial liquor absinthe. Interestingly, the drink is banned in
her native France as well as in many parts of Europe and the U.S. Canadians should take note, it isnt
illegal here and has become quite popular, particularly in Qubec, Ontario and
B.C. Its controversy is related to the effects of the drink. Supposedly (as I have never tried it,
this is all hearsay) the drink has a hallucinogenic effect that is unique from
the effects of traditional alcohol and marijuana. It creates clarity of the mind but also results in a
terrible hangover. The title
of the disc also refers to a work by the French poet Pierre Lepre, but Im not
sure if that is the exact reference.
Nevertheless, the music does have a dream-like effect and Im sure it
would be interesting to listen to while drinking the potent green fairy. Bokanowski creates her dreamy work
using a lot of sweeps and voices yipping and yapping. Interesting, but Im not sold on it. If youre new to Bokanowski, shes
worth an investigation, but Id listen elsewhere first.
(Reviewed October 8, 2002)
Gavin Bryars: Three String Quartets (2002) Black Box
(Performed by the Lyric
Quartet)
Along with Michael Nyman and John Tavener,
Gavin Bryars is one of the foremost composers of the British minimalist
school. Known for his larger
ensemble work, including Jesus Blood, his operas
and dance music. The three string
quartets provide a glimpse into Bryars inner workings, providing context for his
larger works and revealing much of his compositional stylings and ideas. Pity that there is not much there! This is one extremely boring disc. Perhaps its the clinical performance
by the Lyric or the recording itself, which is horribly dry, but the disc
failed to make much of an impression.
Twelve years separate the compositions between 1986 with his first and
1998 with his third. There does
not seem to be much evolution here.
I was prepared for radical changes in colour, expression, etc. Bryars is best to leave the string
quartet alone. At best it sounds
like passable movie music. At its
worst, shallow and pathetic compared to the magnificent (and undervalued)
quartets of his fellow countryman Benjamin Britten.
(Reviewed May 18, 2002)
Michel Chion: Dix-sept minutes
Metamkine MKCD032
2002
Michel
Chion, one of Frances great EA composers and an expert in film music has come
out with one of Metamkines typically strong offerings in its mini-music (<
21 minutes) series, Cinema pour lOreille (Film
for the ear). Entitled Dix-sept
minutes, Chions introduces the work and dedicates
it to Lionel Marchetti, a French concrte composer and poet. Chions compositions are very
strong, and this is a gem of a work.
On an aside, there is a high hiss throughout the work, suggesting that
Chion is still using acoustic equipment.
This also suggests less emphasis on software creation. Indeed Chions samples sound largely
unmanipulated and that makes for very strong listening. A great deal of emphasis is placed on
improvised sounds as well. Its
very free and a typically strong Chion offering. If you havent encountered Chions unique voice this is a
good introduction. If you are
already a big Chion fan, this disc is a strong addition to his catalogue.
(Reviewed October 8, 2002)
Codec Scovill: Clinical
Imperfections (2002) Nonresponse
nr-001
Pushed forward as Americas answer to
Empreintes Digitales, I fail to see the connections between Nonresponse records
and the groundbreaking Montral EA label.
Nevertheless, the music in this first release is of an exceptional and
often breathtaking quality.
Haunting and ephemeral, Codec Scovill, a trio of electronic improv
musicians always create music with an exceptional human quality to it. This is difficult to achieve in
electroacoustic music and all credit to them. I was particularly one over by the loops of the fifth track
triaging. Just when I thought
all hope had gone for repetitive music, Codec Scovill pulls out a few twists. This is a fun disc and Ill admit, often the last thing I
listen to before settling down for my dreams at night.
(Reviewed April 21, 2002)
Concentrick: Luciddreaming (2002) emperor jones EJ48CD
Quiet, peaceful and soft electronic analogue
sounds here. Tim Green
deftly bypasses the dangerous borders of new age falling into what we seem to
call ambience. Slow beats mingle
with his lyrical and velvety electronic sounds. Analogue is in these days, and it isnt hard to see
why! Amongst the instruments in
his repertoire: Micromoog, RMS 2000, Oscillator, Mellotron and a
Wurlitzer. Even the more
traditional instruments are recorded in pastel-like conditions. An enjoyable disc, but I couldnt help
but wonder if there were bird sounds on top, then this disc would be a
completely different thing altogether.
Shivers (my parrot, see the animal section for a picture!) helped me
out on this theory and indeed proved it brilliantly. A nature disc without the nature. Add your own!
Im sold on it today but with repeated listening, it is bound to get a
little stale. Coming in at
under fifty minutes, (five minutes of which are silence due to the odd bonus
track) it also doesnt sell itself very well. Yeah, yeah.
Quality over quantity, but in this case
(Reviewed May 8, 2002)
Francis Dhomont: Cycle du son (2001) Empreintes Digitales 0158
Francis Dhomont has become legendary both
in his native France and his adopted Canada. As one of the founders of what many call the Montral
School of acousmatics, Dhomonts musical style is all his own. How exciting therefore that Empreintes
Digitales has released another disc of his music. This disc is comprised of four linked works: Objets
retrouvs, AvatArsSon, Novars and Phonurgie. Each piece pays homage
to the history of musique concrte and electroacoustics. Novars strikes
me as the strongest of the three.
Dhomont has clearly constructed this piece with a lot of thought about
musical structure. Quotations of
Schaeffer and Machaut never sound forced or inconsistent with the other
material. Moreover, it is
Dhomonts placement of sound, the use of repeated gestural fragments and his
fabulous feeling of sonic space that makes not only Novars but in general the whole disc wonderful. Without a doubt more difficult than his previous discs like
La Fret Profonde Dhomont always draws us to his unique sonic environment.
(Reviewed May 6, 2002)
David Dunn: Four Electroacoustic
Compositions Pogus P21026-2 2002
Could we not have thought up a better title? Oh well, and the cover art leaves a
little to be desired as well so were not off to a great start here. The first track, With zitterings of
flight released is neat, but sadly dated, which is something considering it
was written in 93! In my opinion
really good EA, no matter how ancient, never ever, sounds dated. The second track, Sonic Mirror finds
one idea and sticks with it for the fifteen-minute duration, sort of a neat
sound, but tiresome. Wildflowers,
the third offering on the disc sounds like recreations of Pierre Schafer. It
doesnt offer more than Schafer ever did with his compositions and seems a bit
frustrated, if I can say that about music! It sort of reminds me of the music they still play on Sesame
Street during those weird pseudo-animation sketches! The final piece, Ennoia 2 is created through an
algorithmic software program.
Again, dated sounds but some very interesting structural things
here. Nicely composed. Dont take my word on this disc, as
American EA has never been all that exciting to me.
(Reviewed October 7, 2002)
Marcos Fernandes: Hybrid Vigor Accretions alop027 2002
Dont let the first track fool you, this disc is quite a bit different
from Radulovichs offering.
Fernandes, of mixed Japanese and Portuguese origins tries to put his
heritage in perspective with what looks like a traditional rock band, but that
sounds anything but. Minimalist at
times, with tinges of free jazz and sadly unfortunate turns into new age
sounds, the disc is at first exciting, but sadly looses its charm quite
quickly. I like a nice
cheddar cheese that will leave a great aftertaste long after Ive finished my
meal. This disc fails to do
that. But a nice effort.
(Reviewed October 7, 2002)