Where’s the CD Review?

A – F G – R S – Z

Various New Releases Legend

Guide

Sorry folks for not reviewing more. I did review some stuff in the last issue of Musicworks magazine. I don’t think I’m allowed to post that stuff here though. I’ll try to be better in the future.

NEW RELEASES (Updated October 30, 2002)

(Much more to come!)

Various Artists: Parr(A)cousmatique (2002) Empreintes Digitales

I’ve been waiting a long time to get the new string of Empreintes Digitales CD’s, but it’s been worth the wait. Holy smokes. Arturo Parra is the guitarist on this CD of mixed electroacoustics. This is not the mixed (and oh so!) EA you’ve heard at your local university, this is exciting and fervent music by some big names in the EA scene and some lesser ones all working in collaboration with the guitarist Arturo Parra. The first offering, Stéphane Roy’s La Basilique Fantôme, is one of the most impressive mixes I’ve ever heard. Perfectly superb. The guitar is never hidden, never outdone by the electronics. Roy and Parra create a wonderful symmetry between the ancient baroque origins of the guitar and contemporary EA. Mauricio Bejarano follows with a quieter but equally strong offering in D’Or et de Lumière. Parra and Bejerano offer some truly breathtaking and serene moments, which I find is always a shocking in EA. The EA legend, Francis Dhomont follows with Sol Y Sombra… L’Espace Des Spectres. Signature Dhomont sounds here which I was a bit worried about, but needn’t have been. Temporally, Dhomont has such control of his material. Dhomont is very aggressive with his sounds. Parra’s not afraid of allowing Dhomont’s music to overpower the guitar, and it’s very effective. In Gilles Gobeil’s Soledad Parra uses a lot of percussive guitar sounds and it’s very enjoyable. Huge, loud sweeping textures, reminiscent of the music if Francisco Lopez are juxtaposed with quiet, minimalist sections. Parra’s collaboration with Robert Normandeau in L’envers du temps, is the one weak track on the disc. There’s something about the sound in his work that I’m not as convinced about. Perhaps it’s the emphasis on tonal centres that I couldn’t get into.

The press release states that “style wise, this may not be your usual Empreintes Digitales fair.” Indeed not, and thank heavens for it. I thought the label was in a bit of a funky rut. I see they are not. A great disc.

(Reviewed October 27, 2002)

Fennesz: Field Recordings 1995-2002 (2002) Touch

Christian Fennesz, the Viennese electronic artist, comes out with a brand new album of source recordings for his particular style of electronics. First off, what an outstanding cover design. Touch puts out all the stops on this one, and it’s beautiful. The music, minimalist electronics, on the other is a real mix. Some numbers are really stunning, others a bit boring. This is electronica for the intellectual, and some of the pieces border on the hearts of space style. And I sort of like it, given my mood. Beyond clicks and clucks, beyond clinical edgy electronics, Fennesz isn’t afraid to get in and get dirty. This is an interesting listen and worth getting for the sheer beauty of the packaging.

(Reviewed October 29, 2002)

Keith Rowe & Oren Ambarchi: Flypaper (2002) Staubgold

Ambient electronics, buzzes, drones, crackles, whistles, beeps, scrapes and much more permeate throughout this CD. If you listen carefully you might even pick up sounds of a radio. I appreciated the beeping ostinato, the humming, shaking, breathing quality of the work. The disc is divided into four tracks, entitled Flypaper 1 – IV. Ambarchi does the electronics and guitar work (which, if there is any, is particularly subtle, and unobtrusive) and Rowe performs on tabletop guitar and with electronics. Almost “controlled” soundscape composition. Yeah, that’s it. It’s like an environment we haven’t found yet. Strong release, although not as diverse as I might have hoped for. Good listening nonetheless.

(Reviewed October 28, 2002)

Various Artists: Star Switch On (2002) Touch

Based on the monumental wildlife recordings of Chris Watson, the Touch compilation disc, Star Switch On picks up where Watson could very well have kept going. Besides his own contributions, remixes are created by Mika Vainio, Philip Jeck, Hazard, Fennesz, Biosphere and AER. Lately, I’ve been having a whole lot of fun with compilation CD’s and this disc is really no exception. Mika Vainio’s opening work, Outside the Circle of Fire is just marvellous. Quiet submarine-like noises submerse us in a dense, wet and floating world. The second track by Philip Jeck, Capriole, is just as good as the first. Beautiful overtone electronics, metallic machinery noises, pulsing rhythms and a poignant clarity of sound make for a brilliant snippet of music. Goat Behaviour by AES sounds like Scandanavian goat herding gone truly mad. It’s almost ghost-like and very hypnotic. Night and Dawn brings a wonderful beat to the natural world. It’s a perfect ending, to a perfect disc. A must.

(Reviewed October 30, 2002)

Tibor Szemzõ: Exodus (2002) Leo Records

Another wow. This is a beautiful disc, albeit a bit uneven. Bear in mind this is film music, and you’ll be okay. Written for the film, The Danube Exodus, Szemso and his band of merry music makers put together some simple and very beautiful stark, cold, floating, wave-breaking music that I just adore. The movie is based on two departures on a Danube cruise ship. The first group are Jews, heading towards Palestine, the second are Soviet Germans exiled from Russia and on their way to Germany. Tracks like “Ceskoslovensko” and “Counter-Light” are particularly moving. This is a very enjoyable disc. Maybe it’s the simplicity of the harmonic string lines or the arpeggiated piano chords. Who knows? But I feel like I’ve seen the movie through the music alone. I’m a big fan of Szemsõ, having played his previous Leo releases countless times on WtB? That said, this is not as strong as a solo release, and only true fans should head towards this CD. Search out Tibor Szemzõ, find another disc, and then if you like it, this one might be up your alley.

(Reviewed October 30, 2002)

Where’s the Legend?

I wasn’t sure which way I wanted to do this. Is the silence worth more than the sound or vice-versa? Oh well, no use thinking about it too much, eh!

“ This is a total bomb. Listening to this disc is a total waste of time. I already wasted mine so you don’t have too! Aren’t I a nice guy? ”

“ Well they tried their best. (Yawn!) Are you feeling as sleepy as I am? Hey, there was a second of music I liked… Oh no, my mistake, it must have been a truck passing by on the street. ”

“ Hmm…some interesting things here. I wouldn’t buy it, but then again, I’m not always right. Worth listening to and seeing if this one’s up your alley. ”

“ This is a good disc. Recommended But if you’re hard up for cash and it’s between this and dinner, eat! ”

“ Ahhh…. The sweet sounds of music... Go and buy this disc. With such beautiful and exhilarating music who needs physical nourishment! Listen and believe. ”

“ This is one of those discs you are always going to listen to. It’s an instant classic and a must have for your collection. Run out and find a copy because this disc is not too cold and not too warm, but just right. ”