MORPHOGENESIS – STROMATOLITES (CD by Vintage Electronic Records)
COLUMN ONE – CLASSIC CHILL OUT RHYTHMS 2 (2CD by Moloko +)
DANIEL MENCHE – SCOURGE (miniCD by GMBH)
AUTECHRE – ADVERSE CHAMBER (12″ by Thrill Jockey)
ROBERT M. LEPAGE & MARTIN TETREAULT – CALLAS : LE DIVA ET LE VINYL
PIERRE TANGUAY & TOM WALSH – MIDI TAPANT
(Both CD’s by Distribution Ambiances Magnetiques Etcetera)
MORPHOGENESIS – STROMATOLITES (CD by Vintage Electronic Records)
Morphogenesis are kinda like an electronic/electro-acoustic big band, here
in total five persons (who all have their distinct sounds and side
projects). They have been playing their improvised live concerts in the
greater London area for the last 10 years (now I come to think of it, I
don’t think they’ve played outside London). From the three tracks on
‘Stromatolites’, the first two were previously released on cassette by
Direction Music a long time ago. Although this band must have a vast
archive of recordings, I don’t see why they harked back to this recording –
not that it is a bad one, but there is probably more undiscovered beauty.
Part One of the title piece is built around the sound of a gong, producing
the backbone of the piece. Other sounds (the scraping of violin, springs
and radio sounds) swirl in and out. Best listened to with headphones, to
enjoy fully the stereo effect. The second part seems more like a choir of
processed voices and other remote sounds. The third track (which was
recorded earlier this year) is more ambient, even though this is not an
appropiate word to describe Morphogenesis. It’s more calm, more electronic
and less scratching the surface.
Morphogenesis prove to be one of the most underrated electro-acoustic bands
I know. Truly vintage and truly electronic. (FdW)
Address: 46 Beversbrook Road – London N19 4QH – UK
COLUMN ONE – CLASSIC CHILL OUT RHYTHMS 2 (2CD by Moloko +)
I associate this band with the darker areas of ambient and industrial
music, but they do tend to step beyond. This CD is a proof of these side
steps. Modern dance electronica, cut ups and collage fly in and out. People
Like Us meet Aphex Twin and tons of silly humour and popular retro (read:
elektro) music. Not bad, but certainly not my cup of tea I guess. (FdW)
Address: Moloko+ fax: +49 39200 53629
DANIEL MENCHE – SCOURGE (miniCD by GMBH)
One piece that stretches over the full 21 minutes of the 3″ format in
Daniel’s known style of contact-microphone manipulations through effects
and distortion. Played with the usual high standard of Menche’s work, but
for die-hard’s like me, just too short. I prefer the full length CD’s, so I
guess this release is for those, who heard about Daniel Menche, but never
heard what he is all about. A thorough introduction. (FdW)
Address:
AUTECHRE – ADVERSE CHAMBER (12″ by Thrill Jockey)
Two of my faves here: Autechre remixes Tortoise. Yummy. If you hear the
‘remix’ and your mind thinks boom-boom rhythms, then this 12″ might be an
ear-opener. The title piece uses the marimba sound and a repeating melody
keyboard line and bass. Lots of obscure sounds are far away in the mix.
Very subdued – very good. Nothing was the way it is. Very simple tune, very
minimal, but nothing like a remix (certainly if you have Derrick Carter’s
remix of Tortoise in mind). ‘To Day Retraivel’ is even shorter can is
carried by the same melody line, but here it’s main thing. The sounds are
stretched and taken back to it’s original shape. A much more obscure track,
but very much like recent Autechre pieces. One of the best Tortoise remixes
I heard. (FdW)
Address: any good record store might have it.
ROBERT M. LEPAGE & MARTIN TETREAULT – CALLAS : LE DIVA ET LE VINYL
PIERRE TANGUAY & TOM WALSH – MIDI TAPANT
(Both CD’s by Distribution Ambiances Magnetiques Etcetera)
Two quite different CD’s on this Canadian label about which I know zilch.
The first is a tribute to Maria Callas who popped her clogs twenty years
prior to this release, in 1977. LePage and Tetreault apparently ‘evoke
Callas in unexpected and fascinating (sic) ways…they meld together
different effects: scratches and clicks, slow, normal and fast speeds as
Tetreault toys with the turntable….and the joyous or tender clarinet’. I
listened to it a couple of times and remain convinced that my first
reaction to it is still the most valid one – the speed-shifted voice of
Maria Callas, which opens the CD is the most impressive single event on
this recording (a marvellously eminent sample, thank you very much !). And
the track which incorporates the Italian/English language course has the
most humorous content. For the rest, there is innovation enough, and of
course I can appreciate the concept of limiting your tools to explore them
as deeply as possible, but the entire sound palette of this music seems to
stay within a small localised space. The turntable techniques reveal
nothing really new about the old Callas recordings, and the mostly
improvised (I suspect) clarinet ‘weaves it’s way up and down it’s long
range’ with all the usual squeaks and grunts we’ve come to know and love so
well. It’s funny enough, with tongues most firmly wedged in cheeks, but I
can’t sense the funk. Know what I mean ?
The second CD, ‘Midi Tapant’ is a different kettle of fish, however. The
first track, ‘Friends Overtime’ has a seductive shape to it which slowly
lures you into this unique soundworld. Tom Walsh’s trombone skates around
on a soft and subtle percussive almost-oriental carpet. I’m curious if
there is a longer version of this – it’s so comfortable to listen to.
Gradually the music on this CD breaks up, slowly becoming more fragmented
allowing more and more peculiarity to peer through. In many ways I was
reminded of Ghedelia Tazartes music (check out his incredible ‘Voyage a
l’ombre’ on Demosaurus). The tracks all seem to flow effortlessly into each
other (I didn’t listen to it as separate tracks, or consult the listing at
any time), until we get to the title track, which is also second last on
the CD. It’s a conversation between the trombone and the percussion (and
maybe some other noises too), which falls into the deeply ploughed and
over-worked furrow where so much other improvisation music lurks –
undefined and formless (much like most on the Callas CD). The closing piece
was also a bit disappointing when compared to what preceded it, but still
THIS is certainly music to listen to time and again. (MP)