TIM WALTERS THE DRY WELL (CD by Core Dump)
A new label and a new name. Not much info. is given with this
CD, so I can’t tell much about Mr. Walters. The CD itself
sort of falls in two. The first three tracks are based on the
Epic of Gilgamesh and have electronics in combination with
female vocals. The electronics give the tracks a solid basis,
whereas the vocals are (wordless) more improvised. In the
latter three tracks, a kalimba (African Thumb Piano) is being
played and processed. Gradually the improvised character of
the kalimba is replaced by long stretched tones of sampling
(the sixth track for instance is a good example of this).
Though I don’t like improvised music so much, this CD is quite
good.
Address: coresump@slip.net
PAUL SAUVANET -FIVE ADAGIOS FOR TIMES OF SORROW (CD by Hearts
Of Space)
Adagio is a classical term for that part of the symphony which
is played slowly and is, through Mahler’s Adagio from his
unfinished Symphony, mostly used in a quiet and contemplating
way. Soon after this CD played, two names came to mind, which
probably will surface in any review of this CD: Arvo Part and
Henrick Gorecki. Especially the last one, whose third Symphony
was subtitled ‘Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs, seems to be a big
inspiration. The first part of that symphony with it slowly
building crescendo violins could have very well been on this
CD. Sauvanet’s five pieces are for digital chamber orchestra,
so all violins etc are from the electronic box.
The five pieces are sombre, meditative, Very quiet music for
the Sunday rainy afternoon (except it is now Saturday with
sunshine) .According to the text in the booklet, ‘five quiet
contemplations of one tempo might seem extreme’ , and yes,
that is true. Half way the fourth piece, I got tense, wanting
some change (after that I played some radically different
music). It is good stuff, but maybe a little bit too much.
Address: <info@hos.com>
ESCAPE TANK (CD by Instinct Ambient)
AMBIENT INTERMIX (double CD by Instinct Ambient)
The monthly series continue, Instinct Europe (which is KK
Records) licenses all the us stuff Though Instinct Ambient has
the ‘A’ word, it is a variety of music being releases Escape
Tank belong to the more ‘classical sort of ambient composers,
slowly shifting synthesizer patterns with far away tinkling
sounds or
sizzling hi-hats. This makes this CD into some aural
wallpaper, but without the negative connection, since this is
music to fill your environment when you are working or
whatever The ‘Ambient Intermix’ is not just a showcase of what
their artist roster is, but also expresses the remix quality
of some of the artists Musically this set ranges from dark,
rhythmical stuff to the ‘real’ ambient stuff to dubbed music
Quiet a nice compilation in its kind. Address,
kknz@kkrecords.be
STEVE ROACH & MICHAEL STEARNS & RON SUNSINGER KIVA (CD be
Hearts of Space)
‘Kiva represents the unbroken circle of the earth’ according
to the CD cover. You will see much more on the Kiva cover,
but too much to repeat in the review. You can expect some
fine correlation between percussion and chanting along with
digital synthesizers and sounds. Some of the ethnic side
bears some of the Jorge Reyes stuff (with whom Steve Roach
also worked) to set your thoughts. Though this is not a bad
CD at all, it takes a little too much time to be entertaining
throughout.
MFTEQ 12
The magazine we should say appearing twice a year Just like
the previous issue, the first 3000 have a CD (this time a
compilation best of from the Hyperium label} Inside interviews
with Ales Empire, Autopsia, Derek Bailey, Hy-Rize, SETI, Sheep
On Drugs, plus info on labelssuch as Hyperium, Swim or Mille
Plateaux plus tons of reviews and special sections on dance
music, jap noise, guitar ,tuff Some 125 page” bookbound: what
else do you need? Address MFTEQ PO Box 87 -Ilford – Essex –
lGl 3HJ – UK
I/e Magazine No.9.
Interview, with Cluster, Larry Fast, Hector Zazou. Also
features on ‘New Electronica’ to ‘Prog Rock’ {is that Old
Electronica?} and this also featured in their review, Compare
it to Audion, but with a wider view Address: iemag@aolcom