BIG CITY ORCHESTRA -"GREATEST HITS AND TEST TONES"
Five of B.C.O's tunes interpreted by artists including Gong stalwart Daevid Allen (track 9) and 4 nasty "test tones" mixed by Monte Cazazza and others.The remaining 34 tracks which take up the last 14 minutes of the cd are an array of noises,speech,found sound and rhythms. In all a cd of quirky avant-pop that has been put truly through the mincer.
PAULINE OLIVEROS-"ALIEN BOG/BEAUTIFUL SOOP"
Two pieces of prime sixties electronica."Alien Bog"(apparently influenced by the noises of frogs in a pond) freaked the hell out of my 2 cats through its use of high frequencies. Looped and delayed sounds of a heterodyne nature (look it up!) fade in and out using a tape delay system not unlike Frippertronics. The second piece is more of the same with human voices used as yet another texture.Passages from texts such as "Alice in Wonderland" are looped,faded,reversed and delayed to add to the overall effect. Intriguing music to be immersed in
.
TRIGGER - "ALL THESE TIMES"
Using interesting instrumentation this trio (Cello,Contra-bass Clarinet and Bassoon) play difficult compositions that lean heavily on the improvisational area .Perhaps demonstrating their links to the "LO-FI" scene four of the tracks were recorded live at a "GOD IS MY CO-PILOT" noise workshop! The general sound however is not unlike a tuneful JOHN ZORN in a " lets piss of the neighbours" mode.
LEO KUPPER - "ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC"
The first two segments consist of classical stringed instruments,the Persian Santur and the Acoustic Guitar,being accompanied by electronics.The instrument are plucked,strummed &struck whilst electronic washes complete the sound . The third segment is a piece for stereo D.A.T tape and abstract soprano vocals .The pace and tone of the tape slowly changes over the duration of the track with the singer responding to it .Electronic birds and bell chimes add to the overall atmosphere. The final piece "Le Reveur Au Sourire Passager"is a darkly mysterious sounding piece consisting of a long poem in French with electronic backing .Hints of a deeper hermetic meaning are emphasised by the fact that I only speak enough French to order two beers and a pizza! However the text to the poem is given in the C.D booklet for those of you with a better grasp of these sort of things.On the whole a C.D for a darkened room and an open mind.
RUNE LINDBLAND - "DEATH OF THE MOON"
Lindbland,whom critics once described a concert by as "pure torture",was an early pioneer of electronic and concrete music.The concrete beginnings of this disc reminded me of both the orchestral "rush" at the end of "A day In A Life " by the BEATLES and also "Hymnen" by that other pioneer of avant- garde classical music STOCKHAUSEN .Other pieces on this c.d are more contemplative but always with a current of unease.When listening to this fascinating disc it is worth remembering that it is a re-issue of material done between 1955 and 1960 .Sound quality is therefore not perfect but it is very much worth a listen
.
RUNE LINDBLAND - "OBJEKT-22"
Volume 2 of the music of this Swedish composer continues where the first one left off.Raw and uncompromising ,some of the tracks can hardly even be described as music in any recognisable form however as the discs progress they get more structured with track 8 sounding like THE POP GROUP meeting DEPECHE-MODE .Any -one with an interest in the development of Electronic and Concrete music would be advised to hear this.
DIDKOVSKY,MACLEAN and VRTACEK - "FLIES IN THE FACE OF LOGIC"
This disc begins with the frankly disappointing sound of a piano being dropped from a 100' crane. The music that follows is broadly piano based.The stance of the musicians is that none of them play piano and so these pieces are constructed in various ways.Technology obviously plays a great hand with different ways of altering and sequencing the sound of both acoustic and electronic piano.While not being a great fan of piano music of any type myself, this disc will be of interest to many people who are .
IF, BWANA - "33 BIRDS WENT"
The first of 3 discs by the oddly named "IF,BWANA" .On this disc the fluid personnel of this group make quiet and gentle music from mainly acoustic instrumentation treating it to the altering effects of as many electronic devices as they can get their hands on .Voices come and go backed by atonal cello scrapings and the sound of a flanger .well ,flanging .Some of the vocal stylings put me in mind of some of the work of KATHY BERBERIAN . Oddly addictive ,this is yet another disc for a night in with the headphones and a recreational cigarette.
IF,BWANA - "TRIPPING INDIA"
The first piece is for 3 pianists on 3 different pianos at 3 different times playing along to a tape ,in this recording the original tape is not present The pianos appear to be prepared with all manner of un-piano like sound emerging into the freeform melee. The second piece is for 2 highly manipulated percussionists and brings to mind some of the early eighties metal bashing groups or even Z`EV. The final and title track is for my mind the most effective,described as an"audio travelogue " the group take a recording of a trip around India and mix it with some of their manipulated percussion.A long piece ,it evokes the feelings of travel ,with "audio snapshots" such as the chanting of Hindu priests drifting about.A lovely piece to shut your eyes and imagine your travelling to .
IF,BWANA - "BREATHING"
The title track is a Didjeridoo driven piece perfect for listening to whilst looking at Ayers Rock .Notes of discord and unease come ,however from the other instruments and tapes.This is what rescues the piece from New Age Muzak Hell . The second piece is more of the groups effected piano meandering , again given treatments to ensure an uneasy edge. The final piece "Barump Poc" is a full orchestral piece , nicely dissonant and challenging .This piece reminds me of some recordings of Tibetan rituals I have heard especially with the half heard snatches of dialogue .The intensity of the piece also brings to mind GLEN BRANCA`S wall of guitar sound.