VARIOUS - XV (Compilation CD by Edition ...)
Edition ... seems to be establishing itself as an outlet for a wide, but
selective variety of sound art of high quality. With this compilation,
featuring works by James Whitehead, Colin Potter, Hazard, S.L. Ledbetter,
Toy.Bizarre, M. Beherens, JLIAT, Jio Shimizu and Monos, the label is anifesting
itself securely in a small, but very interesting space within the world
of the arts. With an interest like this, it is not surprising that the
material presented on this CD is quite subdued and almost timid. Some
of the tracks are plain recordings of events, others are edited in a certain
way. For example, the first track by J. Whitehead is a recording of nuclear
tests and is propably just that. But the sound is very unique and probably
impossible to (re)create and has a superb mesmerising effect. The second
piece is by Colin Potter and is based on a line of text (that I will not
divulge), that becomes clear only at the end of the track. The third track
by Hazard is obviously edited sound material, of which the origins are
pretty much unclear. But the result is very atmospheric and resembles
hot, dry air and a lot of sun. Track four is a radio rcording lasting
just over half a minute, with a female voice saying numbers and quite
a lot of static. The artist is not revealed. Track five is by S.L. Ledbetter
and appears to be a layering of sounds of organ fans and is indeed very
hissy and very mesmerising again. A beautiful piece. Track six is by Toy.Bizarre,
who recorded sounds on a hill top and seems to have played around with
wooden sticks right there as well. This track is the most constructed
one yet, and done so very very well, I may add. With very plain and very
edited sounds, Toy.Bizarre creates a world of his own, to which we are
invited, if not tempted. This guy is getting better every time. Track
seven is a very short disruption of static by J. Whitehead, that functions
very well within the whole. Number eight is by M. Behrens. It slowly rolls
us into near silence, beckoning for all the noise out my window to give
it a rest damn it! A very gentle and tentative piece with a dark, but
light atmosphere. The next track is by JLIAT and must be very inetersting
conceptually, because during the ten minutes it takes, I can only hear
very very changes. This is probably something to take a lot of time for.
Up next is Jio Shimizu, who's work is probably equally conceptual (if
not more so) as JLIAT's. Then again, the explanation provided by Shimizu
challenges the listener to distinguish between two recordings, based on
exactly the same material, but with silences inserted at intervals of
1/18000 seconds (of thatlength as well). The two recordins are cut in
such a way that the cuts never coincide. So basically, we are listening
to two completely different recordings, althoug they sound exactly the
same........Highly intelligent (as usual) and offering something to think
about (as usual). Track twelve is by Monos, a beautifull combination of
concrete and abstract sounds building up slowly and fading out the same
way. The last track is birds singing and a hum and it's short.......A
very good compilation. (Meelkop Roel )
from Vital Weekly 320 | Week 15 | 10 April 2002
