| Tod Dockstader's "organized sound" has captivated, delighted, and sometimes frightened listeners for several decades. With dozens of highly enthusiastic reviews, Starkland's two CDs have led to the recognition of Dockstader as one of the finest electronic music composers yet to appear. The Washington Post calls Dockstader "one of the giants in the field," while Stereophile places his output "on a par with the best."
The two CDs, each containing over 70 minutes of strikingly original music, offer significantly improved sound over the limitations of the original LPs. Dockstader carefully supervised the transfer from his original master tapes to the final digital masters. The Washington Post notes that the extraordinary sound of the CDs "at last, is equal to the remarkable sounds Dockstader has produced."
The first CD presents the darkly ominous, 45-minute work many regard as his masterpiece, Quatermass, the playful Water Music, and the premiere recordings of Two Moons (spinoffs from Quatermass).
The booklets for these two CDs offer the most complete Dockstader documentation available: biographical information, notes on each piece, photos, authoritative Introductions, and additional Dockstader commentary on his early influences and tortuous studio techniques. Fanfare found the booklets "gratifyingly thorough...among the best prepared I've seen."
Anyone who has an interest in electronic music should hear this powerful, classic organized sound.
The Wire:
"The obsessive care with which Starkland have compiled these extraordinary recordings should ensure that Dockstader will be remembered as the innovative, visionary figure he undoubtedly was."
The Washington Post:
"Strong recommendation... a highly imaginative pioneer... The style and texture vary tremendously, from the ebullient Water Music to the surreal Quatermass." |