| "The retrieving of these forgotten things from oblivion in some sort resembles the art of a conjurer. And when that made by man is all removed, then all that is left is of an origin wholly natural" - JOHN AUBREY, 1670, Monumenta Britannica
These six electroacoustic compositions are from a duo that has worked together sporadically since the Mesolithic, and which has always used both melody and repetition alongside more abstract elements. Although in the past this duo has performed entirely improvised concerts, for this recording chance procedures have been harnessed within carefully composed structures. This CD explores a variety of compositional possibilities arising from three main sources.
Several pieces are based on ideas for modified electric guitar sometimes combined with natural or processed woodwind, while others exploit recent experiments with music boxes. Occasionally these are inserted into an unsuspecting ukelele, producing an artefact from now on to be known as the boxophone. The soundworld moves from the uneasy minimalism of "Retrieving" to the guitar brutalities versus west coast clarinet stylings of "Forgotten things".The "hau" builds on an idea for sopranino saxophone playing naturally occuring melodic fragments set in a pre-industrial landscape of questionable reality. These longer pieces are balanced against the almost heard as played guitar of "Brodger" and the granular alchemy of "The art of a conjurer".
During the recording of "Material flow" we heard of the sad passing of Jackie McLean. He might not have liked what we've played, but we hope he would appreciate the sentiment. |
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