Claudio Parodi — A Ritual which is Imcomprehensible( to the smile o

Having rather enjoyed Horizontal mover the first release in 06  on extreme by classical trained pianist, improviser and sound artist Claudio Parodi . I was looking forwarded to hearing his new work, which like Horizontal mover is another tribute to renowned experimental  artists this time it’s American improvised and composer Pauline Oliveros.

The three part piece like  many of  Oliveros pieces utilizes just one instrumental tone to make up it's repetitive and looped patterns, but instead of Oliveros favourite accordion Parodi users Turkish clarinet and two tapes. It all starts off pleasantly hypnotic and pressing with the Turkish clarinets weary and melancholy melodies/drone looping round and round. With slight tape elements shifting in the back ground here and there either sounding like loud room type hum, tape unravelling or distant fairground sound. The problem comes as the piece progresses he just doesn’t seem to know what to do with it, so as a result it  starts to sound tiresome and rather borring. Unlike Oliveros repetive and drone pieces- there’s just no magic or grace to this, it just feels too dry and stuffy been more about technique and less about sonic enjoyment.

The last part shows promise towards the end as he lets the tape elements show more, even stopping the clarinet weary plod altogether - but instead of developing or letting the tape elements unfold for anytime alone he just cuts it short altogether, which feels like a really missed opportunity. The problem with this type of piece is it either works or it doesn’t and sadly this mostly doesn’t. If he’d only cut the pieces length down and done more interesting things with the tape elements this could have been worthwhile.