Cyclo — ID
Cyclo is a project that started back in 1999, featuring Ryoji Ikeda and Carsten Nicolai. While it may not be the most prolific project, this is their second release; separately they both have released various cds and have created numerous sound installations.
ID is a complex cd to dissect. To see the total cd/book/cd-rom set is a bit intimidating. Ikeda and Nicolai shaped the project as an interactive multimedia experience. Together they researched and collected audio visual material to illustrate their sounds. Luckily I only received the cd to review! That in itself was an interesting task. Not being able to “see” the project as it was intended might lessen the impact of the music. Would it hold its own? Would it convey the impact that was planned?
To answer the above, yes and yes. Cyclo have created a delicate balance of sounds and perceived silences. Frequencies, pitches, oscillators, noise and tone generators give birth to jarring, hypnotic and anxious sounds that seem to disappear as quickly as we hear them. It is minimalist electronic, glitch, ambient and rhythmic yet with the combination presented to us it does not overwhelm. The sounds surround us without pummeling, there is a seriously gentle and graceful skill here and Cyclo prove themselves adept at each subtle nuance.
Admittedly after reading about the book and cd-rom multimedia to accompany the music I made an effort to check it out (there are small snippets on YouTube). Seeing the music performed with the complementary visuals did give a greater impact on the listener. It is a very moving, amazing balance of energy, sound, movement and images. This is a genius piece of art really, cleverly disguised as just another electronic/experimental cd. Find it, seek it out and open yourself to the sights and sounds you thought unimaginable.