Text of Light — Metal Box
The idea of the project was to improvise to the work of American Avant-Garde film markers from the 1950’s through to the 1960’s. Each concert is very different from the last mixing in elements of jazz, electronica, guitar noise, drone ,and turntable elements- to create wonderfully improvised soundworld, that are very involving and enjoyable ,even with out the visuals. The first disk is enjoyable enough taking in their first ever show in 2001 at the Tonic in New York.It’s the second and the third disk that really hold the audio gems in my mind, they seem to a developed into a flowing collective style, that is full of surprises, but never awkward sounding.
A few of my favourite moments are the opening track from disk two entitled 052405 Bruxelles 1 , which features Alan Licht, Lee Ranaldo, Ulrich Kreiger and Tim Barnes. The track has such a great eerier droning air to it, sounds echo and scuttle from with- in, sometimes sounding like sinister fridge sound, or metallic branch brushings, other times rich waves of tense pitches, creating a great on edge atmosphere, the whole piece seems to be pressing in on your with creepy and nevorous distrust.
O52402 echo 3+2, features Alan Licht, Lee Ranaldo, Ulrich Kreiger, DJ Olive and Christian Marclay. Not surprisingly the track has a lot of turntable elements to it with the appearances of Marclay and DJ Olive. It drifts through rich smoky jazz, dripping rhythmic elements and weird dialogue, disconnected strings sailing drunkenly around, lonely melting piano melodies. As the track nears mid way it seems to settle in to looped piano cords, and piles of audio Debris, all pulled tightly in by guitar wall of noise.
Disk three is made up of one hour long track recorded in Dundee- and it features Alan Licht, Lee Ranaldo, Ulrich Kreiger and Tim Barnes. Its starts off with brooding guitar tones and scuttling percussive elements. The rich drone element develops wonderfully, like the cracking of a blood red sun over the remains of long fort battle, on the deserts blood decorated floor, the track is painted wonderfully with effect laddered guitar work. Through out the track varies and changes, but still keeps the original brooding feeling- the highlight of the whole set really.
So with out a doubt of interested to fans of improvised and drone music, performed by some well know names, with wonderfully atmospheric grace and brooding flare. To order direct go here.