Terrascope Online (July 2007)
14-07-2007
Following on from the magnificent “Invisible Pyramid” compilation (2005), this set is the first in an on-going series chronicling the sonic adventures of the Last Visible Dog label. Featuring 11 acts including the previously unheard Oaxacan, the whole thing is a statement about the current state of drone/improv/free-noise, which seems to be very healthy if the tracks within are anything to go by.
It is up to The Free Players to welcome us in with the creeping mist drone of “All Time Sunrise”, a subtle blend of delicate noise that lasts forever, but is over too quickly. Opening with some ritual drumming, The North Sea (Brad Rose), delight the senses with “Albino Deer Transmissions” a track dominated by stringed improvisations that slowly dissolve over eleven minutes, distorting into a wailing drone of primitive joy, the plucked string maintaining a sense of melody throughout. On “The Burlap Tundra” all sense of melody is lost in a dense wall of drone, rattling and creaking sounds only heightening the sense of loss and disorientation that Western Automatic create. The fact that it is all produced by Matt Christensen on modified guitar and home-made spring percussion box only adds to the wonder.
Featuring just two organs played by Ilya Monosov/Preston Swirnoff Duo, “The Sea Within” is pure drone, the beauty revealed in the sound between the sounds, a meditational deepness embedded in the work that demands concentration from the listener. In complete contrast Andrea Belfi uses a wide variety of sounds and textures, both electronic and acoustic, to paint the vivid soundscape of “RIB”, hints of melodies hidden under stuttering percussion and rising drones. Sounds like the Clangers enjoying some magic mushrooms on a full-moon night, and is all the better for it.
Finally on disc one Paper Wings, featuring Anthony Guerra and Anthony Milton (the most prolific man in drone), leave us reeling with 24 minutes of improvised electric guitar, whispering and wailing. Here the music is intense and emotional, building into a typhoon of noise and chaos, before the storm slowly recedes ending with some brittle feedback. A masterclass in free improv that is even better at ear-splitting volume.
So, halfway though and not a bad track in sight, lets hope side two continues to maintain the exceptional high standard.
Again featuring two guitars, this time manipulated by Geoff Mullens and Kris Lapke under the name Northern Cross, the opening track on side two “Corvus Dei” is a rumbling piece of improvisation that sound like a slow train across a winters night, hypnotic and dreamlike. Continuing with this dream state “Snack Bars Near The Beach” has a surreal quality about it, the opening sounds and voices as random as a overheard conversation that is soon lost in a slow motion, melting drone, you can almost feel the tarmac sticking to your shoes. Played by Brasil and the gallowbrothers band, this is one of the most distinctive pieces on the compilation.
Recorded live in 2005 “Twin Beaks”-Sunken is yet another long improvisation featuring Anthony Milton, this time partnered by Stefan Neville. Utilising reed organ, microphones, loops, effects and vocals, this is my favourite track on the album, the droning organ given a shimmering coat of sound, creating a magnificent swarm of notes and harmonies, which swirl and dart across the room like migrating starlings at eventide. As the piece progresses, vocal are added, recorded, played back, added again adding yet another layer of sound, the whole thing ending in a blissful drone of perfect beauty. With the traditional line-up of Guitar/vocals, bass and drums, Kawaguchi Masami’s New Rock Syndicate are an unexpected delight as they play some west coast tinged psychedelia on “From the Dream” with the dancing guitar held together by some excellent drum and bass interplay.
Finally we come to the previously unreleased Oaxacan featuring Amy (vocals, electronics) Mike (Drums, percussion, melodica) and Derek (Guitar). On “Tulum” everything is slow and ethereal in the beginning, the piece slowly rising in intensity with the drums creating a thunderstorm of sound punctuated by vocal wails and distorted guitar. Recorded live, this an excellent track that has the beauty of a storm and ends this sublime compilation in a fitting way. Much kudos to Chris Moon for compiling the album and for being the driving force behind such an inventive and high quality label. (Simon Lewis)
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Andrea Belfi
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