This tape collects two pieces by AG Davis, proprietor of
Obsolete Units, a label that bills itself as “atypical recorded goods for
willing participants”. I think if you check this one out you’ll be in that
category. Both pieces included here were released on cdr in micro-editions
(side a was an edition of 9 and side b an edition of 7).
Side A, titled “Die Antizipation des Modernen Sociopath”, is
a really awesome smash-up of two people speaking german (the people might
actually be speak-n-spells, even though the credits claim otherwise) and a
variety of highly cinematic background compositions. Some are harsh, some are
sharp, one reminds me of that sound that’s always in movie trailers when the
giant monster appears, but isolated, looped, and sanded down into something
much more pleasant. The people keep talking, the background sounds slowly morph
into another register, and then the side ends. Slyly addictive, it’s a piece
that makes you want to keep coming back, keep attempting to get a better sense
of its shape.
My roommate says Side B makes her feel like she’s in an
alien pay toilet. It’s laconic noise that’s half-trying to be space-jazz but is
maybe a little too cool to do that without some complications. Highly
recommended.
-- Mark McCloughan
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