Hendiadys offer a live recording, "XI" on side two of
this split tape.I was greeted with a slowly and thoughtfully building
"assault" that led way to a feedback drone (maybe keyboard
activated). The piece meanders, ever so
slowly, as the textures evolve and introduced noises fade in and out. Well
executed and constructed, my only criticism was wishing at times it moved along
a little quicker.
With this I should elaborate. I mostly do electronic/
experimental reviews. I collect these tapes well beyond what I review here and
have hundreds that I treasure. In listening, I have concluded, that like any
other music, or art for that matter, you make your statement and move on.
Unless your intent is to accent the monotony of a segment, there is no use in
hanging on a region past it's effectiveness. Determining this is part of what
separates the good from the great.
Applying this to this piece, the middle section grows a bit
slowly though later regions seem to get the idea and expand and explore within
their parameters quite well. This could have been an outstanding fifteen minute
offering but as it exists it is a very good twenty-plus minute piece.
Flipping the tape over (yes, I actually do that) we have
Prairie-Litiere. This untitled piece from the French outfit starts in with a
beat and some shuffling. Something is clearly in the making here. What you get
is for the most part, minimalist experimentalism. A landscape building in that
initial beat until it drowns it out with screeching tension building and madcap
rumbling.
I must admit the franticness of the piece is nearly intoxicating.
Every injection is well suited for the moment it is in. And then suddenly it
ends. We hear movement, more shuffling, this time I'm ready though...still
ready...still more shuffling...voices...movement...ahhh, now a tone has been
interjected. Please refer to paragraph two concerning the length of a segment in
a piece.
After some time percussion enters the scenario and a more butler
screeching/feedback altercation begins. Conflict. It's building now...and then
it ends.
The artists here have much in common. They are both highly adept
at placement and have a good understanding of the importance of dynamics in
music and art. Both also tend to stretch a good thing out a bit longer than
necessary. That said, the tape is a good one and I look forward to hearing more
from these very promising artists.
-- Bob Zilli
C60 tape with handmade packaging with 160g colored paper.
Lettering and outside/inside collages only made using found images and xerox
manipulations, no digital processing involved. Limited 40 copies. shipping out on or around November 7, 2016