NNN COOK “Syncretic Offering” C30 (Close/Far)

Merriam-Webster defines “Syncretism" as "1 : the combination of different forms of belief or practice” and "2: the fusion of two or more originally different inflectional forms”. 

NNN Cook’s “Syncretic Offering” meta-re(de)fines itself as a blend of the two, a sprawling cinematic journey across, to name but a few elements: synthetic and organic tones (and overtones), a fleeting, danceable beat, a handful of disembodied soundbites, persistent lush and haunting swells, and a chaotic avian/amphibian field collage toward the end, all these (and more) working in concert to enchant and entrance the listener into a heightened meditative state. 

These are gloriously bewitching sounds to make art under, while getting lost in the mix, with tons and tons of layers and nuance. Good headphones are a must, for maximum effect, but it’s also surprisingly pleasant as a background soundtrack, too!

https://nnncook.bandcamp.com/album/syncretic-offering

http://www.close-far.com/

and/or

https://nnncook.com/

—Jacob An Kittenplan

NNN COOK "Dowser" C20 (Close/Far Recordings)

N(NN) Cook is both the curatorial head of Missouri’s Close/Far Recordings AND one S-E-R-I-O-U-S polyrhythmic/mood/sound collage artist! Across two action-packed 10 minute sides, he wisely stacks soundbites, field recordings, cyclic loops, organic flutes, processed pedal-work, distant drones…the list goes on & on...all in a seamless, dreamlike sequence of details, both intentionally hazy and crispified.

The big take-away here is that “Dowser” is an edge-of-yr-seat thriller of distinct vignettes that each add upon one another, both forward and back, in the mind’s ear, appealing to sensibilities cinematic as well as down-right primal.

Brilliant soundtrack for writing and/or sketching up dystopian relationships of the emotional/social/superficial variety. Seriously good shit!

https://soundcloud.com/n-n-n-cook/i-wheel-of-light-cult-ii-reservoir-liquid-spirit
and/or
http://close-far.com/

-- Jacob An Kittenplan

NNN Cook “Crease or Abyss” (Grownup Music)

This guy over here is going to rip a new one out of our own universe
As we sit around the table in prayer delivering the elephant

 

OUR universe, goddammit 

Do you know what that means for you and me? 

Things may get a little bigger, spread out

Shirts may not need to be folded or tucked in 

We can leave many of our shirts’ arms out across the bed

 

I stood there drinking tap water from a beer can 

Looking at the shirts’ arms 

This one pointing that way

That one pointing this way

Trying to figure out any one and true direction

But, as I said, I think this guy over here is going to rip a new one out of our own universe

Unless he already did

 

Looking at every shirt arm – fuck, you’re right, they’re called sleeves not arms – my brain getting tangled up in their different directions like somebody twirled the sign around on some country road. This way to the beach. This way to Eurasia. 

 

My little Lucerne 

My little luxury sedan

Cell phone blocks the hazards with a plastic platter of festering hoagies in the backseat. God, I wish I had asked them to hold the mayo. Now we’ve got those big old mean flies with teeth biting in the Summer and sleeping in our beds.

 

It’s been so hot that I almost forgot that those flies were biting my head last night as I stood out front of your house knocking on your door over and over again while you sat around the table in prayer.

And, I will mention, it’s been too long since your security door has been unlocked. Now the lock is rusted. I should’ve known better than to try and use the front door to reach you.

Anyway, open up the skies, why don’t you? Maybe that way the flies will have enough room to breath and go off somewhere else with their horse teeth and stop biting me tonight.   

https://grownupmusic.bandcamp.com/album/crease-or-abyss-gum008

-- Rick Weaver

NNN Cook “(Bl)end User” (Bezoar Formations)

This is our chance to take a swing at the franchise. At every graph point, switch the complexion, but not the expression. Connect the dots with a bee line and make the border move faster than the tourists. A gentle toggle is all it takes to broach the border’s wetter bylines. Install gutter bumpers to stall the high-speed cruisers hoping for a short hop across the bee line border. This will create a pathway to vaccination. Don’t ever forget that. Don’t ever forget that a costume may take on its owner’s characteristics. Last year, every little costume was hopping up and down yipping “Pick me! Pick me!” That is why this year, everything is pretty well nailed down and gagged.

The flexibility of the border enables us to bend the rules without getting caught. We are also free to choose whoever we want on our team. This is one way we can strengthen the franchise.

-- Rick Weaver