Morpheus Music
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : May 27, 2005 13:01
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STYLE
A collaboration of image and sound - although listed here as a CD by Robert Rich, the photography of David Agasi is an integral part of this work. Conceived as "a limited production of 129 custom boxes containing offset prints of ten photographs by David Agasi on heavy matte fibre acid-free paper, a signed and numbered page with artists' statements, and CD of music by Robert Rich" this album is also available in the usual format with the photographs replicated inside the CD booklet. The music is organic, melodic ambience with a variety of environmental sounds. Drones and whale-like shafts of sound slowly revolve with shifting densities whilst the musical surface is repeatedly ruffled by organic recordings. At times angel-soft and then gruff or thick, the aural mass is punctuated by muted chimes and a variety of less indentifiable struck objects. Nine tracks run seamlessly into one long whole and are set alongside ten images - this inequality of number works to dissuade the assumption that specific photographs illustrate particular passages of sound. Robert Rich is credited with MOTM modular, TimewARP 2600, Sculpture, lap steel guitar, flutes and small things.
MOOD
The value of the 'incidental' suffuses this package - the music often appearing effortless, almost like something happened upon, yet it is clearly steeped in purpose. The slow monumental nature of much of the composition is set against the close-up, transient nature of various shufflings, disturbances, found spaces and distant thunder. Sleeve notes talk of "beauty and depth of small things ... meaning in the poetry of the everyday ... meaning often waits at the periphery".
ARTWORK
Clearly the artwork for "Echo of Small Things" is fully half of the project. David Agasi's stills, made "without premeditation" help focus the shifting layers Robert's atmospheric music - whilst the music, in turn, channels the chosen perception of the imagery. Having the standard CD format version of this release I'm unable to comment fully on the photo prints, but in the context of the CD booklet, these ten monochrome shots frame the intimate and the everyday with the same sense of space and beauty developed in the audio section. The front cover image hints at the quality of the limited edition - a rich, sensual selection that is something more than black and white.
OVERALL
The promotional material for Echo of Small Things says "Longtime friends Agasi and Rich inspire each other with image and sound. Ten of Agasi's haunting sensual photos unite with Rich's calm reflective soundscapes in this unique creative meeting, focusing eye and ear on the beauty of the intimate and peripheral." On the back of the booklet we have three paragraphs from each artist discussing the project and the work of his collaborator. The imagery resists a narrative reading despite being laid out sequentially and although the pictures are strongly cropped, they aren't abstract - similarly the music has some definite melodic elements lifting it clear of minimal ambience, yet again, a narrative reading is too narrow for these interwoven pieces.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS ALBUM
Ambient lovers that enjoy music as art, fans of contemporary photography that appreciate deep immersion into vision and sound. If you like ambient music with melodic patterns and plenty of shifts - try Echo of Small Things.
Cheers
Paul
PS Morpheus reviews are here if you fancy reading any more:
http://www.morpheusmusic.co.uk/html/reviews.htm
  MORPHEUS MUSIC
www.morpheusmusic.co.uk
ELECTRONIC MUSIC MALL
http://www.electronicmusicmall.com |
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