Serge Baghdassarians/Boris Baltschun/Alessandro Bosetti/Michel Doneda
Strom
Potlatch
P 204
I admit that my first thought upon seeing this disc was, “There goes Jacques with his soprano players again!” Happily, “Strom” manages to achieve a strong, harsh balance between the reeds and the electronics employed, resulting in a cleansing, abrasive bath of sound.
The first of six pieces begins with sharp, sandy whistles from Doneda and Bosetti, augmented in kind by Baghdassarians (guitar and mixing desk—incidentally, no recognizable guitar sounds are to be found herein) and Baltschun (sampler—possibly one operated along Sachiko M lines?). This sets up the general mode of the disc, the four musicians remaining within touching distance of each other, intertwining with enough ease so as to often make distinguishing who’s doing what a futile exercise. The saxophonists favor long, whooshing lines, lending the pieces an automotive sense of forward thrust. The evocation of metal scraping metal, like old train wheels making a tight bend in the track, is almost inescapable. Things edge several more steps into brutality with the next track (all are titled “Strom”, I, II, III, etc.), rasping flutters high and low, pinging flanges, massive engines beneath the floor, subsiding just a bit as the evening shift takes over. While that might be the single most impressive piece here, none of the others falls far short. Each is wonderfully self-contained, both concentrating on a given sound-area and still leaving the feeling of unconstrainedness. “Strom V” is quieter at its start but no less disturbing for its guttural belches and thin wheezes and it too erupts into a fantastic spray. The last selection, atwitter with spittle and buzz from the beginning, is a fine conclusion, blasting through subterranean passages, up into heavy traffic and out into the icy night air.
It’s an excellent recording, matching the strongest work I’ve heard from all of these musicians individually. Highly recommended.
Posted by brian on November 28, 2004 09:30 AMAnother excellent review Brian, much appreciated thanks.
I bought this CD yesterday and it is still playing for the first time as I sit here now. I haven't taken it in well enough to pass a decent comment on it yet but first impressions are of a lovely recording.
Just wanted to comment on the great line about old train wheels on tight bends... I live within earshot of a shunting yard and laying in bed at night the sound is unmistakable, and for some reason strangely beautiful.
I have a very vague and equally unreliable memory of reading somewhere that Eddie Prevost put some of his love for the sound of bowed and scraped metal down to childhood memories of living alongside a railway line. I honestly am not sure if this is true or I imagined it up but listening to classic AMM albums you can definately hear the odd train or two in there!!!!
Boris plays a big keyboard as a sampler, with a zip drive. He uses samples, I believe (I played with him in October in LA)
Posted by: faster at November 28, 2004 07:57 PMand is "faster" your real name, or do you have any particular reason why you wouldn't like to share that information with us?
Posted by: Dan Warburton at November 28, 2004 10:29 PM.................................................. © 2003, 2004 bagatellen ..................................................