Will Guthrie
Spear
Antboy 05
Don’t let the brevity of either the disc or the write-up put you off. This CDR by Will Guthrie, clocking it at less than 8 ½ minutes, is far more worthwhile than the bulk of other releases you’re likely to come across this year.
“Spear” is more or less a concrete piece, cobbled together from Guthrie’s own percussion as well as field recordings and who knows what else, assembled into a solid, rough-hewn slab of sound, a varied and at times vicious assault of bangs and wallops, especially in its first half, though it subsides somewhat toward the end of the work. Think extreme Xenakis leavened, perhaps, by a bit of Julien Ottavi’s influence (“Spear” was assembled in January of this year in Nantes). But my guess is that both those of a more “traditional” electro-acoustic bent as well as the young ‘uns enamored of the No Fun set will have a blast with this one.
More info at www.antboymusic.com
~ Brian Olewnick
Posted by Brian Olewnick on March 29, 2005 5:52 PMJulien Ottavi's influence? Where did you get that one from Brian! (Don't answer that, I think I can guess..) Will's his own man and has been for some time now - I can heartily recommend his "Building Blocks" and the two trio discs with Matt Earle and Adam Sussman. He's also on the FOTC Emanem double that's just come out, but is a bit hidden in the Chris Burn undergrowth. Anyway, going back to Ottavi, which recordings are you thinking of, Brian?
Posted by: Dan Warburton at March 30, 2005 7:41 AMNot so much recordings as the live show I heard at SubTonic a while back and maybe even some of the things I've streamed from Julien's site.
otoh, it could entirely be my imagination....
Posted by: Brian Olewnick at March 30, 2005 7:58 AMI see the resemblance, but there are a lot of cats over here (and everywhere else, come to think of it) working in similar territory. The fact that Will's ended up living in Nantes (Ottavi & Keith Rowe country for those who don't know) is a fortunate coincidence, though to the best of my knowledge he moved there for personal rather than musical reasons. I don't think he's hooked up with Keith yet, but I can tell you the gig I saw him play with Jean-Philippe Gross (electronics) and Ferran Fages (turntable) a month ago is the best "eai" performance I've seen in about three years. Do you know the other WG albums I mentioned, Brian? Drop the man a line & see if you can get hold of them, they're tasty.
Posted by: Dan Warburton at March 30, 2005 9:03 PM"I don't think he's hooked up with Keith yet"
I believe Adam's joined the N:Q quartet, along with Keith, Julien and Christophe Havard, although I'm not sure if they've actually performed together or not yet.
I have Building Blocks and Bridges in my pile to listen to, I'll have to check those out soon. Adam Sussman's solo disc on Document (the first one) is my favorite recording out of this scene so far, looking forward to hearing the second one, as well as Spear.
Posted by: jon abbey at March 30, 2005 11:39 PMhi all,
thanks ( brian ) for the reveiw, and thanks ( rest ) for the comments,
yeah N:Q has one gig so far here in Nantes, the line up is me, keith, julien and manu leduc ( who works with julien at apo33 )...
if all goes to plan we are soon to start working on a recording...
Will
Posted by: will at March 31, 2005 12:11 AMhi all,
thanks ( brian ) for the reveiw, and thanks ( rest ) for the comments,
yeah N:Q has one gig so far here in Nantes, the line up is me, keith, julien and manu leduc ( who works with julien at apo33 )...
if all goes to plan we are soon to start working on a recording...
Will
Posted by: will at March 31, 2005 12:12 AMhi all,
thanks ( brian ) for the reveiw, and thanks ( rest ) for the comments,
yeah N:Q has one gig so far here in Nantes, the line up is me, keith, julien and manu leduc ( who works with julien at apo33 )...
if all goes to plan we are soon to start working on a recording...
Will
Posted by: will at March 31, 2005 12:13 AMhi all,
thanks ( brian ) for the reveiw, and thanks ( rest ) for the comments,
yeah N:Q has one gig so far here in Nantes, the line up is me, keith, julien and manu leduc ( who works with julien at apo33 )...
if all goes to plan we are soon to start working on a recording...
Will
Posted by: will at March 31, 2005 12:14 AMhi all,
thanks ( brian ) for the reveiw, and thanks ( rest ) for the comments,
yeah N:Q has one gig so far here in Nantes, the line up is me, keith, julien and manu leduc ( who works with julien at apo33 )...
if all goes to plan we are soon to start working on a recording...
Will
Posted by: will at March 31, 2005 12:15 AMexcuse moi X 3!
Posted by: will at March 31, 2005 12:18 AM"I don't think he's hooked up with Keith yet, but I can tell you the gig I saw him play with Jean-Philippe Gross (electronics) and Ferran Fages (turntable) a month ago is the best "eai" performance I've seen in about three years."
Oh yes Will plays in a group with Keith, Julien and Manu (based in Nantes, western France). As far I know, they are looking for gigs.
About this gig with Gross and Fages, I don't know if it was eai or something else, but I agree with you Dan, it was a great music... sure !!! Much better than most of electronic stuff I've heard these last months.
Dan, Yep, I've heard those other discs, liked 'em a bunch and I think I might've even written them up here, no? Not sure.....
Posted by: Brian Olewnick at March 31, 2005 5:20 AMof course I meant Will, not Adam, above, I was too sleepy when I posted before.
thanks for the clarification, Will! I wish you could edit old comments of your own here...
Posted by: jon abbey at March 31, 2005 7:59 AM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................