Two from (1.8)sec

Domenico Sciajno/Kim Cascone
A Book of Standard Equinoxes
(1.8)sec
002

dieb 13/Thomas Korber/Jason Kahn
Zircadia
(1.8)sec
003

“A Book of Standard Equinoxes” is a dense, solid, hour-long chunk of electronic improv from Sciajno and Cascone, beautifully shaped and intricately etched. The arc of the piece is, roughly, loud-soft- (coda) loud, beginning with an overlay of drones that tend to reside in the thinly metallic, like small steel balls circling inside metal bowls of various sizes. Throughout the work, subtle rhythmic elements emerge, small beeps, pops or hums that wink in and out but serve to propel the music along. The first third chugs along unstoppably, awash in detail, images flashing and disappearing as though you’re roaring down an illuminated tunnel. The central, quiet section, taking up perhaps a half hour, involves a bit of searching. It’s interesting: on its own this portion stumbles around a little bit and could be heard as unfocussed. But taken in context, as a bridge between the first and final moments of the piece, it works just fine, a lengthy period of readjustment and reflection between sonic onslaughts and always maintaining interest in its own right. Repeated listenings reveal far more going on that picked up at first as well as more interlocking of ideas than initially perceived. As the gears re-engage in the last several minutes, the Sciajno/Cascone motor churns back into overdrive and the work picks up velocity and a giddy, careening power, again concentrating their colors into the higher, shinier range but bathed in acid. A fine recording.

There’s a bunch of fine music on “Zircadia” also. My only complaint is the seemingly arbitrary way it’s been parcelled into eight tracks. Several of the cuts last right around five minutes and appear to have been culled from longer takes, ending abruptly or fading out for no apparent reason other than having reached some enforced duration. Perhaps Tomas can explain the modus operandi here. In any case, it serves, to this listener, as a stumbling block placed in the way of some otherwise strong, rich electronic improvisation from this trio, a yeasty mix of rumbles and burbles shot through with piercing tones and an implied rhythmic element somewhat more prominent than in the Sciajno/Cascone disc. The music in most of the pieces is more than enjoyable enough that one wants it to unfurl at an unhurried pace, not to be lopped off. Only one piece, the fifth track here (all untitled), breaks the 5-6 minute rule and pushes on for about ten and, no surprise, it’s the most successful, having time to achieve an individual form before being uprooted. It’s a gorgeous work, combining mysterious flutters with intense, feedback-level whines over a barely audible throb. I could’ve stood an hour or so of this! But, in context, it comes off as the one piece here that manages to exist for a natural life span. Still, “Zircadia” is also a good recording with plenty to chew on, despite my structural reservations.

These are the third and fourth releases by this fledgling Canadian label (site here), the previous two having been compilations. Excellent start—looking forward to more.