Toshiya Tsunoda
Scenery of Decalcomania
Naturestrip
NS3003
My sole complaint about this recording is that there are seven tracks, ranging from about five to seventeen minutes instead of its being a seven-disc set, with each of the pieces allowed an hour or so to breathe. Though comprised of, more or less, naturally occurring aural phenomena, these aren’t pure field recordings in a technical sense, as Tsunoda tends to use specific and unusual set-ups to capture his sounds. So, he’ll place small microphones inside a length of U-shaped pipe, in a tiny cavity at the base of a metal cylinder or between thin sheets of copper foil, transmuting the sound vibrations that find their way into these spaces.
Given that so much of the actual input is pre-existent sound, channeled through specific “funnels” but otherwise untampered with, making qualitative evaluations of the final work, as far as Tsunoda’s contribution, perhaps devolves into a simple appreciation for the choices made, both as to the means of recording and which samples (from, one would assume, an enormous library) to issue. In this regard, I think Tsunoda has curated wonderfully. There’s a wide-ranging variety of timbres, high, whistling tones to wooly, low ones, variations in spatial imagery from compressed to expansive, etc. Most of the pieces are relatively steady-state, focused on a particular phenomenon, such as wind passing from a small aperture in a metal handrail, the loose exterior billowing contrasting with but clearly relating to the tightly enclosed keening heard within the tube. Similarly, the piece involving the cylinder cavity contrasts the deep, almost liquid-sounding rushes of air through that tiny space with the chirps and tweets of area birds, unconstrained in an entirely different sonic space. The final work, “Cut Diagonally”, uses voltage gates to cut off sounds beneath certain frequency levels, leaving only the irregular “peaks” and resulting in a fascinating, difficult-to-translate welter of sonic debris that’s strongly reminiscent of some of Xenakis’ electronic explorations.
The exception to this general rule, and the standout track on the disc, is “Ferry Passing”, recorded on a bridge in Kisarazu Bay, Japan, apparently with little in the way of enhancement. It unfurls like a freeform short story, narrative with no preconceived plot, leaving the listener in an anticipatory dither waiting for the next event. The harbor noises, PA announcements, scattered snatches of conversation, chimes, motors, wind and water all provide an extraordinarily rich sound field only heightened by the natural, everyday drama of small events. It’s one of the most rewarding pieces I’ve heard this year and “Scenery of Decalcomania” has been one of my most played discs in recent months, a superb recording.
Check it out at: www.naturestrip.com
~ Brian Olewnick
A seven disc set of Tsunoda - wow, now ya talking! Do you know his other releases, Brian? I can heartily recommend the one on Lucky Kitchen, Pieces of Air, which was my fave album of the year for Wire two years ago. The one on Sirr I found less exciting. Nice little label, Naturestrip, n'est-ce pas?
Posted by: Dan Warburton at October 11, 2004 10:12 PMDan, no I'm a latecomer to Tsunoda--I think the first I heard him was on the other Naturestrip compilation (though I might be forgetting something) and thought his piece really stood out. I'll scout around for "Pieces of Air", thanks.
Yeah, Naturestrip is 3 for 3 in my book. Can't wait to hear more.
Posted by: brian at October 12, 2004 5:28 AMI have all the Tsunoda, Brian, most of the earlier releases are OOP now. I can lend it to you if you like...
Posted by: jon abbey at October 12, 2004 9:03 AMYou can pick "Extract from Field Recordings Archive #3: Solid Vibration" on Intransative/Fringes from RRRecords (hhtp://www.rrrecords.com)
Pick up that New England comp they released while you're at it: 5 lps of Prurient, Sickness, Skin Crime, Can't, Human is Filth, etc. each having a side to themselves. HOTT
Posted by: Nirav at October 12, 2004 10:08 AMyeah, that sounds like a recommendation specifically suited to Brian's tastes, Nirav, well done. :)
Posted by: jon abbey at October 12, 2004 10:42 AMMmmmmm.....Prurient......
Posted by: Brian at October 12, 2004 3:35 PMDon't know that comp, Nirav, but it sounds rather tasty. More info? Just chilling (well, not RIGHT NOW cuz it's 7am hahaha) to Important's 3CD Merzbow set, and surprised how listenable and even downright funky it all is. Your ears soon get used to "noise", Brian. Give it a blast!
Meanwhile, can't say I'm enjoying the 12 (TWELVE) Psychic TV discs I got sent to review for Signal To Noose. In fact, I'm not enjoying 'em at all. But that's another story
Dan - it's a big 5lp set, devoted to noise/brutalist concrete bands from New England. Limited to 500, I think, and each act individually made the covers to 50 boxes. I think mine was made by Rrron, broken record adhered to the cover, over a picture of the store, with some drawings superimposed on it. I'm not all the way through it (I only have access to my records for a handful of weeks through the year), but of what I've heard, it's very worth having. The full lineup is:
Brutum Fulmen, Can't, Diagram-A, Human Is Filth, Immaculate: Grotesque, Karlheinz, Mr. Brinkman, Prurient, Sickness, Skin Crime
Nice to hear that M. Akita is still kicking out the jams. What's your favorite period of his, Dan? I'm torn, I love the late 80's, concrete loop panic stuff, and the collabs with SBOTHI, but the icy digital work is great too. His "psychedelic" period is the only period that I'm not in love with, all of those analogue synths got a little tiresome.
Posted by: Nirav at October 13, 2004 3:28 PMMerzbow albums come & go & never stay too long round here.. can't say I'm a great fan & certainly not a completist. But I like the pre-digital stuff better.
Brutum Fulmen however is right up my alley. I like Jeff's work enormously & think that CIP CD is one of the best things I've heard in years
i am wondering if i go to 'Lightning bolt' tomorow
or 'merzbow' on wednesday???
same price, same venue...
never saw merzbow, andy moisture bolus also plays same nite.
do you mean that now, merzbow's gone for exclusive computer works?
Posted by: Alexandre at October 14, 2004 1:54 AMI think he's pretty digital these days, yep
Posted by: Dan Warburton at October 14, 2004 7:15 AMMerzbow is totally digital this days, the title of The Last Of The Analog Session, one of his latest releases reads like a final farewell to the old days (once i read an interview with Akita and this guy was asking him about recent releases and he dismissed them as beiing old since he had three or more out- and the releases were no more than two months old!). Anyway he is comming for the first time in Slovenia this sunday so i am looking forward to it ...
Posted by: lukaz at October 14, 2004 7:38 AMi'm from China.
i think Toshiya Tsunoda's works find a way to what's the sound by our listen. this album in my compter now.i wanna liten it everyday!
i got this album today. one listen so far and i enjoyed, but i much prefered the pieces without sine waves used to start reactyions. the ferry one and captures of air in tubes was terrific. does the pieces of air cd or any other available older one not have the harsh sine wave style?
Posted by: john at June 16, 2005 5:10 PMJohn, from what you say I'd say Pieces Of Air is right up your alley. How's that for mixed metaphor?
Posted by: Dan Warburton at June 16, 2005 9:28 PMthanks dan, i will check it out
j
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