Two New Releases - Mini CDR - Koyuki Sound

Josh Russell | Music For Geiger Counters

Josh Russell takes up the ultra-minimalist aesthetic as laid down by the genre’s master, Bernhard Gunter in his Monochrome/Polychrome series recently revisited by the USA’s L-NE label. Three short-form tracks, neatly labelled APHA, BETA, and GAMMA , after their putative radioactive source material , contain a sustained and rotary heterodyne ticking, clicking and pulsing, that traverses the particulate, and almost inaudible. Opening piece, ALPHA is almost a definitive interpretation of Gunther’s Monochrome White piece, as it hovers between fine, granular synthesis, exquisitely formed, and technically precise. Beta is a more defined piece, bringing the clicking into sharp relief, more monotone, and less layered, creating a distinct textural fabric, not unlike a telephone left unhooked, or the indiscriminate 55Hz hum of mains electricity. Gamma is perhaps the sum of the conjoining of the previous two tracks, a more densely packed, layered tonal piece that uses shifts and swells of EQ to create interest, with almost sub-bass presences juxtaposing with the main theme. This is an intense, intelligent, and beautifully rendered piece of audio art of the very finest order, from a small label that is rapidly establishing itself for its precision of presentation, and with a roster of artists that deserve wider attention. Highly recommended.

Luigi Turra | Texture vitra

In sharp contrast to his recent “Enso” release, Luigi Turra explores a more restrained pallete of sounds. Texture Vita is essentially a tone-work, a thought-provoking, deeply meditative piece opening with a shifting, tonal bass layer, that sounds like the lower notes of a piano, caught in a timeless loop, topped off with a slender, granular skrim. The whole piece is an interpretative field recording, gleaned from two omni-directional microphones, inside and outside architect Tadao Ando’s project, Vitra Seminar House. This is a hugely atmospheric condensation of elements of the immediate area, where scrapings and creakings billow with muscular reverb, slowly descending into darker, and virtually inaudible realms, with a characteristic “barely there” aesthetic. Something drum-like here is being gently rolled around, engendering deeply resonant tonalities, whilst high above, and in the more treble sound register, there are various metallic movements, encapsulated within a rotating bass layer. Texture Vitra is a masterful slab of evocative minimalism, and once again, Koyuki Sound have firmly established themselves as a minimalist label of considerable stature. A full length release beckons? BGN

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Published:: 5.4.08 / 7am

Category:: Reviews (Minimalism)

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WHITE_LINE was set up three years ago, in order to play and promote the work of artists and musicians working under the banner of “minimalism”, in all its many guises. This has led to a regular and highly successful mix slot on the Garden of Earthly Delights radio show in the UK, and guest appearances on Resonance FM (frequenzen show) , and Darkness Drops Again radio in Czechoslovakia. I now aim to extend the remit of the mix slots by reviewing (as often as possible) material that encapsulates and crystallises the minimalist ethic, and hopefully I’ll be leading artists and audiences alike towards a deeper appreciation of this and other marginalised genres. I welcome your comments, and criticisms, and would love to hear from labels and artists who would like their work showcased on the show, or reviewed here. I regret that due to time constraints with my own recording schedule and visual art works, I cannot review everything that is sent to me, but will endeavour to give exceptional work an “honourable mention” at the very least, and links to quality sites that I think worthy of mentioning.

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Two New Releases - Mini CDR - Koyuki Sound

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