In the world of sound-art and minimal music more and more new names are popping up and showing new approaches to the borders of audibility. Two of those names are Shinkei (Koyuki, Non Visual Objects) and Mise En Scene (Leerraum [], WHITE_LINE) who have come together to work on a release called Scytale. Together they have managed to make 7 pieces (though 3 are remixes) of music in 64 minutes. How they have worked together is not clear to me but that's not really important. The result is what counts.
Seven pieces of abstract minimal soundscapes working with high pitched sinetones and rumbling low-level sounds. Maybe there are field recodings also, of dripping water for example. But it isn't that simple to describe it just like that. The duo not only works in the field of minimalistic sounds, but also works with diversity. Unexpected changes going from beeping sinetones to granular rumbling to suddenly pieces of almost silence. Though, they never leave from the microsound world. Sounds stay minimal, microtones and shards of noise.
The mood of the music has something transcendental, meditation like. Even with those rigorous changes a continues form a relaxation stays.
Not unlike other work I have heard by Shinkei this is really music to go sit for and not do anything else in the same time. The music asks for attention while listening to gather all pieces of information. While at points this makes it a difficult album to grab on to, it also makes you want to listen more careful not to miss out on anything.
The three remixes by Luigi Tura, Michael Hartman and Yukitomo Hamasaki fit in with the original pieces, while also containing the own touch by these three musicians. The original sources are not always recognizable anymore, but the pieces keep there diversity with a clear eye for change. Only shame is they contain a less transcendental feeling, which breaks the album a bit down.
Hearing these pieces on a normal stereo (or headphones) is quite ok, but probably this would be a best experience when performed live over a surround system (4 or more channels). Maybe this is something these people should do together a few times and see how the audience will respond. Nonetheless also on this album the collaboration is a well working one. Maybe nothing new, but Scytale is an interesting one to check out to its diverse sound settings. |
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