(idm) Stewart Walker "Stabiles"

From Kent Williams
Sent Thu, Sep 30th 1999, 16:30

Stewart Walker's "Stabiles" (force inc/mille plateaux/tektite) is a must
have, if you have any interest at all in the dubby, chill end of the
techno spectrum.

The Stabiles, like the sculptures that inspired them, are pieces that
explore balance, tension, and space. At first listen you hear the
repetition indicative of their minimal nature, but as you listen again
the gradual morph and build technique yields a different impression --
one of travel through a large architectural space.  The repeating elements
are like columns holding up the roof, and the changing elements are
the shifting context as you walk around the space.

To make more concrete references, Stabiles is inspired by, but does not
imitate, the minimalism of Theorem, the Concept series, and Thomas Brinkmann.
You can hear echos of the Basic Channel sound as well, but Stewart has
constructed something here that stands by itself, and stands up to repeated
listenings. Contemplative, chill, and resolutely minimal.

Definitely a must buy!