From fix8 Sent Mon, Sep 14th 1998, 11:47
From fix8 Sent Mon, Sep 14th 1998, 11:47
fishcake - the sound of thule Icelandic minimal audio structures The fishcake compilation offers a selection of sounds from the 12" releases of Icelandic label Thule. While described as minimal audio structures, 'minimalism' here does not indicate a purely percussive focus. Rather the minimalism is intended in a more classical sense, being present in the use of short synth loops, repetition and subtle fluctuations in sound. 1. plastik - brain plasticity Subtle ambience like the amplified sound of electricity humming through the brain is a backdrop to a driving 4/4 bass beat and layers of rattling open hi hats, claps and a wide range of other drum sounds which drop in and out. Typified by the rolling stream of conscious melody (resembling to some extent the work of Vainqueur) that subtly underpins the higher pitched melodic loop, melodies operate at distinctly different pitches flowing in and out of focus intertwining and contrasting echoing and remembering. A remarkably lush pseudo minimalist piece. 2. sanasol - feelarama Slow 4/4 bass drums, swirling high pitched drones, ambient harmonies, a smattering of tinny percussion soft ambient melodies, bass lines and a relaxed optimistic melodic hook. The subtle pleasure expressed in a relaxed half - smile. A Gentle harmonious aural celebration of the wind on the beach, the sun on closed eyelids. 3. oz artists - art of wrestling A Bass line wrapped in ambience resounds in an echoing chamber and a 4/4 beat again provides structure as the minimal ambient notes build. Synths notes begin to interact and are then overwhelmed by a cyclical loop of high end percussion that sashays from side to side. An exchange between short piano chords and a lush horn-like sound creates a focal point that is punctuated by echoing snare hits and surrounded by warm synths. 4. thor - glow A chain reaction influenced piece. Mid range synth-lines fluctuating between melody and bass and distinct tones echo over the top of each other with a viscous filtered-through-water quality. The Nervous shuffling of hi-hats accompanies the emergence of slow thumping 4/4 bass beats, at first sounding ominous beneath the waves of sound then emerging to the surface with urgency. Very minimal in its use of undulating loops, glow is the darkest piece on the compilation. This is the glow of the moon backed by a dark sky, glimpsed, obscured by the water of the sea by someone drowning - their heart beat pounding in their ears. At the last moment overcome by a disturbing comfort, embraced by the waters, the music sinks into silence. 5. ozzy - klick 2 Opens with a series of klicks and deep tom drum sounds. Layers of percussion at different pitches are layered in and are slowly joined by an ambient melody that plays delicately in the background and slowly draws more focus, before again dropping away. 6. sanasol vs ozzy A Deep house-ish track from sanasol vs ozzy. Thick 4/4 bass beats and tight hi-hats, backed by a subtle ambient drone and slow mid-range percussive fluttering that interweave the 4/4 framework. Short bass notes and ambient melodies meander in the background. Relaxed and lush 7. aez andop 3 A menacing bass and synth workout backed by washes of noise and a broken beat loop utilizing percussive sounds that sound like electricity arcing off sheet metal. 8. exos - green beat Deep minimal track. A slow 4/4 bass drum counter-pointed by a hi hat/clap/snare loop forms the framework for the interplay of echoing melodic notes that slowly rise and fall in pitch and intensity. Every element of the music is altered in tiny increments throughout the track, at one stage the echoing snare that punctuates the melody begins to sound for a longer and longer duration, later the melody drops away and the percussion seems to reverberate in an empty hall. A demonstration in how the subtlest of changes can define sound and hold attention. 9. cold - strobe light network Ironically the warmest and most optimistic track on the compilaton is comes from the artist 'cold'. It appeared as the first 12" on thule. The track reminds me not of a network of strobe lights harsh and glaring but stars flickering in the sky or the lights of a city in the distance, warm and reassuring providing a soft flattering light. Light broken percussion is subsumed by harmonies of high pitched warm melodic notes, ambience and ascending synth sounds. The synths soar and rise with uplifting power. Amazing. 10/10 phylistine