Re: (idm) Reach the Rock

From dan hill
Sent Fri, Mar 5th 1999, 13:46

RE the Reach the Rock soundtrack. i wrote this review for motion a couple
of months ago. there's sound samples too at
http://motion.state51.co.uk/reviews/271.html

John McEntire
Reach the Rock Soundtrack
Hefty Records

John McEntire's first solo work is definitely worth hearing. The score to
the William Ryan's film "Reach The Rock" is composed, produced and
performed by the multi-instrumentalist and producer from Tortoise, and has
a familiar sombre, melancholy charm, almost as if we finally have a film to
accompany the imaginary soundtracks Tortoise have been composing all these
years. As well as McEntire's score, the soundtrack features his bands,
Tortoise and The Sea and Cake, as well as Bundy K Brown, Dianogah, and
Polvo. Whilst I know little about the film (yet), its location in Chicago
appears to have proved fundamental to the music's creation as all these
outfits, with the exception of Polvo, are also Chicago-based (the project
has been coordinated by John Hughes III, of local label, Hefty, as well as
McEntire). This local focus meant that the bands were able to visit the
film locations, spending time with the filmmakers, and occasionally
actually recording their songs whilst playing to the film. This technique
has been used in the past to classic effect (see Miles Davis with Louis
Malle's "Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud"), but seems rarely attempted, perhaps
due to digital music technology's ability to physically disperse production
- maybe we'll see differences due to the advances in portable digital
film-making. Unsurprisingly, given McEntire's background as a drummer and
as a student of electronic music at Oberlin College, the score is
characterised by busy, intricate, percussive shuffles, supporting minimal
circular patterns of electric guitar or electronics, layered against a
shimmering electric screen. Certain moments will inevitably inspire
comparison with Morricone, combining marching drums with curlicues of
picked guitar, though there's an impressive range of instrumentation,
skilfully mixed and produced by McEntire. We've heard similar music before
from Tortoise, Ui and other post-rock bands incorporating electronica, yet
the film appears to have focussed McEntire - this music is taut and spare
and direct, certainly strong enough to enjoy in isolation from the film.


---+ dan hill [state51]
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