From fix8 Sent Mon, Mar 15th 1999, 13:25
From fix8 Sent Mon, Mar 15th 1999, 13:25
Oval - Aero Dekoeuropa (Rough Trade/ Form & Function)
Oval already have multiple releases but my first exposure to them came
from this recent 10" on the Rough Trade label out of the UK. Hailing
from the hot-bed of electronic experimentation that is Cologne Germany,
Oval's signature sound is the digital click produced when a defective CD
skips. Oval are often described as if this were the totality of their
sound - 'the cd skipping artist' giving the impression that their music
consists entirely of the sounds of defective CDs and nothing else -
thankfully nothing could be further from the truth. While the
cd-skip-click noise is prominent and pervasive it is used most often
used to form rhythmic textures which are accompanied by a wealth of
other sounds. Describing Oval merely in terms of their percussive sound
is as misleading as describing techno as simply 4/4 bass beats with the
occasional snare or clap.
On this 10" Oval have created deep and luscious soundscapes, with
melody crafted out of a raw synth waves, accentuated by surges of
blips, building bass drones and highly original digital sounds - layers
and layers of complexity juxtaposed with the slowly fluctuating rhythm
of the skipping cd. While raw, digital and powerful the sounds also
contain remarkable beauty and subtlety.
Aero Deko is not obly an exercise in the mastery of sound but of
structure as well - each track possesses direction and variation. One of
the most sublime moments comes on the track 'episonik' as the clicks
drop out and the drones begin to fade before the whole mix explodes back
in and then quickly building to a crescendo.
Aero Deko is a purely original and distinctive blend of quirky
percussive Post-modern fore-grounding of the digital medium ( a little
ironic in the vinyl format) and pure sound sculpture. Oval exists on the
cutting edge of electronic experimentation. This disturbed journey
through the workings of a hard drive being attacked by electronic
insects is highly recommended.
Phylistine