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"HiGH ▀ iNTELLiGeNCE tRoLLS"
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a r t i s t : Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso UFO / Escapade
t i t l e : A Thousand Shades of Grey
d a t e : 2003
l a b e l : Funfundvierzig
g e n r e : Psychedelic Rock
r l s. d a t e : Sep-2004
t r a c k s : 03
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 101,4 MB
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In today's post-post-(etc.) modern times, almost all people
inhabiting this planet have access to all kinds of music.
(Anybody with a fast connection who ever 'buried' him- or
herself in the internet for a few days knows what I'm talking
about). More than ever, 'anything goes' is the credo of the
present; it seems that there is no kind of music which hasn't
been there before. And yet, now and again one chances upon
music, which strikes one as completely 'new'. This CD is such a
discovery.
'Architecture is frozen music' is one of the German philosopher
Arthur Schopenhauer's best-known quotes. Maybe the members of
New York-based band Escapade knew this quote. For their two
tracks on this album sound very 'constructed'; everything seems
to be based on what's been played before. But surprise,
surprise: All the band's music is completely improvised and
spontaneous! The first track opens with just a few notes on the
organ which after about three minutes is joined by guitar
feedback. The latter instrument then starts to produce rhythmic
sounds and at the five-minute-mark, a monotonous drumbeat
introduces itself. Ten minutes after the beginning, the guitar
becomes somewhat offensive, but without aspiring to a soloistic
heights. (Later, one can actually discern something like a solo
in the background, but this is buried so deep in the mix that
it cannot count for one). Then the whole structure slowly gains
momentum and peaks in a sound-orgy that is simply mesmerising.
And suddenly you find that the first 18 minutes of this CD are
over. You'll probably also find yourself groping for words.
What was that? A new kind of post-rock? Early Amon Dⁿⁿl jamming
with Shellac? I can't tell you either, but one thing I know:
it's damn good music!
What follows is an absolute killer: 28 minutes of Acid Mothers
Temple, the Japanese answer to Hawkwind, Motorhead and Grateful
Dead combined. Like Escapade, AMT take their time in building
up their track. The heap layers upon layers of synth-sounds and
weave these together with vocal improvisations into a tapestry
of increasing complexity. With this track, they are probably
closer to Terry Riley's In C than with their own cover-version
of that composition (as can be heard on Squealer Music SQLR
037) (And also on an LP released by Eclipse Records). That a
piece of music is steadily gaining in intensity for over 20
minutes, I have never heard before. Here, AMT show that they
are capable of expressing their unique 'monsterrock' in a much
more subtle form. One minute before the track's end the tension
decreases and the listener is washed out into infinitive space
with a few spherical sounds. Thus AMT have proven again, that
they just cannot be of this world. Their music isn't anyway.
The second track by Escapade starts out as a seemingly 'normal'
rock-track with drums and bass. But after a few moments these
familiar forms vanish to be replaced by a spooky free-form
guitar-improvisation, which reminds one of the cacophony of
Pink Floyd during their A Saucerful Of Secrets-phase. Out of
this, a thundering, archaic drum-pattern emerges, on top of
which guitar and tambura create atmospheric droning. Again,
after some time the track increases in intensity and rises to a
rhythmic orgy. At the end, there is a loud bang on a gong, and
all that remains is the subtle droning of the tambura. The fact
that Escapade have just interpreted John Cage's 4'33'' for a
compilation on the Emperor Jones-label bears further testimony
that they know what they're doing.
On this CD, two of the most incredible and far out
sound-sculpturers who venture off the beaten track of
zeitgeisty electro-acoustic music shake hands. Anybody who
thinks he or she knows his avantgarde should listen to this
record. And be amazed.
http://www.motherwest.com/escapade/shades.html
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01-Escapade--Because Because Because [18:01]
02-Acid Mothers Temple & The Melting Paraiso [28:08]
UFO--European Sun
03-Escapade--Transformation [13:31]
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59:40 min
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