a r t i s t : Anton Batagov
t i t l e : The Wheel of the Law
d a t e : 2002
l a b e l : Long Arms (CDLA 02040-42)
g e n r e : Avantgarde
r l s. d a t e : May/2006
t r a c k s : 12
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 237,3 MB
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Recorded in 1999, and orginally released in 2002, The Wheel Of
The Law compiles three epic pieces of gorgeous minimalism from
Russian composer Anton Batagov. Three discs, three tracks
composed for organ, glockenspiel, xylophone, piano and
percussion, inspired by Buddhism and the Quest for Nirvana,
and the practices involved: peace, meditation, deep thought,
breathing, conciousness. Repetitive and melodic, lush and so
so beautiful.
Someone once referred to Batagov as sounding "like Reich on
vodka", not sure we hear the vodka, or even any sounds
distinctly and immediately recognizably Russian, but there is
certainly plenty of Reich here, as well as Riley, and most
definitely some Harold Budd, especially in the delicate, spare
piano arrangements.
The first disc, "Circle Of Time" is four long movements of
warm rich swells of organ, flowing lazily beneath delicate
cyclical chimes and abstract piano figures, very dramatic and
hypnotic.
The second disc, the 4 track Voidness cycle: "Appearances And
Voidness", "Clarity And Voidness", "Bliss And Voidness", "Mind
And Voidness", introduces the same delicate chimes found on
the first disc, but this time over a repeating series of
haunting moaning violin melodies. Minor key and mildly atonal,
the melodies are spread out over a spare background of complex
overtones, all drifting dreamily into space.
The final disc: "Liberation Through Listening In The Between"
is again a massive sprawl of lush static organ drones,
wavering and subtly pulsing, with simple three and four note
melodies played out over minutes instead of seconds, chiming
and ringing, resonating above the organ's mesmerizing drone,
the whole thing supported by a barely there framework of
simple percussion, so subtle and simple that it's basically a
single drum, muted and way down in the mix, offering a sort of
pulse for the piece, a musical heartbeat, slowed down, as if
in meditation or contemplation.
So completely and utterly breathtaking.
http://www.aquariusrecords.org/cat/20thcenturycomposers.html
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Disc 1
01-Dus-Kyi Khor-Lo - Circle of Time [15:48]
02-Dus-Kyi Khor-Lo - Circle of Time [15:53]
03-Dus-Kyi Khor-Lo - Circle of Time [15:53]
04-Dus-Kyi Khor-Lo - Circle of Time [16:01]
Disc 2
01-Snang-Stong - Appearances and Voidness [09:19]
02-Gsal-Stong - Clarity and Voidness [11:54]
03-Bde-Stong - Bliss and Voidness [14:14]
04-Rig-Stong - Mind and Voidness [08:35]
Disc 3
01-Bardo Thos Grol - Liberation Through Listening in the [15:51]
Between
02-Bardo Thos Grol - Liberation Through Listening in the [15:55]
Between
03-Bardo Thos Grol - Liberation Through Listening in the [15:52]
Between
04-Bardo Thos Grol - Liberation Through Listening in the [15:56]
Between
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