a r t i s t : First Avenue
t i t l e : Shreds Of Evidence
d a t e : 1998
l a b e l : O.O.Disks
g e n r e : Avantgarde
r l s. d a t e : Jan/2007
t r a c k s : 11
b i t r a t e : VBRkbps
s i z e : 88,3 MB
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William Kannar (contrabass, guitar, live electronic
processing, computer),
C. Bryan Rulon (piano, analog and digital synthesizers, live
electronic procesing, sampled sounds, and voice),
Matt Sullivan (oboe, English horn, live electronic processing,
WX7 digital horn, sampler).
First Avenue is a trio comprised of Bill Kannar, Matt Sullivan
and C. Bryan Rulon who banded together out of a desire to
perform: not so much to interpret but to engage in the
spontaneous act of composition we call improvisation. Since
1982, they have refined their craft arriving at a graceful
blend of the many influences of their lives and experiences as
well as the culturally dynamic place they call home: New York
City. Performing in venues from Carnegie Hall to the Knitting
Factory, from Merkin Hall to Roulette, First Avenue is equally
at home in the performance loft as on the proscenium stage.
Their collaborations with writers, actors clowns, dancers,
videographers and painters as well as some of the world's most
noted composer/performers have given them a reputation for
bold, provocative concerts.
Shreds of Evidence is FirstAvenue's first solo CD, solo in
that there are only Bill, Bryan and Matt performing; sometimes
separate but mostly together. Since the formation of
FirstAvenue 17 years ago, they have frequently collaborated
with a wide variety of composer/performers whose experiences
interpenetrate FirstAvenue's own unique sonic world and set of
experiences, collectively and separately (individually). On
this CD FirstAvenue presents one possible (unique) mix of
those experiences; all the influences? inextractable.
This is electro-acoustic improvised chamber music of the
highest order. The listener is invited into a private parlor
to witness a series of lively, intimate musical conversations.
Angular shaped instrumental gestures meet processed human
voices, 'futuristic' electronic sounds from horror films are
"reclaimed" and recontextualized, conventional instrumental
techniques, electronics and multi-phonics are expressively
integrated. Steven Mackey calls 'Arpeggicide' "parlor music on
acid." This is a recording filled with humor and joy.
http://www.firstavenue.org/
This is the premiere by the new music trio, First Avenue,
themselves, who are otherwise well-known for having played
with other composer/performers: William Kannar (bass, guitar,
live electronic processing, computer), C. Bryan Rulon (piano,
analog and digital synthesizers, voice, processing, samples)
and Matt Sullivan (oboe, English horn, digital horn,
processing, samples). The 11 selections feature various
combinations of electroacoustic blends with highly colorful
textures, and often a mix of the lyrical with the humorously
bizarre: "Desperately Seeking Asylum" is a highly rhythmic,
pointillist fantasy for computer driven electronics and some
acoustic instruments that blasts through gestures to create a
"staring with your ears" listening experience. "To Slur with
Love" features a nostalgic and jazzy lyrical line surrounded
by popping punctuations. "Proof" is an obsessive and oddly
humorous electronic piece built around a completely
non-understandable, pitch-shifted and processed voice, with
squeaking and hard-edged white noise blasts. "Tequila Mocking
Bird," described as "an improv perhaps only an ornithologist
could love," in fact suggests birdcall gestures in some manic
garden. "Oh Boy!" is a fascinating oboe solo featuring (1)
multiphonics that create otherworldly chords and
electronic-like beating patterns, and (2) long passages of
flying arpeggios sustained through circular breathing. "Send
in the Finale" is a combination of askew circus music against
a background wall of distorted metalmusic guitar riffing.
~ "Blue" Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide
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01-Desperately Seeking Asylum [03:47]
02-To Slur with Love [01:32]
03-Proof [05:10]
04-Tequila Mocking Bird [01:57]
05-Oh Boy! [07:52]
06-Maximalist [10:57]
07-Break and Enter [03:10]
08-Squeeze Gently [09:40]
09-Untilted [05:25]
10-Arpeggicide [10:24]
11-Send In The Finale [02:16]
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62:10 min