Abul Mogard & Rafael Anton Irisarri - Impossibly distant, impossibly close
(c) 2024 Black Knoll Editions
Artist....: Abul Mogard & Rafael Anton Irisarri
Album.....: Impossibly distant, impossibly close
Source....: WEB/MP3
Tracks....: 4
Genre.....: Ambient
Label.....: Black Knoll Editions
Encoder...: LAME 3.100
Quality...: 320 kbps / 441kHz / Full Stereo
URL.......: http://deezer.com/album/577841191
Tracklist:
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1. Place of Forever 17:15
2. Waking Up Dizzy on a Bastion 19:38
3. Place of Forever (AM Radio edit) 7:46
4. Waking Up Dizzy on a Bastion (AM Radio Edit) 7:36
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52:15
Total:125.77MB / 52:15
Release Notes:
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Abul Mogard and Rafael Anton IrisarriÆs partnership unfolded serendipitously at
the sold-out opening of the SoundSet Series at Madrid's Condeduque cultural
center in 2023 - a program that featured performances by legends such as
Autechre and younger artists like Caterina Barbieri and KMRU. The duo's encore
that evening, recorded for Spain's Radio 3, resonated deeply with the audience,
igniting a creative spark that propelled them to work remotely in their
respective studios.
At the heart of their effort lies a delicate balance of restraint and
innovation, evident in the live concert track "Waking Up Dizzy on a Bastion."
This piece, inspired by their musical sensibilities, serves as a testament to
their shared vision and mutual respect. Utilizing a familiar parallel chord
progression, the track builds from a simple melodic motif played live on synths
that transforms into a call-and-response interplay between Mogard's synth lines
and Irisarri's bowed guitar loops, creating a dialogue-like interaction between
the musicians. As the piece moves forward, we are greeted by melting guitar
patterns (recalling Kevin Shields most lysergic moments on Loveless), followed
by an intense subsonic full body massage - the visceral physicality of the Ampeg
bass amps and cabinets stacks on full display.
Building upon the energy of that live performance, Mogard and Irisarri crafted
"Place of Forever," a companion piece that combines Mogard's Farfisa organ and
modular synthesizers with Irisarri's signature guitar tones and looping
techniques at his Black Knoll studio in New York. Starting with a somber and
minimal tone, the track gradually evolves, unfurling layers of deep bass
tonalities draped in blissful gauze as it progresses during its 17-plus minute
duration.
The resulting album exudes a profound sense of alchemy, effortlessly weaving
intricate soundscapes that feel simultaneously faraway and intimate. The cover
artwork, by Marja de Sanctis, depicts a vase sculpture made of unfired clay.
Created and photographed by herself, it reflects lights and shadows of
fragility. The rawness of the material mirrors the purity and the delicate
nature of the improvised duetÆs performance. Daniel Castrej≤nÆs design responds
to the image transforming the shape of the vase into lines and empty spaces. His
typography on the vinyl jacket features a spot varnish, creating a tactile
reflection.
Through these joint pieces, Mogard and Irisarri have created a work that
encapsulates the dichotomy inherent in its title: impossibly distant, impossibly
close.