IDM Mailing Archive

Hullo All, I haven't been constructively active on the list for quite a while, so I thought I'd drop a few lines about Bola's Gnayse, out on Skam right now. I've been a fanatic follower of Fitton's work since the tracks on AiII. With Blipsalt, I fell instantly in love with the rather unique sound he has been able to keep very recognisable without becoming stale. I hear some parallels with the sound of the Conner brothers, better know as Bitstream: cool, sharp, metallic yet enticingly melodic, softened by string layers and other harmonic elements. On first listen, I was constantly caught unawares by the soft string layers and the beauty of the melodies juxtaposed with harsher clicking, whirring and stinging percussions. The sound is more alike to Fyuti and Jello's Voile than the the distinctive smoothness of Soup. Sometimes fringing on the abrasive, Gnayse progresses through a futuristic but very comforting aural landscape. I admmit I found Fyuti more easily approachable than Gnayse, because while the sound has stayed familiar enough, there has been definite progress - the production is razor-sharp and compositions exquisite. I'm tempted to compare the progress of the sound on Bola's albums to that of Autechre's, because their sound has been progressively more difficult to approach, let alone digest. Don't get me wrong, I'm as much a fan of Autechre's as I'm of Bola's, yet I find Bola more frequently palatable than the more recent Autechre releases. It is actually very interesting to compare the first three albums of both artists side by side - Incunabula/Soup, Amber/Fyuti, Gnayse/Tri Repetae. If the comparison holds, the next Bola album should be even more complex and involved, like Autechre's Chiastic Slide. But I digress. I know I have to give Gnayse plenty of listens before it grows on me, yet I have been convinced since the first few bars of Eluus that I'm going to passionately love this album. It is like most love affairs: first, the anticipation and doubt if it will click; then the confusion and exhilaration of falling in love; the handling of complexities and differences, and finally, the settling down to long-term happiness (with occasional bouts of neglect, unless the relationship is exceptionally well balanced). Two years have built high expectations towards this album, and at least for me, Gnayse follows through. It's frighteningly beautiful and complex. I heartily recommend Gnayse to any and all on the list. Also, if you liked the artwork on Fyuti, do buy the actual album, whether on vinyl or CD. The artwork by Michael England on Gnayse is again astoundingly beautiful and disturbing. Cheers, -- nuutti-iivari meriläinen gordon at diversion dot org http colon slash slash www dot diversion dot org slash --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

In a message dated 11/30/2004 11:22:11 AM Pacific Standard Time, gordon@populo.vip.fi writes: I know I have to give Gnayse plenty of listens before it grows on me, yet I have been convinced since the first few bars of Eluus that I'm going to passionately love this album. It is like most love affairs: first, the anticipation and doubt if it will click; then the confusion and exhilaration of falling in love; the handling of complexities and differences, and finally, the settling down to long-term happiness (with occasional bouts of neglect, unless the relationship is exceptionally well balanced). Two years have built high expectations towards this album, and at least for me, Gnayse follows through. It's frighteningly beautiful and complex. just to counter this bloated review...i don't like it. Bola bores me. i don't get why people love his stuff so much. what am i missing? ak

In a message dated 11/30/2004 9:51:52 PM Pacific Standard Time, denial@ix.netcom.com writes: bloated review? that's funny, I read that review and thought "wow, I really wish there more reviews like THIS one posted to the list.." I loved the review and absolutely love Gnayse... I think it's classic bola but with a bit of a harsher edge.. his production values have gotten better and there's even more depth in this release than his previous outings. we need more artists like bola in idm, perfectionists with something more to say than "I have filters and I'm going to use them" -kiya sure, his production is great. i don't like the structure or the sounds he uses. the reason i said it was bloated was the whole comparison to a love affair. if you see an exaggerated review for something that doesn't impress you, its going to sound bloated. it was very well written, just over the top imo. and i know from experience that a review like this will leave a lot of people disappointed...thank goodness for soulseek :) ak

Here's our vision on Bola - Gnayse: Last week the whole world was morning for John Peel. Sutemos.net was not an exception because these people who are into electronic music comprehend how much he has given to each of us. Hundreds of bands which might have never reached us. He has risen several generations of people devoted to music and made music experts from them. He has made many different styles popular. But what is the most important thing he has always reflected the sound of tomorrow. So it is no wonder that I drowned my sorrow in the new Gnayse album of Bola which will be released in November by Skam Records. Darrell Fitton is also a very important figure in the electronic culture. He is famous for astonishing albums under the names of Bola and Jelo and he is a member of one of the weirdest projects - Gescom. Autechre duo Sean Booth & Rob Brown are also into it. By the way Darrell has laid his hands on Incunabula, too. So he is working the kind field for almost twenty years already. A bit fresh sound of Bola in Fyuti (Bola, 2002) album was very widely acclaimed and Darrel had two ways to choose: to go further or to go back. He has chosen the last one. And I must admit that though this album is not like "the best of the best" but it will become classical records as all previous albums of Bola have. It just need some time to become mature. It is no compilation of super hits. It is no ordinary music. It is no unemotional one hour long dance. It is way deeper. The fact that he managed to disassociate from everything that is surrounding him in 2004 and create a Soup (Skam) like bomb of 1998. I'm delighted to hear that this man is not changing and keeps his unique sound alive. Those who will listen to this album some years later will understand what I am talking about. Bola - Soup is still acclaimed as one of the best albums of electronic music. Fyuti was made for the lovers of contemporary electronic music but gaffer found it interesting, too. Gnayse is an interconnection between those two albums and fills in the gap and sudden futurism. It is like a part of the chain which made it possible to understand the whole history of Darrel Fitton. I have no doubt that this album will be a real joy for old electronic codgers, for those who are into this culture for 5-10 years or even more. For others it is only a matter of taste. Very, very, very... Rating: 10 http://www.sutemos.net/en/review;gid,325 Walkman www.sutemos.net --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

anyway, a very good album imo. especially in the sense of musical quality, what becomes less and less common these days... 3q --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org

quoted 2 lines sure, his production is great. i don't like the structure or the sounds he

> sure, his production is great. i don't like the structure or the sounds he > uses.

I don't know much of his stuff, but Mauver has some fairly spiffy bits - I quite like the sounds and structures myself. And it's nice to see someone representin' awful jokes in titles.

quoted 5 lines the reason i said it was bloated was the whole comparison to a love

> the reason i said it was bloated was the whole comparison to a love > affair. if you see an exaggerated review for something that doesn't impress you, > its going to sound bloated. it was very well written, just over the top imo. > and i know from experience that a review like this will leave a lot of people > disappointed...thank goodness for soulseek :)

Well, I sort of know what you mean, but if reviews are going to err, I'd rather it was on the side of excess than of terseness. David This message has been scanned but we cannot guarantee that it and any attachments are free from viruses or other damaging content: you are advised to perform your own checks. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored as permitted by UK legislation.