Francis Dhomont "Frankenstein Symphony" Asphodel 0978
I don't know how everyone (including me) slept on this one. Well I
do know -- I've never seen a peep on this before it showed up in the
used bin.
For this CD, Dhomont used samples from electro-acoustic works by
other composers -- some of his own, some by his students -- to create
an expansive abstract audio horror movie. There's a Rich Devine
aspect to what he's done here -- he's turned the concept of
'Economy of Means' on it's head. Instead of expanding on a few
simple themes, he's worked from a gigantic palette of sounds.
No steady beat anchors anything, yet there is a rhythmic intention --
a chaotic interplay between motion and stasis that reflects the
stutter-stop rhythm of human thought.
Dhomont got his start in the 50's as a tape composer, and I don't
know if the splicing block mentioned is literal or figurative -- obviously
this sort of bricolage is much easier with a computer. But the
profound intentionality and linear structure makes a great antidote to
loopy electronic music. The care taken in the layering and accretion
of sound makes this involving and listenable.
I don't know any of his other work, though Amazon lists 4 CDs in
print. But this disc is DEFINITELY worth checking out...
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