|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CD
|
|
ACD 305CD
|
Very cool sound-art document, based on the unique metal sculptures of New Zealand's legendary visual artist, Len Lye. Fans of Harry Bertoia, Ellen Fullman, Bill Fontana, etc., take note! "This CD makes available for the first time modern stereo recordings of the sounds of his sculptures, and provides an introduction to Lye's fascinating soundworld. Len Lye was one of the most innovative artists of his era. Based in New York's Greenwich Village during the 1950s and '60s, Lye was a leading figure in the development of kinetic art. He designed and built a series of moving, sound-emitting sculptures that are breathtaking visually and sonically." 'Sound crazy people vibrate to sound and this disc is for them; it's got some of the sharpest astringent zings of sound that ever cut the air, maybe because it's all made with doctor's blade steel, some of it the sharpest. ... All I know is that when it's set up in motorized vibrating and shaking devices, and struck with strikers, it cuts a new sound groove.' -- Len Lye (from program notes for an intended LP, which never got made).
|
|
|
Artist |
Title |
Format |
Label |
Catalog # |
|
|
3CD/1DVD
|
|
ACD 404
|
Major historical artifact of electronic music, issued on CD for the first time. For additional details and enthusiastic blather, see Bruce Russell (Dead C)'s article on Lilburn in The Wire #251. This boxset features 3 CDs of audio, plus a bonus DVD disc; packaged with 2 booklets of notes & photos. Impressively done. "Douglas Lilburn (1915-2001) is considered 'the father of New Zealand music'. After considerable success, he rejected composing for acoustic musical instruments and turned wholly to the creation of electronic works because he felt they would more accurately portray New Zealand in its own right, without reference to European musical forms. Some works are purely electronic; others were inspired by the natural sounds of the sea or bush, or the writings of leading New Zealand writers such as Allen Curnow, Denis Glover and Alistair Campbell. The works, dating from 1963-1975, have been restored to a high sonic standard for digital release at Atoll's Auckland facility. The set includes a DVD containing two 4-channel works by Lilburn, with all extant film material of the composer, plus an informative sound interviews and photographs." [the DVD is PAL format, region free; not compatible with most US NTSC players] From Bruce Russell: "I am now more than ever convinced that Douglas Lilburn was the real deal. Because he was willing, as an established composer, to leap into the unknown realm of electronic sound, to learn a new language, a new way of working, he produced a body of music capable of inspiring listeners as diverse as his academic contemporaries and self-taught, anti-compositional philistines such as me. Now hopefully the rest of the world has the chance to be inspired, and to be thankful, as I am, that Douglas Lilburn heeded the call. To paraphrase Mark E Smith again: Composer, heal thyself!"
|