 |
|
Greg Davis, "Precursors"
Melektronikk
Greg Davis has spent the past few years finding the perfect crossbetween the real and the artificial, manufacturing music that is parttraditional instrumentation, part electronic samplings. Precursorsis presumably named for the fact that these songs precede his newalbum, and offer hints to the songs he's been working on. The frequenttourmate of Hrvatski has apparently unearthed something heretoforeuncharted within himself, as these songs represent a marked departurefrom his usual style, and also a less organized vision. Where beforeDavis would use acoustic guitars and electronic percussion to create arelaxed mood, "Lightning Proves to be Unnecessary" opens with an almostcacophonous display of noise. Organs are melded to electronic scratchesand other noises that build and grow to what seems like a forcedclimax. Then silence. Farm noises fill the air next, as a rooster crowsand birds can be heard in the distance. It's the battle, the anger, theblood and bone crushes, and then suddenly elysium. Acoustic guitar andorgans play out a funeral march or fitting tribute to a fallen comrade.Although the melody grows monotonous over the brief length of thetrack, there is a beauty to it all that warms the heart nonetheless. Onthe flipside is more percussion-less music from Davis, with clarinet,melodica, Rhodes piano, and guitar forming a simple yet swellingprogression. Eventually more instruments are added, creating a jarringstutter with instruments playing on the up and down beats.Full-sounding while delicate, the track never progesses much past that,but luckily it never threatens or promises to. It's all veryminimalist, and a new start for Davis, one that should hopefully seemore complicated structures come to fruition. This is just a taste, anda good one at that.
Greg Davis has spent the past few years finding the perfect crossbetween the real and the artificial, manufacturing music that is parttraditional instrumentation, part electronic samplings. Precursorsis presumably named for the fact that these songs precede his newalbum, and offer hints to the songs he's been working on. The frequenttourmate of Hrvatski has apparently unearthed something heretoforeuncharted within himself, as these songs represent a marked departurefrom his usual style, and also a less organized vision. Where beforeDavis would use acoustic guitars and electronic percussion to create arelaxed mood, "Lightning Proves to be Unnecessary" opens with an almostcacophonous display of noise. Organs are melded to electronic scratchesand other noises that build and grow to what seems like a forcedclimax. Then silence. Farm noises fill the air next, as a rooster crowsand birds can be heard in the distance. It's the battle, the anger, theblood and bone crushes, and then suddenly elysium. Acoustic guitar andorgans play out a funeral march or fitting tribute to a fallen comrade.Although the melody grows monotonous over the brief length of thetrack, there is a beauty to it all that warms the heart nonetheless. Onthe flipside is more percussion-less music from Davis, with clarinet,melodica, Rhodes piano, and guitar forming a simple yet swellingprogression. Eventually more instruments are added, creating a jarringstutter with instruments playing on the up and down beats.Full-sounding while delicate, the track never progesses much past that,but luckily it never threatens or promises to. It's all veryminimalist, and a new start for Davis, one that should hopefully seemore complicated structures come to fruition. This is just a taste, anda good one at that.samples:
WZBC's 30th Anniversary Bash
It's no wonder that one of the world's most internationally renowned college radio stations is based in one of the world's most internationally renowned area for its colleges. Based in Boston, WZBC celebrated 30 years of groundbreaking radio last year (beat that, Resonance!). This week is the irregular pledge week and to support them, a video document of the 30th Anniversary Bash has been assembled from footage taken by students and DJs, edited by Jon Whitney and current WZBC Operations Director Amar Ashar. Performers at the bash included Keith Fullerton Whitman, Quasi, Lightning Bolt, Out Hud, Due Process, Jackie-O Motherfucker, Sunburned Hand of the Man, Tunnel of Love, Landing, Bardo Pond, Christopher Willits, No Neck Blues Band, Hella, and Nautical Almanac (many appear in this mini-documentary). Watch the video, then tune in afterwards at www.wzbc.org (or tune in if you're local) and hear for yourself! Support innovative non-commercial radio. Thanks!13 Minutes, Quicktime Streaming Video
