Austria's Editions Mego imprint continues their investigation of the goings on at the legendary musique concrète studio GRM with this stunningly constructed LP. Hétérozygote / Petite symphonie... comprises a pair of compositions created by Luc Ferrari, a composer most likely best known for his use of what he termed "anecdotal sound" in his tape-based assemblages.
First piece "Hétérozygote" borrows from genetics, in that its conceptual cornerstone lies at the intersection between traditional instrumental sound sources and those of the anecdotal variety. Elongated bell sounds play off of a horse's hooves, flutes interject themselves randomly, waves crash and a number of people cajole each other across the multiple scenes and interludes that make up the 26-minute piece. Ferrari has suggested an accompanying narrative, but encourages his listeners to reject it and fabricate their own story to accompany the piece.
Considered one of Ferrari's imaginary landscapes, "Petite symphonie..." was inspired by a hike he and his wife took in the mountains. Encouraged by the breathtaking vista, the composer paired evocative flute music (imagining the local shepherds playing against their own echoes) with field recordings of sheep and other incidental sounds.
It's hard to find fault with any of the Recollection GRM releases, as they are gorgeous both to look at and to hear. If anything, the brevity of the collected output here is the project's only downfall.
(Recollection GRM)First piece "Hétérozygote" borrows from genetics, in that its conceptual cornerstone lies at the intersection between traditional instrumental sound sources and those of the anecdotal variety. Elongated bell sounds play off of a horse's hooves, flutes interject themselves randomly, waves crash and a number of people cajole each other across the multiple scenes and interludes that make up the 26-minute piece. Ferrari has suggested an accompanying narrative, but encourages his listeners to reject it and fabricate their own story to accompany the piece.
Considered one of Ferrari's imaginary landscapes, "Petite symphonie..." was inspired by a hike he and his wife took in the mountains. Encouraged by the breathtaking vista, the composer paired evocative flute music (imagining the local shepherds playing against their own echoes) with field recordings of sheep and other incidental sounds.
It's hard to find fault with any of the Recollection GRM releases, as they are gorgeous both to look at and to hear. If anything, the brevity of the collected output here is the project's only downfall.
