Although no one will mistake Brian Eno as precisely as a pop star, yet, he is in a sense, but of course with that something extra, which is his interest in Experimental or new music. In the mid-70s Eno started a record label, Obscure Records, to focus on modern music composers, most of them are British, and very much in Eno's social and music world. One interesting album (of many fascinating titles) is the John White and Gavin Bryars album "Machine Music."
White is by design a minimalist composer, but I find labels too limiting and not very accurate in the sounds one hears. On side one he has four pieces. The opening cut is "Autumn Countdown Machine" which is a playful series of notes between a Bassoon, Double Bass, and Tuba that has a sound of various percussion instruments and a metronome underlining the main instrumentation. To me, I can tell it's British because of its character. It's a funny piece, but beautiful as well. Perhaps it's that dynamics that gives this work such character. "Son of Gothic Cord" is a piano piece played by White and Christopher Hobbs. It reminds me of a bit of a Steve Reich piano work, but usually, his music is based on another culture, this I think is more numeral orientated or with a strict system in place. It has an echo that fills the room. One thought but with four hands. "Jew's Harp Machine" is sort of a super session with White, Michael Nyman, Gavin Bryars, and Christopher Hobbs (the Obscure house band!) all playing Jew's Harp, in a rhythmic fashion that has echo and delay (at least to my ears). "Drinking and Hooting Machine" is a bottle blowing composition and it's eerie, and I can imagine this being heard over a rural countryside, with nothing but owls looking down on the musicians.
On side two we have one composition by Gavin Bryars which is all guitars. Played by Bryars, the great Derek Bailey, the amazing Fred Frith, and professional beginner Brian Eno, called "The Squirrel and the Ricketty Racketty Bridge." A riff that reminds me a bit of White's first composition on the other side "Autumn Countdown Machine." Four types of guitars that have separate and distinctive sounds that has a beautiful layered aural presence. Not The Ventures or The Shadows mind you, but still a fresh piece of music.
Obscure Records had only eight or nine releases but all of them are real gems, and it's excellent to re-hear them in 2019. Eno should be applauded for presenting new music in such a fashion that's enticing and thrilling at the same time.
No comments:
Post a Comment