 rm74
"Instabil" CD
Domizil
Records
Genres: experimental electronics, glitch, blips and
bleeps
Jan 20 - 26 2003 |
rm74
is Reto Mäder, a talented experimental electronic composer
whose Instabil album is his first since 2000's Mikrosport.
It seems as if he's really been working hard in these three years, as Instabil
is a fantastic, diverse album that will engage just about any glitch
fan.
Using an infinitely wide array of sounds, rm74 creates an
atmosphere of robotic blips and bleeps - only ever calming down to
show his seeming obsession with classical piano music, which makes
appearance in a number of pieces, including the largely piano-led
"Schamassel." But the majority of Mäder's sounds are
abstract palettes of buzzing electronics, mechanical ambiences, and
sudden, short bursts of white noise.
The album's first track, "Schlonder," is a nice example
of what Mäder does. Starting off with some nice glitches and
short impulses of harshness, the track adds a stream of little
electronic beeps into the mix, only to further enhance the sound by
introducing a throbbing, tuneful background to the chaos. It is an
immediately engaging piece; you can just lie down, close your eyes,
and listen to it - it will transport you into its own bizarre world of
shifting metal landscapes and complex blue, white, and black cubes.
Another fantastic piece is "Dahaluse," which, about
halfway through the track, introduces some really nice sounds that add
a bit of tunefulness to the album. These sounds are mesmerizing
electronic chords that shift and mingle with the track's white noise,
creating an interesting battle of sorts between the tuneful notes and
the harsh abrasion.
"Klavtarups" is also very impressive. Using a simple
piano recording as the base of the piece, Mäder manages to
take the chords and notes and completely fuck with them, attacking
them with feedback and harsh white noise. As the desperate piano notes
try to claw themselves above the frantically intrusive feedback, an
interesting point is being made - it's a fight between acoustic
instruments and the new camp of electronics. How symbolic!
Altogether, rm74's Instabil is a fantastic, rewarding album.
Glitch fans will love it, and those new to the genre may find
themselves discovering a new passion. Recommended.
90%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
12 songs, distributed by m.dos, released
2003] |
