Functioning quite well as a current statement of what the 12k label is focusing on artistically, this disc features five artists associated with the label performing live from a recent Japanese tour, and the results showcase the variety and nuance of this niche of electronic music.
The two performances that bookend this disc seem to have a sense of conceptual unity, following similar paths but really sounding nothing like each other.Minamo open not with minimalism, but a wide sonic palette, merging untreated acoustic guitar with subtle electronic loops that command attention, but not aggressively so.The piece unfolds slowly, merging expansive electronic tones with guitar strums and rhythmic loops, all of which becomes overshadowed by crashing metallic sounds, noisy static and feedback, ending the piece far more abrasive than it began.
The closing piece by label head Taylor Deupree feels similar in approach to Minamo’s performance, but rather than guitar or loops, there are layers of decaying textures and delicate, soft melodies that propel the piece, constantly putting layers of weathered sound above pure, light melodies, and the occasional, very subtle, rhythmic clicking.
Australian duo Solo Andata take an opposite mood in their performance, focusing on darker, heavy textures that reverberate over massive, looming aquatic swells of sound.It’s not like dark ambient or anything meant to instill fear, but has a murkier quality to the performance, especially compared to the bright and delicate music around them.
The joint performance of Sawako and Hofli exemplifies this fragile beauty:Sawako’s delicate singing and use of field recordings are mixed with acoustic guitar and restrained, shimmering sonic textures.The duo implement a variety of subtle electronics that keep the performance dynamic, ending with Sawako’s signature field recordings.
Moskitoo provide the most diverging offering here, initially mixing glitchy loops and 8 bit noise textures, occasionally throwing in what sounds like a yard sale procured cheap Casio keyboard.This mostly chaotic mix suddenly gains form, coming together in a rhythmic track that, with its voice fragments and unconventional tones, sounds like a pop song from another universe, following traditional conventions but turning them completely around.
The thematic unity of these performances can be heard easily:restrained use of electronics and the juxtaposition of delicate textures and acoustic instrumentation to develop an electronic based sound that eschews genre conventions for something unique, and brilliant.
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