Ant-Zen
This music certainly has enough merit to exist separatefrom the live performances the Silk Saw duo of Marc Medea and GabrielSeverin gave during each performance of the play in late 2003 and early2004. The set consists of 11 mostly shorter, chaotic pieces bookendedby two lengthy tracks that are structured around a persistent kick drumpulse. The duo uses layers of various crackling, gurgling andsputtering electronics to achieve a dark, claustrophobic environmentthroughout. As their previous full lengths for Ant-Zen, Preparing Wars and 4th Dividers sounded markedly different from one another, Empty Roomsagain sees them exploring a different approach. Their usual rhythmstake a back seat to noise and atmospheric textures on most of thesetracks, and are instead fragmented or act as pulses. They have clearlybenefitted from the collaborative nature of the project, as it seems tohave forced them to think in a different way. The use of voices fromthe actual play during several tracks adds a human element to whatwould have otherwise sounded like alien material. The two long tracksthat open and close the set—"Konservatorium" and "Einaktiges Stuck"—arethe most rewarding listens. They allow Silk Saw to use one of theirmain strengths, developing layers gradually over 10 or 15 minutes each.Though the ideas explored on some of the shorter tracks are interestingsonically, many of them simply cut off abruptly just as they arebecoming exciting. The synthesizer sirens that cut through the chaoticnoise piling up during "Chor" are prematurely silenced, and thewheezing bursts of analog detritus that make up "Holderlin Und Zimmer"are suddenly stopped before the track reaches three minutes. Perhapsthe nature of the project limited the running time of several of thesepieces. It would have been nice to hear them take a few of these ideasand extend their duration to equal the success of the two long tracks,but as a soundtrack they fulfill a certain functional obligation. Thegesture to include challenging live music in a theatrical context isone that should be applauded. Although this release is an engaginglisten on its own, an accompanying DVD of the performance would havebeen welcome and may have helped toward understanding the larger intentof the project.samples:
Read More
