a r t e f a c t As improvisational recordings centering around sine wave manipulations, "empty" samplers, and no-input mixing boards became more and more common toward the end of the 20th century, it was natural to wonder how long this seemingly sparse ground would continue to bear rich ore. This disc by Australian composer Philip Samartzis and Japanese sine wave pioneer Sachiko M. offers the strong contention that there is still much undiscovered gold in those hills. This is not, strictly speaking, a live improv session. The majority of the sounds heard here were indeed generated during a duo performance, but substantial studio processing was performed by Samartzis in the ensuing year, yielding a document that differs substantially from the original source. The four pieces here each carve out unique territories within a soundscape of hums, thin drones, blistering pops, and subsonic breaths. There's frequently a rhythmic impetus to the works, though never obvious and often layered among competing rhythms, offering no sure footing. The sheer richness of the sound makes for luxuriant wallowing, as though the listener has been plunked down into an enticing, if bracingly alien environment. Almost always, there are several events occurring simultaneously at varying sonic "distances" and depths from the observer, making for a translucent quality that is as extremely attractive as it is compelling and mysterious.
				download Interference.mp3 (1.8mb)
		Artefact (the spelling is mysterious itself) is one of the finest examples of what this genre is capable of, and is highly recommended both to longtime fans of the Japanese onkyo scene as well as to experimental music listeners in general. Brian Olewnick - All Music Guide order this item