Brave New Wales - Fourier Transform (CD Review)
Brave New Wales Pedair Awr yng Nghymru Fydd.
Fourier Transform.
“ Sound will always converse with sound, with or without our intent”
( Mathew Lovett )
Oooooh I’d been waiting to hear this Cs compilation since I’d first seen it www.myspace.com/fouriertransform. A 3 disc ( 4 if you’re lucky and get the bonus disk) boxed set of electroacoustic, and avant garde all made right here in Wales ! Here was I thinking it was a very small subculture tucked away in Bangor and Anglesey but no! Simon Proffitt has successfully brought together a fantastic wealth of performers and music with this set. For this he deserves a standing ovation. But the real question is, does the Cd hold its weight as a listen, as well as a feat of social and geographic engineering.
I finally stopped dribbling over the sexy black boxed packaging to find out.
Some of you may recognise the opening track from Adam Walton’s Sunday show on BBC Radio Wales, “ Moving a Pile of bricks three feet to the left An back again ( Brick no 20- to the left) by Carphology Collective. You’d know it if you heard it, and its simplicity is a wonderful introduction to the Cd set. Slightly off beat, beautifully done. The cd continues in a varied vein following up Carphology Collective with in yer earole white noise courtesy of Gimp Nipples then bouncing off with Chuch ( Performing live 18th March 2008 – www.myspace.com/chuchsounds) and along the path turning many a corner to find new treasure in many a form. Which is kind of the set’s intention.
Inspired by a Scottish chap who thought there was no experimental music in wales ( and of course- the music) Simon wanted to “ …..set about finding other people up and down the country making similarly interesting and exciting music, stick it all together and demonstrate that there actually is a lot of great experimental stuff happening here. Show people that there's more to the Welsh music scene that they might realise.”
It is a compilation Cd, of varied artists, and by its very nature there is a statistically high degree of probability you are not going to enjoy every single track, but it is a journey with something for everyone.
From the pounding of Edwin Pang, to the hauntingly mediative vocals of Jasmin Janiurek of Nawadaha. There's a considered fell to our explorative traverse in sound. A discovery of new artists, sounds, possibilities emotions, challenges.CD 1 has the most energetic feel, whilst the second Cd is horizongtally beautiful, Cd 3 declares its presence boldly before building in a more melodious way than Cd 1 and more energy than Cd 2 to its climactic scream. Thought has gone into the running order, this is a quality production.
In the box we are also given a very handy booklet with each artists website or Myspace address so we can find out more, along with something they have chosen to represent themselves in a Cd sleeve, as well as a handy map showing where in Wales all the artists are based.
You can tell that Simon is a considered, tactile person;everything is so beautifully presented. It’s a small run boxed set(1000 limited copies available – mine’s 168) , but its something designed with the connessuir in mind, for those of us who enjoy the packaging as much as the sound.
With so many artistes on the Cds I cannot personally review all of the individual tracks for you. That’s something you have to do for yourself. For me, the set is a complete experience, narrative. It’s a feat to devote 4 hours to listening to music in today’s world. I really want to talk about the music, but it is something personal, what makes me skip with delight may shatter your eardrums.
This is not a Cd to do your washing up to on your battered kitchen stereo. Sit comfortably together in an ambiently lit room. Play the Cds through a decent sound system and make time for it, it deserves your full attention. I believe there was a Fast show character whose catchphrase was “ this is like making love to a beautiful woman.”
The Cd will probably give you more for your money; a rollercoaster of emotions with no commitments, complete unpredictability, moments of blissful euphoria and relexation, wrapped in black.
What more do you want?
Read an interview with Simon Proffitt click here
For more info - www.fouriertransform/010
by BLIPFONICAon: 17th March 2008
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