As the title suggests, the four compositions featured on this album came into being in the first three months of the year, and is a counterpart to last year’s series of ‘Modular Works 2014’ (Q1-4) releases. While the pieces may on the surface appear to be sparse, darkly atmospheric ambient works, there was a definite …
Continue reading ““Modular Works 2015Q1†reviewed by Whisperinandhollerin”
The press release for this is very lengthy, even when it doubles with information to be found on the cover of the CD. There is also some information on the composer, but it leaves out what I know him best for. I am sure for him that’s ancient (or perhaps irrelevant) history, but maybe it …
Trois trombones, trois contrebasses ou absence de musiciens, l’art du Néerlandais MARTIJN TELLINGA explore les possibles et l’au-delà sonore sur ‘Positions’ (Crónica). Ardue et enthousiaste, l’expérience acoustique inscrit pourtant sa première écoute dans une âpreté repoussante, elle s’estompe dès la seconde entame pour ne plus lâcher. Tout démarre avec l’extraordinaire pièce ‘Three Modulators, for trombones’, …
‘Positions’ finds Tellinga exploring space. Not outer space, but physical space, and the relationships between sounds when created within certain spaces. Yes, it’s all relative, and ‘Positions’ is concerned with the interactions of sound and performers, performers, sounds and audience or listener within the dimensional space of rooms. The way sounds resonate, reverberate or otherwise …
Continue reading ““Positions†reviewed by whisperinandhollerin”
I know I get into deep trouble doing what I am about to do now: review a download only release. It will spawn mails that scream ‘me mine me mine too’, or ‘what has Jos Smolders that I don’t?’ (let’s see how many got this last sentence, and immediately mailed me when they read the …
Continue reading ““Modular Works 2015Q1†reviewed by Vital Weekly”
The metaphrasis of musique concrete presented by Jos Smolders in this short cycle of rather recent compositions has the merit of expressing carefully selected concepts with logical precision. Repeated plunges into the realm of impenetrability also reveal many of its attractive features. The three movements of “For RH†(about time that someone dedicated a work …
Continue reading ““Modular Works 2015Q1†reviewed by Touching Extremes”
The trombones at the top of Positions droop like aged oak trees, hunched under the insistent weight of centuries alive. The drones curve solemnly; sepia memories of passing spitfires, fanfares pointed downward to rattle through the ground and the buried dead, swarming into a microtonal smog of weariness and withering vibrancy. Their tones are noble …
Continue reading ““Positions†reviewed by ATTN:Magazine”
Released earlier this month via the Porto, Portugal-based imprint Cronica is Martijn Tellinga’s debut album “Position” in which the artist, who’s also been a part of the great experimental project Zona Fumatori which has released one CDr named “Enteng” via the Staalplaat-related label Stichting Mixer in the early 2000s, explores experimental territories as well albeit …
Continue reading ““Positions†reviewed by nitestylez.de”
In the recent surge of modular synth use, the hardware and the process occasionally overtake the music. Lost is the power of modular systems as tools for composition. In this latest installment of his continuing Modular Works series, Dutch underground maven, Vital Weekly contributor and longtime mastering engineer Jos Smolders corrects this imbalance. Smolders made …
Continue reading ““Modular Works 2015Q1†reviewed by The Wire”
Kort daarna heeft Smolders “Modular Works 2015Q1” uitgebracht, een muzikaal verslag van zijn bezigheden in het eerste kwartaal van dit jaar. Zoals de titel al aangeeft, is de muziek gemaakt met een modulaire, analoge synthesizer. Drie titels verwijzen naar Robert Hampson (Loop, Main), maar het album is eerder geïnspireerd door Pierre Henry. Smolders masterde een …
Continue reading ““Modular Works 2015Q1†reviewed by Gonzo Circus”
