The Organ of Corti by Massimo Ricci in Touching Extremes Yet another laptop recording, the reviewer sighs. Isn't it incredible how poor the chances of creating interesting exhalations with such powerful machines have become? A sort of inverse proportion between the technical possibilities of the cold tool and sheer - although often absent - creative ability. But with Taus (Tim Blechmann and Klaus Filip) it's different, the diversity lying in a verb: unfold. If we want to have an example of computer music that "unfolds", this is it. It does so pretty slowly, gradually going through passages of slight change where a couple of components are enough, in several occasions, to elicit the feel of a natural environment. Interminable slopes - similar to infinite feedback, or is it? - over which the body of these sound waves elongates characterize large chunks of the piece, seemingly portraying a peculiar life cycle. The noise generated by the performers is associable to biological constituents rather than complex machinery and, what's all the more important, leaves time to the mind to adapt to a sonic setting before shifting the focus to the next. What's too commonly noticed in this kind of release is a thorough lack of direction, resulting in a gang-bang against our artistic perception, the commercialization of a hypocrite freedom of expression hiding veritable incapability. Filip and Blechmann know what they're doing in every moment instead: one only needs to observe the masterful consecutiveness of absorbing sonorities that this work presents. Elements that might not be new - although certain low frequencies starting around minute 17 are among the most engrossing I've heard in recent times - yet employed with extreme cleverness, the whole producing a very satisfying outing under any angle. The Organ of Corti by Frans de Waar in Vital Weekly No instruments are mentioned on the cover of 'The Organ Of Corti' by Taus, the duo of Tim Blechmann and Klaus Filip. But me thinks that it's a duo of laptops, no input mixers and perhaps a turntable. That's about what I could detect on their release as sound sources. Things peep, scratch and hum for about fifty one minutes, but that may sound a bit unfair. Taus do a very fine job I'd say. They built up their pieces from just a few sounds, but let them develop in a natural manner, give them space and they grow. Then they take back sound, close in the space and it seems that the music is disappearing again. When almost silent, they start again. Taus easily takes minutes to let theme's explore, but then the result is a great one. Music that you should hear rather loud; loud in the loudest parts, but then the softest parts also become audible. The music will wash over the a warm flow of water. Rather than full concentration, it's best to enjoy this with eyes closed, headphone and on repeat. |