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Dusted Features
Every Friday, Dusted Magazine publishes a series of music-related lists compiled by our favorite artists. This week: Ambient composer Matthew Cooper and Home frontman Eric Morrison.
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Listed: Eluvium + Eric Morrison
Eluvium
Matthew Cooper, who records as Eluvium, layers textures of piano, guitar and other sounds into dense and dreamlike compositions. Dusted’s Daniel Levin Baker, in reviewing 2005’s Talk Amongst the Trees, said “It is the sound of nothing turning itself inside out, the art of building nothing out of something. If minimalism consists mostly in making a mountain out of a molehill, this record takes up the altogether more challenging project of making a quiet, meticulous molehill from the mountain.” With Similes, Eluvium’s fifth full-length out February 23rd on Temporary Residence, Cooper ventures into some previously unexplored areas, employing percussion, vocals and verse-chorus song structure for the first time in his career.
1. Roy Montgomery / Grouper - Split LP (Self-released)
I’ve been enjoying this release quite a bit, especially Grouper’s "Vessel" side. I can’t help but feel as though the music here is supposed to ensconce the journey to and from New Zealand for [Grouper’s] Liz [Harris] (where she played a concert with Mr. Montgomery). Starting with the turbine-like roar and ending with the excited greeting from a dear friend—whether or not this is the case—it is yet another wonderful piece of work. For those who are new to Roy Montgomery, while his live piece (originally from the Harmony of the Spheres compilation) is enjoyable, I highly suggest Temple IV for getting to know his music.
2. Ash Black Bufflo - Andasol (unsigned)
This is a CD-R my friend Jay Clarke sent me before the holidays. He and his wife have worked with many musicians here in Portland and elsewhere and are both wonderful people. This disc has been on constant rotation. It reminds me quite a bit of the more developed Moondog compositions, while at other times nestling into seemingly desert-like weirdness that wouldn’t be misplaced on a Godspeed You! Black Emperor album. Andasol is nonetheless a very unique and poetic work from a very talented artist.
3. Loscil - Strathcona Variations (Ghostly)
I haven’t spent a ton of time with this release, but I’ve noticed that whenever I’m out and starting to get caught up in the hustle of the world, these recordings bring me back into a comforting haven. I look forward to his new release this spring.
4. Benoît Pioulard - Precis/Temper 2xLP (Kranky)
Not sure when Kranky gave this the double album / vinyl treatment exactly, but I picked this up a few months back very happy to see that it existed. I’ve been listening to Thomas [Meluch]’s albums since Precis. Both albums have now become regular listens at my house.
5. Loren Dent - Anthropology, Vol. 1 (Infraction)
Jason at Infraction sent me this disc recently. It has been very satisfying. I don’t know much about Mr. Dent, but a lot of this disc reminds me of some sort of area between Angelo Badalamenti and Eno’s Apollo. Highly recommended for the ambient/drone fans
6. Angus Maclaurin - Glass Music (Bubblecore)
My wife just pulled this one out of the catalogue. It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to it. Really beautiful and mysterious, and sometimes a bit raucous. I remember having trouble with this when I first heard it. Now it’s just seems perfect, -perhaps equal parts early Nick Zammuto [of the Books] and Glenn Kotche ? ...If they worked with glass?
7. Gurdjieff / de Hartmann - The Music of Gurdjieff / de Hartmann (Triangle)
Another one from the past for me. I found this 3LP box of piano music when I was working at a record shop many years back. It looked interesting enough. I knew nothing about G.I. Gurdjieff at the time. In fact, it wasn’t until many years later that I learned he was not really known for his musical contributions so much as his teachings. He has been an intriguing man to me ever since (I actually played looped instruments along with some of this record when working on Lambent material, probably not more than a few weeks after bringing it home). All that aside, these piano pieces are controlled, poignant meditations that are always a welcome listen
8. The Ladybug Transistor - The Albemarle Sound (Merge)
Yet another record from a while back (sort of). It feels like it was a completely different time for music. I was never really able to get into their other material, but this record is always coming in and out of my life. I don’t know what compels me to put this on over many other records. I haven’t played it in several years, but this has always been an enjoyable mellow pop listen for me. Dare I say a classic ?
9. The Caretaker - Persistent Repetition of Phrases (V/VM)
This gentleman has been hard for me to keep up with, as I think I first heard this particular album sometime mid-last year. And although I’ve heard bits and pieces from other Caretaker albums, as well as the Leyland Kirby stuff, this is the one that seems to work through and through for me.
10. Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport (ATP Recordings)
At first, I wasn’t so sure I was into this. But it seemed interesting enough that I kept giving it a chance. Now I thoroughly enjoy it. It may seem like a big stretch to some, but I can’t help but get a bit of a Remain in the Light feel from some of these tracks, particularly "Phantom Limb." Wish I would have caught them when they came through town as I’ve heard their concerts are rather thrilling.
Eric Morisson
It’s been three decades, more or less, since Eric Morrison’s Home got started in South Florida, cranking shaggy psychedelia and expansive, lo-fi jams. Home has been quiet since 2006’s Sexteen, perhaps smoking a long cigarette after their epic concept record about fucking, but that’s going to change next week with the release of Seventeen, a vinyl-only album on Oneida’s Brah record label. Morrison himself has kept busy, with Leels, GoJenny and the vividly conceived 100% Storms Ensemble, an imaginary orchestra fulfilling hypothetical commissions for events including the 1939 World’s Fair, the Voyage Space Probe Launch and the 2012 Olympics. He took part in this week’s Listed.
My 10 Most Favorite Musical Moments in Movies
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
After a long (and hilarious) musicless stretch, Dr. Floyd finally makes his way to the moon excavation site which has unearthed a black monolith. The choral work by Gyorgy Ligeti is just stone cold bone-chilling, ramping up to the ultimate deafening squeal of the monolith’s communique. Any creature with a nervous system could enjoy this simple, but devastating, sonic incline.
2. Allegro Non Troppo (1977)
The 1970s Italian answer to Fantasia. The evolution sequence that’s set to Ravel’s Bolero is so filthy with amazing creature design, you can’t help but be thankful for the simplistic nature of the music. It becomes the safe ground to take in the gorgeous rapid-fire transformations of the beasts marching toward a slightly over symbolic finale.
3. Fantasia (1940)
Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring (perfectly interpreted by the Philadelphia Orchestra) sets the scene for Bill Roberts and Paul Satterfields’ take on evolution. They take a more scientific approach and flesh it out with amazing glowing pastels. The synchronization of music to image is masterful.
4. The Big Bang and Other Creation Myths (1981)
Faith Hubley attacks the mechanics of evolution from a completely different viewpoint. Marrying Afro-Cuban rhythms with a Kandinsky-Using-Colored-Pencils visual style, she makes the whole logic-defying dance come alive like a great party. (I’m making a realization just now that I’m terribly fond of animated interpretations of Darwin’s work.)
5. The Gay Divorcee (1934)
The Continental sequence features two of the most graceful dancers of the 20th century locked together with marionette strings of music. Neither is the puppeteer or puppet; they are in perfect corporeal harmony. And if that isn’t enough, while doing the Continental, you kiss while you dance. Sold.
6. Tron (1982)
A short but amazing opening sequence. Wendy Carlos’s music finally meets its match in some mind-bending (if rudimentary) computer generated lovesauce. I always imagine that the electronic composers of that generation were waiting for someone to visualize what they were reaching for. This is a hella good shot at capturing the sound of math.
7. An American In Paris (1951)
Of course, the ballet sequence is the pinnacle of this movie, but it’s Gene Kelly’s romp with the Parisian rapscallions to the tune of “I Got Rhythm” that will make a person happy they occupy a body. To see one so loose and so completely linked to the music around them is to appreciate why we have them.
8. Rock & Rule (1983)
This film is chock full of great music from Lou Reed, Debbie Harry, Iggy Pop, Cheap Trick and Earth Wind and Fire, but the finale sequence featuring the song "Send Love Through" is so absurdly over the top that it wins top honors. Robin Zander and Deborah Harry literally destroy a demon with the power of rock.
9. Fantasia 2000 (2000)
Gershwin’s "Rhapsody in Blue" is matched up with a [Al] Hirschfeld-esque animation style to create a wonderful New York couple in this super belated sequel. The premise is great, but it’s the endearing set of characters that makes this a classic.
10. Popeye (1980)
When Shelley Duvall’s Olive Oyl sings Harry Nillson’s "He Needs Me," there is a simplistic perfection that happens that completely disarms a person without pushing easy buttons.
11. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1963)
The "Salome" sequence. Y’all know why it has to be on this list. Don’t make me say it out loud.
By Dusted Magazine
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