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File under: Abstract

Bernhard Günter, Ralf Wehowsky

Un Ocean De Certitude

Label: V2

Format: 3-mini-CDs

Genre: Electronic

Out of stock

long out of print, one copy only available - Un ocean de certitude' V223 is a triple set: a disk each by Gunter and Wehowsky and one collaboration. Gunter's piece 'Deceptive likeness' is a minimal work, which while at a low volume is not quite subliminal, and close listening (especially on earphones) reveals a delicate soundscape. There are small musical events - what sounds like a cello, rising and falling tones, an almost shaker-percussion, a match being lit, metal clanking, water - which occur over a drifting deep tone which rumbles in and out of perception. It feels like being in the quiet heart of a great building, machines are working away at some arcane production, stopping and starting, some startlingly close at hand and some far away through the building. Ralf Wehowsky is more demonstrative and noises crackle through the three sections of 'Maze' (I am sitting in a maze, Sitting in a maze, Still amazed). The first, longest section, opens noisily then builds on extended, low tones with musical events placed over and through it - short buzzes, tinkling and clicks - climaxing in a tonal complex. Sitting in a maze is more hyperactive, electronic squeaks and squalls over an pulsing drone, ending with a flurry of short bursts which sound like speeded-up samples, while the final section combines a dense tone with a quiet phrase, then fades into some minutes of near silent drone. There is a familiarity to some sounds (the match flare, the cello), reflecting the true collaborative nature of the set - Wehowsky and Gunter have used and been influenced by each others techniques. A fine balance is struck in the collaborative work ('Untitled Triptych') where the subliminal sound and noises work together. The central panel is the most active, containing processed sounds both instrumental (cello and piano?), ambient (a creaking door) and electronic. On either side are contrasting pieces. Long slow deep noises form a rolling base to the first part, while the thunderrumbling of the final section sits over a high tone. Subtle is a word which is perhaps too freely bandied about when talking about some experimental music, but this is a subtle set, in its many meanings - fine, delicate, clever, attenuated. The changes are so adroitly made, and the use of stereo shifts select, that you can put the discs on repeat and let them flow over you without being bored.

Details
File under: Abstract
Cat. number: V222
Year: 1996
Notes:
First part is a collaborative work and the two other parts are solo works by Wehowsky and Günter. Untitled Triptych's three wings reach back to the beginnings of the collaboration: Part 1 (Wehowsky with Günter) was conceived in July 1992, Part 2 (Wehowsky) in January 1992, Part 3 (Günter with Wehowsky) in June 1993. All were reworked and remixed in August 1994. Ralf Wehowsky's Maze was recorded in June (I Am Sitting In A Maze) and July (Still In A Maze) 1994. Sitting Amazed was completely reworked to become an integrated part of Maze in July 1994. Bernhard Günter's Deceptive Likeness was recorded in July 1994. Packaged in plastic case with 16-page booklet. Each disc is in a different color paper sleeve: white, silver and blue. The "Glass Mastered At" credit is identified by the matrices.