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 | Larry Kucharz:Unit 25: Dark Red (International Audiochrome - 1998) Unit 25: Dark Red continues Larry Kucharz' ambient evolution; his beautiful and minimal sound sculptures are becoming even more subtly refined, smoother, yet still lush in their delicate nature. |
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Kucharz' previous works (see the review of 1997's Metachoral Visions) were more self-constrained (by his usage of singular sound sources for all parts of a composition, yielding strangely homogenous pieces). While, for all I know, he may be doing the same here, the various elements are less obviously "clones" and as a result seem even more fluid, more well-rounded. Another notable difference is that these tracks lean toward more traditional instrument-like tones, rather than the choral "ahhhs" that filled Metachoral Visions.
Kucharz' pieces are absolutely unsullied by beats, special effects, samples, found sounds or any other whiz-bang accouterments commonly found in ambient music today. The tracks of Unit 25: Dark Red sound rather alike across the disc as a whole, which the individual listener may find comforting or annoying. A swell of synth tones open the disc as 1995 No. 16 "Dark Coral" comes into existence. This song, a slowly evolving cloud, is a perfect example of the relationships Kucharz establishes between varying lengths and frequencies of sound. The lengthy, intertwined sonic strands of 1994 No. 2 "Dark Crimson" regenerate themselves for over 18 minutes; their different, shifting "movements" seeming almost classical in nature. 1995 No. 6 "Dark Sanguine" stands out because of its tiny "duets" between pronouncedly higher and lower tones. 1994 No. 14 "Dark Magenta" makes more liberal use of long, sustained tones of varying pitches. The result sounds like a very drawn-out orchestral string section swelling cosmically, with higher, more electric pitches embellishing the top end. 1976 No. 4A "Dark Rose" is another long (14:46) track, consisting of collections of stop-and-start bursts of short, high pitched notes and bits of silence between. (Besides missing its point, perhaps I don't have the patience for this technique, instead just wishing it would get "going" somewhere...) I fare better with 1994 No. 13 "Dark Carmine"; as it gently spills forth, I envision a slowly, subtly winding river, the movie camera of my mind following its simple course. (Feel free to add your own free-form visualizations... could be space, a peaceful skyline, rolling hills, heaven... they all fit nicely in this 16-minute slice of tranquility.) 1995 No. 9 "Dark Ruby" closes the disc, and is the shortest cut at 4:06. Slightly denser, the delicate interplay between high and low almost-continuous tones weave a gossamer web of beauty. If you're keen to sample more of Larry's work, note that he also appears on the Voyager compilation reviewed in this upload, as well as the previously covered Hypnos comp, The Other World. |
| If you've been seeking a bit of simplicity and/or serenity, Unit 25: Dark Red could easily fill that desire. Here's my One-Thumb Up. For more information, you can visit Larry Kucharz' web page. |  |
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