Tuu: One Thousand Years Tuu: One Thousand Years (Waveform - 2001) Digging back to 1993 to uncover One Thousand Years, Waveform has rereleased the debut album of neo-ethno-primitive soundmasters, Tuu. Already time-warping anyway, these tracks are impervious to sounding "dated", forever reveling in their otherworldly timelessness and tropical/arid atmospheres... ancient instruments of bamboo and clay join with digital equipment of silicon and electricity. The thin metallic haze which leads into Exile is overtaken by a jerkily droning mantra and spiraling flutations; additional layers include mutedly clanging ceramics and sheening radiance. The more-percussive title track thumps and bumps with waterdrum rhythms and, briefly, phantasmal chants. The heat haze which surrounds Fetish makes it seem 20 degrees warmer than it really is, though the spooky vibe chills it back down. Hypnotizing monotone bells are underscored by the hovering flute flows of Body of Light; a deep molasses-like vortex stews beneath. Watery drumbeats bubble from the depths of Pan America (10:10) while airy breezes whorl above, etched with woodwindy spurts and swells. Reedy strands twist and twirl as Breath (4:15) traverses a desert plane of wavering streams, insectoid accents adding further texture to the already-palpable expanse. Rippling dronetones and reverberating chimes fill Sand Garden with a final round of faraway-yet-near sonic mysteries; darker activities lurk and noisier feedback-like extrusions emerge. We interviewed Martin Franklin back in the "old days", December 1998. If you missed One Thousand Years the first time around, now you can take this exotic voyage without ever physically leaving your favorite chair... your senses though, will be transported into Tuu's masterly world-building soundenvironments, carried away on exotic ethnic styles and panoramic 8.9 ear-visions. Thanks to Forest at Waveform for bringing it back. Makes me wonder if we'll be hearing more from Tuu... ? This review posted June 30, 2001 AmbiEntrance © 2001-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).