zoviet france: the decriminalisation of country music; themes for Tramway

zovf-tdocm.jpg (9k) zoviet france: the decriminalisation of country music
themes for Tramway
(Tramway - 2000)

As Glascow's old tram depot was being renovated into Tramway's unique performing and visual arts center, zoviet france were commissioned to create a sonic documentation of the building's rebirth into new life.

On-site field recordings are transformed into something similarly new and different as the decriminalisation of country music redevelops industrial noise into obscure-yet-evocative soundspaces, thrumming with energy and vision.

Fluttering electronic riffles are underscored by flatline drones as something spooked the horses thrums into existence; in long, wavering strands, twangy steel guitar strings begin to echo into the distance, sometimes more (and sometimes less) tonal in nature. The gently looping drones of electron gate are infiltrated by a more-active ruffling cycle. Brief stainless drifts through a fuzzy haze of pulsations and buried guitar ripples.

Accented by microscopic pops, light hissy clatter opens pyroclastic flow (11:45); the atmospheres become denser, deeper and more mechanical, eventually emitting a faint humanistic chant within its industrial haze. Another short track, dust and scratches buzzes and loops more quavering metallic strings. Random shuffles appear then vanish in duct tape (0:27).

Weirdly bubbling elements arise from purline, as geiger-counter-like ticks sputter from spiiltek, eventually being joined, then overtaken, by a low, barely rising/falling resonance. Dense effervescence flows in a light abrasion, decorated by occasional cricket blurts.

Just as the construction crew transformed a building into new forms and uses, zoviet france retools their workaday sounds into the unusual re-representations which inhabit the decriminalisation of country music; soaring instances of slide guitar add the "country" element (popular with the workers). An 8.6-ranked piece of crisp-though-obtuse sonic development from master craftsmen.

For mail order info: zf@charrm.org

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This review posted March 28, 2001

AmbiEntrance © 2001-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).