ALTERNATIVE PRESS
NOVEMBER 1996
CARL STONE * 1196
This is a very intriguing mood piece
in four parts orchestrated by an obscure but well-respected California
composer. Stone uses top-notch technology to create a subdued
symphony consisting of expensive digital loop technology. In this
case, he's using it for a commissioned work involving a Japanese
dancer/choreographer and a sculptor.
"Nyala's first section moves from near silence to a soft
crescendo of field recordings commingling with wispy strands of
extended notes, pseudo-chords and quietly insistent mini-mantras.
There's much ebb and flow in all four parts, with the second part
laying heavy into the ebb with an odd stereophonic detour into
unaccompanied percussion (a light shamanic drop zone in the program).
As we shift into the third and fourth parts, carefully crafted
sample loops linger far in the distance, coming closer like a
thief in the night and subtly evolving (both structurally and
tonally), eventually interlocking each chunk with utmost painterly
skill.
The sounds themselves are quite distinct and obviously took painstaking
hours to sculpt. Carl speaks of difficult digital "zoom-
in" techniques to get his sound, using the sampler as an
aural microscope to reveal patterns within patterns. You know,
microcosm/ macrocosm jive, an audio fractal. Hey, who's writing
a thesis? The dude's got flavor. Loop music can get to be a drag
with the sheer quantity over quality to muck through. Some have
the vibe, more just sit on their can and let their infinite repeat
button do all the work. Carl sidesteps boredom not only with a
serious toolbox, but with careful planning and deranged dream
essence.
Judging from the cover (a vivid picture of a grasshopper on a
flower), there's definitely an insectoid subtext running through
this CD, like music for genius bugs. Carl's microscopic world
sends flashes of an early scene in 'Blue Velvet' where the camera
gets under the grass to record the scuffling sights and sounds
of a zillion beetles. 'Carl Stone' yields many rewards with patience.
(Em:t, Square Center Studios, 389-394 Alfred St. North, Nottingham
NG3 1AA, U.K.)
-- Troy Palmer
Alternative Press
November 1996 Issue