Modern classical music with electro acoustic leanings and a focus on conveying some sense of emotion and mood.
[Release page] Acoustic Tales by Field Rotation is a masterpiece of understated beauty. Modern classical music with electro acoustic leanings and a focus on conveying some sense of emotion and mood. Described in the accompanying documentation as being similar to Tim Hecker or Max Richter – I have to be honest and say I was unfamiliar with both these artists before now (which now I’ve researched them a little seems very remiss), but on initial listenings, I’d say that’s bang on.
This new release on the Denovali label is not actually a new release, but a re-release of an LP that originally came out in late 2010 as a limited edition CD package. It included various splendid extras the first time around, including a booklet with art and poetry which sold out within weeks of it coming out. It will now be available as a vinyl double LP, as well as in digital form. I can only say that this music somehow deserves to be on vinyl, it has a quality to it that is rooted firmly in the analogue world, with all its subtle and minute fluctuations rather then the clinical digital world of absolute numbers and grids. Of course that is just a romantic notion, it sounds just as good digitally as in any other format, I am listening to it in digital form myself as it happens. Never the less, it is very fitting that it should be on a good old record!
Field Rotation is the work of Christoph Berg, a German composer of modern classical electro acoustic ambient music. That’s a bit of a mouthful, and clearly just made up by me, but that’s pretty much the only way I can think to describe it. Acoustic Tales is described as a collection of, well, acoustic tales! This gives the impression that each piece is separate from the others or at least able to stand on its own, and I agree with the later absolutely. Each track is individually mesmerising in its stunning beauty, but I feel, after several journeys on foot with it in my headphones, that the entire collection really belongs together. There is a mood or feeling that underpins everything and holds it all together, in fact it occurred to me that this was very much like a film score to a film which probably doesn’t exist (maybe it does, but the thought of playing all my DVD’s with the volume down and this playing on the stereo is too much for me – although I’m sure it would provide hours of entertainment for those who have the inclination and time). Many of the sounds have a similar quality and seem to relate to each other in a way that feels increasingly cinematic the more I think about it. This is partly due to the use of similar instrumentation throughout, with particular emphasis on violin (one of Berg’s main instruments) played in the most haunting and heart-wrenching way possible. Lots of slow and sad melodies played over an electro acoustic ambience with piano and various stringed instruments (and instruments and sounds of all kinds for that matter) all chipping in. The title track makes more sense to me as one acoustic tale told in parts over the course of this LP, but then that’s just my take on it. Artistic output of any type has its value in how it is perceived by others and how they interpret it after all.
One of the things that struck me about this work is the subtlety employed. There really is a lot going on if you listen carefully, but restraint is foremost in the compositional process. This is something that is not as easy to do as it sounds. Many different sounds and techniques are at play here, but the end result is almost sparse, and completely centred on the effect it has on the listener. Again, this draws parallels to film score, whose job it is to convey some feeling or emotion to a scene without really being noticed. Not that I had trouble noticing the music, nor am I suggesting anyone else ignore it, simply that it does its job exceedingly well.
This is music that deserves to be heard, it’s emotive and moving. Thoroughly recommended. Right, I’m now off to familiarise myself with the works of Max Richter and Tim Hecker – I may need some time.
Acoustic Tales is out now on Denovali. [Release page]
Acoustic Tales Preview by Field Rotation
