Chantal Passamonte was once a Warp Records publicist but now releases records for the label under the guise of Mira Calix. Skimskitta, her second full-length album for Warp, consists of 21 tracks that, like One on One before it, are partly made up of full-length pieces and partly links between tracks. Developing on the sound introduced by One on One, Skimskitta moves towards a more detailed sonic collage than its predecessor.
Each track is carefully constructed to sound deceptively simple whilst being heavy on atmosphere and emotion, shifting further towards the territory occupied by the likes of Biosphere’s intense soundscapes. Utilizing simple piano melodies alongside thudding beats, assorted blips, screeches and samples along with her own hauntingly ethereal vocal talents, Passamonte presents a restrained album of skillfully constructed music. Sometimes blurring the line between emotive intensity and nightmarish darkness – the tracks “Woody” or “Simple (Almost Mix)” for example – Skimskitta presents itself as a carefully conceived and produced album written to reflect and portray specific feelings or past events. In contrast, tracks like “Do I Ever?” and “You Open Always” are comparatively lighter and more uplifting.
Also during 2002 Passamonte was commissioned to create a musical piece composed entirely of insect sounds for the Micro Music-la Batie Festival De Geneve. Shortly afterwards Passamonte played the same 30 minute piece at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Although originally included in an exclusive package including a specially designed Catherine Haines ladies bat wing “Fly” t-shirt, Warp eventually decided to publish the 13 minute excerpt as a single track CD exclusively through their website. With natural insect sounds replacing normally synthetic ones, NuNu radiates and pulsates gently and calmly, layers of natural sound intermingled from the tiniest click to deepest thud. The result is a detailed and well conceived work of creatively utilized samples.
Skimskitta itself is not an album that is easy to dissect or pick out particular tracks as being high points, but as a singular continuous piece of listening music it works wonderfully. Taking the listener on a journey through a range of feelings and emotions, Skimskitta gently shifts moods and portrays feelings subtly but effectively, switching from reflection to fear and on to happiness and back again seamlessly. NuNu is similarly detailed and possesses an almost symphonic nature from its collection of layered organic sounds. Both releases make for excellent listening music but Skimskitta has the edge when it comes to emotion and atmosphere.
