CARL STONE'S BEAUTIFUL MESMERIZING MINIMALIST MUSIC, RE-ISSU
RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 03/07/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Four FASCINATING Stars!! BEAUTIFUL, VIBRANT, DENSE, AIRY, DELIBERATE, EVOLVING, PRECISE, SUSPENDED BEAUTY: all of these words describe the music of master minimalist composer, musician, improviser, experimenter, traveler, educator, and musicologist Carl Stone on this remastered single-track CD called "Woo Lae Oak" (it seems Mr Stone is fond of restaurant titles). This was his recording debut of two decades ago. And yet these words are so inadequate! This 53 minute and 48 second-long 'pre-Macintosh' work seems to have depended on who knows how many tapes and loops of sounds described somewhere as a series of rubbed strings or gently blowing on bottles. It seems Mr Stone was sampling, looping, layering, using turntables, and taping long before today's DJs, but his music here is of a more gentle, patient persuasion. This is far from 'normal' music and frankly many may not 'get it' because not much is happening, conventionally, in terms of normal musical tempos and harmonies stretched over conventional bar structure. Sonically, a lot is happening but in layers and in sequencing and it takes a while to develop even one tonal layer, unless Mr Stone decides to surprise us along the way, which he assuredly does. The more you listen to it, the more sounds leap out with each listen. And I have been back to listen many times since I bought the download.
It begins with what sounds like 'trilling' violins, with a fast vibrato. That becomes a dominant sound augmented by an amazing amount of layers of different sounds, mini-tunes, and tones. What sounds like a Japanese bamboo flute states what comes closest to musical themes. At various times: around the 20 minute mark, the 30 minute mark and around 42 and 45 minutes, for example, the preponderance of sound is totally MESMERIZING & OVERPOWERING, coming at you from everywhere. If you have your speakers 'jacked up', your listening area may begin to vibrate at these musical 'power points'. It put me in a trance as I waited for the payoff. But in the end, it temps without delivering, conventionally; it fascinates without the big payoff, conventionally. The listening 'along the way' IS the payoff. The sound samples around the web should give you an accurate taste of what the entire experience is like. By all means 'try before you buy' unless you're very adventurous. Some may say it's not music but an aural soundscape painting. You can certainly use this music while thinking, working, playing, praying, chanting, meditating, or going about your daily business (Just don't drive a vehicle because of the 'trance' effect). Or you can 'just listen'!! Minimalist: yes! "Music Concrete": yes!! Beautiful: DEFINITELY!!! Highly Recommended to minimalist fans and Definitely Recommended to those wishing to expand their musical horizons. Four UNUSUAL Stars! (This review is based on an Amazon.com MP3 digital download of one 53:48 song.) **This review has been upgraded on 26 Oct 2009 to Four Stars, after 2 years this music has become more and more fascinating as time passes**"
Track Listings (1) - Disc #1