Search - James Plotkin, Brent Gutzeit :: Mosquito Dream

James Plotkin, Brent Gutzeit
Mosquito Dream
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock

Track Listings (6) - Disc #1
1. Mosquito Dream
2. Sand Scroll
3. Wires
4. Could Cover
5. Helo
6. Mosquito Veil

CD Details

All Artists: James Plotkin, Brent Gutzeit
Title: Mosquito Dream
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Kranky
Original Release Date: 6/1/1999
Re-Release Date: 5/25/1999
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
Styles: Ambient, Dance Pop, Progressive, Progressive Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 796441803620, 796441803620

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Mosquito Dream is a challenging, brilliant update on guitar-based ambient sound. The disc concerns itself mostly with the ebb and flow of humming, nearly distorted waves of droning sound. It's far colder in tone than, say, the music of Rafael Toral, but it's neither too cerebral nor overbearingly bleak. The record was made, according to the label, in the following manner: "Plotkin recorded a guitar track; Gutzeit destroyed it and rebuilt it. Gutzeit used handmade instruments (an upright 18-string steel "bass" strung with piano wire and a 3-string instrument with 100-foot piano wires), a boom box, a stereo, and a 4-track tape deck to create 5 different tracks. Plotkin remixed those tracks and sent Gutzeit 40 minutes of music." It's a slowly evolving record; very little seems to happen on the first track--it just sounds like a succession of highly processed feedback hums. Halfway through track two, "Sand Scroll," things get really interesting and generally stay that way for the rest of the album. It's hard to say whether the record is constructed as such, or if it just takes about 10 minutes for one's ears to get used to its subterranean charms. --Mike McGonigal

CD Reviews

Lovely droning darkambient

M. Watkins | 08/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"the first Plotkin i'd ever heard was on the amazing compilation _Ambient 4: Isolationism_ and i was blown away by its stark beauty. i feel the same about this release. this album immerses the listener in a frightening, beautiful, flowing alien universe. you'd never guess that the only instrument used in this recording is guitar--heavily manipulated, droning guitar.if you like the general tone of _Isolationism_, you should check this and just about any other Plotkin release."

File Under Drones

M. Watkins | 05/23/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"
This album should not be missed by all the fans

of ambient drone out there. While not a work of

'genius,' Mosquito Dreams IS an album one can

listen to again and again and again, imo.

I've listened to the work of James Plotkin (I'm

not familiar with Brent Gutzeit, but he seems to

be a major factor in this album)on and off for

many years, particularly the Collapse album (not

a fan of 'noise' in general). And while I like

Collapse, I find Mosquito Dreams is more 'mellow'

and accessible for me personally; its not really

a 'dark' piece, but offers a pleasing alien

soundscape nonetheless.

Its also well suited as a Kranky label release, and

fans of Stars of the Lid in particular will like

Mosquito, as it is a layered work of various processed

strings. Those who remeber A Small Good Thing

may also be reminded, at times, of their first album.

Mosquito is a very quiet, unassuming work that is

recommeded for those wanting consistency on an album.

I can't say that there are any tracks

that especially stand out, but there aren't any

I don't like either. If I don't seem overly

enthused, don't get me wrong - its a worthwhile

addition to the drone genre.

"