WOEBOT

Oh no more Avant-Garde Records!

Firstly I should like to apologise for any emotional damage inflicted by that piece. Think for a minute what a VERY sad individual I must me.....aaah you're feeling better already! Secondly, and more seriously, apologies for waving these discs under your noses with nary a downloadable mp3 pack in sight.* Please note much of this music is very much available on CD, and forget the vinyl fetish thing with Music Concrete, cos it sounds BETTER on CD, crackle hiss and hum totally screw up the experience of this music. Your first stop should be here. Iannis Xenakis's "Persepolis" is often described as the greatest work in the series and that's on CD, as is Luc Ferrari's "Heterozygote" which is also one of the most important. Apparantly "the just released Teige mix (of "Persepolis") on the 2 CD Editions RZ Xenakis set" is even more dynamic than the original 8 track Phillips version. As for Parmegiani, his best work comes later on the INA GRM label (don't start me...) and "De Natura Sonorum" is THE ONE, if you can't get it at Recommended, try here.

To give y'all a window of hope Marcus at Rephlex: "...got the Pierre Henry "Variations for a Door and a Sigh" for $3", though (titter) that strains the patience a bit that one (you can get it on CD) AND his "...mate picked up the Prospective 21 siecle box set for about $11 in this shop in Greenwich." Bastard!

Jon came back with some extremely generous comments. He's got a photo of Don Bolles with his silver discs which I look forward to seeing. I was particularly pleased that Bolles had the same reaction to the Les Percussions Strasbourg, in fact I punched the sky and said "Yes!" Seeing the link to Ed Maurer's superb bit of research brought me down to earth with a bump though, not least because I missed it myself, which considering that I used Mr. Maurer's work to back up the Shandar thing I did on January 14th was pretty goofy. I've contacted Ed and hope I can contribute a sleeve image or two for his site. Great too that Simon had furnished Julian House with the Henry's Voile D'Orphee/Entite/Spirale cover for his forthcoming book on record covers as:"Possibly my favorite album sleeve" (Preening self in mirror): "Looking good!"

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I'd like to round up with a few other bits and pieces which are of relevance to that piece, and I've tried very hard to keep on subject; not just bosh up a load of sleeves and congratulate myself for my sound investment.

1. Xenakis: Polla, Ta Dhina, Akrata, Achorripsis.

Not an electro-acoustic work. Included here for two reasons. Firstly to signal the existence of quite another INCREDIBLE series of Avant-Garde music, EMI's Perspective Musicales. I have only this record from that collection. Secondly, to draw attention to it's sleeve design, which is the one aped by Sonic Youth in their Avant series.

2. Luc Ferrari: Und so weiter, Music Promenade.

This IS an electro-acoustic work. It's great. Once again another themed Avant-Garde series. This time on the Wergo label. I have the Bo Anders one too on vinyl, which Jim O'Rourke reissued on CD for Dexter's Cigar (excellent). Curiously this sleeve design has been copied too, but I can't remember who by...

3. VA: Response: Electronic Music from Norway.

A collection on the Limelight label (I knew I had another of theirs). Does exactly what it says on the tin. Pieces here by Nordheim, who "represents" on the Electronic Panorama, Janson and Fongaard. Once again available on CD.

4. VA: Panorama of Music Concrete.

A 1950's British compilation on London records (Ducretet Thomson). $10 in Frocester in Gloucestershire. Right now $320 at the Music and Video Exchange, it's partner Volume 2 priced as high. Am I sounding pleased with myself? Maybe a bit. Though there's a lesson here. Marcus found his pieces in Truro in Cornwall. Small towns people!

5. Pierre Henry: Mouvement, Rythme, Etude.

Ooh what a pwetty cover! Mentioned in passing in the piece Henry on Phillips but NOT on the Silver Series. This, which I found in Belgium, also available on CD.

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OK I'll shut up now.

Posted by Woebot at September 7, 2003 12:10 PM