Various Artists. An Anthology of Noise and Electronic Music, Volume 6. With An Anthology of Noise and Electronic Music, Volume 6, curator Guy Marc Hinant continues his review of this and last century’s hard stuff. He continues his formula—a word that I’m sure would make him bristle—of assembling current artists, influential old-timers,[...] Read more

Recordings Matthew Pioro Issue 109

Rotorelief Records The flip side of the increased move towards digital distribution of music has been that boutique labels have taken up the challenge to create objects that continue to encourage record collecting. France’s Rotorelief is one such label creating beautiful keepsakes that inflame collectors[...] Read more

Recordings Chris Kennedy Issue 109

Vancouver New Music Festival. Scotiabank Dance Centre, Vancouver, B.C. October 21–23 The Vancouver New Music Festival, under the artistic direction of Giorgio Magnanensi, is known for inviting performers from the breadth of the contemporary art world, featuring emerging artists alongside international celebrities, the whole lot unapologetically challenging the audience with[...] Read more

Concerts and Events Randy Raine-Reusch Issue 109

Flow Festival. Helsinki, Finland. August 13–15, 2010. Since its inception in 2003, Helsinki’s Flow Festival has become a major highlight of the Finnish music calendar. This year’s seventh edition certainly didn’t disappoint. Perfect summer weather, a unique urban site, top-notch programming, and careful execution combined to[...] Read more

Concerts and Events Jason van Eyk Issue 109

Sun Ra. College Tour Vol. 1: The Complete Nothing Is... This reissue of Sun Ra’s Nothing Is . . . comes “complete”—or at least more complete, with ninety minutes of extra music—one complete concert set from St. Lawrence University in Potsdam, New York, on May 1996, plus a partial second set and a sound[...] Read more

Recordings Andrew Hamlin Issue 109

Various Artists. Sixty Interpretations of Sixty Seconds. One very strong impression that remained with me after listening to the duration of Sixty Interpretations of Sixty Seconds was that David Sait would make an excellent DJ. Perhaps that sounds like a trivial or flippant remark, but without that curator’s clever and highly musical[...] Read more

Recordings Nick Storring Issue 109

Seattle Phonographers Union. The Seattle Phonographers Union collectively weave together gathered field recordings in real-time to create wafting auditory mirages. As each piece hovers through different combinations of environmental sounds, a milky, dreamlike logic unfolds and establishes a certain gestural rhythm.[...] Read more

Recordings Nick Storring Issue 109

Various Artists. The NYFA Collection: 25 Years of New York New Music. “New York was incredibly rich, although I felt that everything was very centered,” said composer John Morton in an interview with American Mavericks. “There was a certain school here and a certain school there and you could expect this here and could expect this there and[...] Read more

Recordings Matthew Pioro Issue 109

Madawaska Quartet. Prefab. This long-awaited CD debut by the Madawaska Quartet reinforces the ensemble’s place as a powerful triple threat in the new music scene. Threat one is the ensemble’s surprising aptitude for developing ear-pleasing new repertoire. The results can be heard here in two world premi[...] Read more

Recordings Jason van Eyk Issue 109

Eric Leonardson & Steve Barsotti. Rarebit. Leonardson and Barsotti have both fashioned their own peculiar sonic contraptions that provide all manner of congruently peculiar noises over the span of this disc.   Each track encompasses its own world, constructed of noises that are both highly physical and also difficult[...] Read more

Recordings Nick Storring Issue 109

Electric Eclectics 5. The Funny Farm, Meaford, Ontario. July 30–August 1, 2010. True to its moniker, Electric Eclectics is more than just a head-spinningly diverse festival of modern music. It’s also a truly eclectic experience. Equal parts experimental music festival, bush party, camping trip, participatory art happening, and gathering of lovable misfits, EE is a[...] Read more

Concerts and Events Jonathan Bunce Issue 108