Cult Figures: Electronic Music From Canada

Sound Clips
Album Summary
Notes & Reviews
Also Purchased
Works Details

	On the Outer Edge - On the Outer Edge
	Waves - Waves
	Cult Figure - Cult Figure
	Full of Stars - Full of Stars
	My Dad's Story - My Dad's Story
	System 2.3/7 - System 2.3/7
	Arco/Lyrically - Arco/Lyrically
	Sailing the High C - Sailing the High C
	Monday Afternoon - Monday Afternoon
	Blue Evening - Blue Evening
	WOW! (Is My Cat a Rock'n'Roller?) - WOW! (Is My Cat a Rock'n'Roller?)

Album Summary

Matthews, Michael : On the Outer Edge, for electronics

Boon, Rolf : Waves for 2 synthesisers, percussion, guitar & saxophone

Berg, Reinhard von : Cult Figure, for electronics

Carastathis, Aris : Full of Stars, for electronics

Ross, Don [Engineer] : My Dad's Story, for electronics

Boon, Rolf : System 2.3/7, for electronics

Crutchley, Ian : Arco/Lyrically, for electronics

Sastok, Helve : Sailing the High "C", for electronics

Horwood, Michael S. : Monday Afternoon, for electronics

Morin, Robert : Blue Evening, for electronics

Grella-Mozejko, Piotr : WOW! (Is My Cat a Rock'n'Roller?), for electronics

Performers

Michael Matthews (Electronics)
Rolf Boon (Electronics)
Reinhard Berg (Electronics)
Aris Carastathis (Electronics)
Don Ross (Electronics)
Ian Crutchley (Electronics)
Helve Sastok (Electronics)
Michael Horwood (Electronics)
Robert Morin (Electronics)
Piotr Grella-Mozejko (Electronics)

Ensemble

University of Lethbridge Contemporary Music Ensemb

Composers

Reviews

Canadian cult heroes

Most Americans may think of Canada in terms of hockey and Molson�s, but our neighbor to the north is also home to a surprisingly large number of innovative modern classical composers. �Cult Figures: Electroacoustic Music from Canada,� presents works from 10 individuals who are pushing the boundaries of abstract electronic music. The pieces were written between 1966 and 2008 and cover a wide range of styles and sounds. Like any sampler-style collection, the quality is a bit variable, but the hits greatly outnumber the misses. Most important, while the music is uncompromisingly experimental, it�s also very accessible. Highlights include Michael Matthews� computer-generated �On the Outer Edge,� which is distinguished by compelling electronic textures and atmospheric harmonics; Rolf Boon�s �Waves,� which combines live musicians and pre-recorded sounds to serene yet slightly eerie effect; and Ian Crutchley�s �Arco/Lyrically,� probably the most challenging piece with its jagged, complex harmonies and unpredictable tempos. Piotr Grella-Mozejko�s �Wow (Is My Cat a Rock �n� Roller?) proves that even experimental composers have a sense of humor, as synthesized cat sounds are at the heart of this rhythmically aggressive piece. A bit gimmicky, perhaps, but it works. Only a couple of tracks disappoint, notably Don Ross� �My Dad�s Story,� which consists of a tedious vocal narrative laid over manipulated clarinet and found sounds. Overall, however, this is a highly recommended collection that will take the adventurous listener on a rewarding musical journey, one in which the navigational signposts are grounded in defiantly non-traditional notions of harmony, melody and rhythm.
Submitted on 04/13/10 by Dean Brierly

Works Details