The Squid's Ear
Writing about improvised, contemporary, experimental and unusual music,
following the activities of Squidco...
  •  •  •     Join Our Mailing List!



The Squid's Ear
Facebook: Squidco Sales

Heard In

Reviews of artist releases:
cd's, books, magazines, &c.


  Shira Legmann / Michael Pisaro 
  Barricades
  (Elsewhere) 


  
   review by Massimo Ricci
  2020-10-01
Shira Legmann / Michael Pisaro: Barricades (Elsewhere)

If one listens to the piece from 1717 that indirectly originates this composition by Michael Pisaro — namely, "Les Barricades Mystérieuses" by François Couperin — the connection between the two entities may appear hard to fathom, at least in terms of pitch distribution. Still, compositional ideas often germinate thanks to a sympathetic intermediary: in this case pianist Shira Legmann, whose passion for Couperin inspired Pisaro in the creation of thirteen studies for piano and electronics, the latter also utilized exclusively in a pair of additional interludes.

In order to absorb its resonant essence the recording should ideally be listened to in absolute silence, possibly in conditions of inner composure. My initial approach with Barricades had been marred by the outgrowths of a previous state of nervousness, and I immediately realized how the judging mind wanted at all costs to determine what seemed to be missing, rather than setting aside and leaving the sounds to do the work. This is always an unforgivable mistake.

Having chosen to smother that first experience, the reward came when both the psychological backdrop and the listening environment were much better suited to absorbing the positive elements. Everything began to make sense. The sparse lines and simple arpeggios, either fragile or more substantial, mostly tonal but occasionally defined by some "outside" notes, so as to generate clusters of mildly dissonant reverberation. The unassuming presence of the sine waves, as discreetly used as they're fundamental in enriching certain passages. The concentration transmitted by Legmann's performance, in between giving up a compulsory meaning and feeling at ease in a familiar habitat.

Anyone with a minimum of superficial knowledge of contemporary piano music will begin to list names in a short chain of clichés (although I myself will promptly admit that "Study No.12" elicited scents of Chick Corea's Children's Songs). However, those not needing prescribed reference points will remain happily confined to their own dimension, letting the spectral auras radiate and shape the mood. Without being intrusive but, at the same time, refreshing the melancholic awareness typical of someone who seeks peace, only rarely finding it.



Shira Legmann / Michael Pisaro: Barricades
Is Sold at Squidco!
Squidco




Comments and Feedback:



The Squid's Ear presents
reviews about releases
sold at Squidco.com
written by
independent writers.

Squidco

Recent Selections @ Squidco:


Berlin Art Quartet (
Schubert /
Bauer /
Muller /
Bruggemann):
Live At MIM
(Unisono Records)



Jimmy Lyons:
Rivbea Live! Series,
Volume 3
(NoBusiness)



Erik Klinga:
Elusive Shimmer
(thanatosis produktion)



Das B (
Mazen Kerbaj /
Mike Majkowski /
Magda Mayas /
Tony Buck):
Love
(thanatosis produktion /
Corbett Vs Dempsey)



Brass Clouds:
Escape Vessels
(Bathysphere Records)



Fire! Orchestra:
Echoes
[2 CDs]
(Rune Grammofon)



Sophie Agnel /
John Edwards /
Steve Noble:
Three On A Match
(Otoroku)



Satoko Fujii
This is It! (
w/
Natsuki Tamura /
Takashi Itani):
Message
(Libra)



Sorry For Laughing (
G. Whitlow /
M. Bates /
Dave-Id /
E. Ka-Spel):
Rain Flowers
[2 CDS]
(Klanggalerie)



New Origin (
feat. Christoph Rocher /
Joe Fonda /
Harvey Sorge):
The Poet Walks
(Listen! Foundation (
Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Simon Nabatov:
Agree to Disagree
(Listen! Foundation (
Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Von Schlippenbach, Alexander /
Barry Altschul Quartet w/
Joe Fonda &
Rudi Mahal:
Free Flow
[2 CDs]
(Listen! Foundation (
Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Thelonious Monk with
Sonny Rollins:
1953 To 1957
Revisited
(ezz-thetics by
Hat Hut Records
Ltd)



Daniel Carter /
Ayumi Ishito /
George Draguns /
Ed Wilcox:
Makeshift Spirituals
(577 Records)



Kory Reeder:
Homestead
(Another Timbre)



John Cage:
Chamber Works 1943-1951
(Another Timbre)



Josh Sinton:
Couloir &
Book Of Practitioners
Vol. 2
Book "W"
[2 CDs]
(FiP recordings)



Elliott Sharp /
Scott Fields:
Reimsi Geara
(Relative Pitch)



KnCurrent (
Brennan /
Cooper-Moore /
Davis /
Hwang):
KnCurrent
(Deep Dish)



Biota:
Measured Not Found
(Recommended Records)







Squidco
Click here to
advertise with
The Squid's Ear






The Squid's Ear pays its writers.
Interested in becoming a reviewer?




The Squid's Ear is the companion magazine to the online music shop Squidco !


  Copyright © Squidco. All rights reserved. Trademarks. (41750)