I was a initially surprised when I heard the music on this CD. These pieces appear to have been composed entirely on synthesizer and other modules, instead of the piano and double bass I was expecting from Burton Greene and Alan Silva. Thankfully these legends' personalities remain intact despite the lack of analogue sonorities.
A series of staccato, digital bass clusters and chiming synthesizers begins the "Indians of the Americas" suite (which comprises the first three tracks). "Fate of the Aztecs and Incas" starts with sinister, loping bass tones that give way to sounds that mix woodwind and percussion in dizzying runs with underlying faux brass. The keyboard patches used have an unmistakably 80's timbre, but often morph into less digital sounding tonalities on a dime.
"Great Scott" sputters out digital bass and percussion alongside a robotic improvisation on virtual instruments. You can really hear the authors' familiar approach at work here. They seem to scroll through different patches throughout, delivering dynamics via a variety of sounds and intensity verses changes in volume. "Unknown Passages" could be a lost John Carpenter soundtrack with a free drum machine rhythm distantly spitting out hand claps and syndrum punctuation, before devolving into giant chords reminiscent of 80's Kung Fu movies. A piercing refrain comprised of sinewy keys and ping ponging orchestra hits segues into random mechanized beats and subterranean tones. In 11 minutes this piece moves through many moods and tonalities.
Finally "String Beings" closes this CD with a subsonic bass squelch lurking beneath a chiming choral melody that moves in slow motion. A multi layered rhythmic stratus is introduced first with what sounds like a piano and then more digital bass, sort of like Varese's illusion of simultaneous tempos. Eventually a pulse coalesces from these disparate sources as melodic motifs align and push apart in a propulsive race to the end.
The blending of instrumental timbres is part of what makes this music so interesting. Sounds at first glance appear to shimmer with a late century neon glare until closer inspection reveals depth and precision of sculpture. This work manages to offer fresh insights into Alan Silva and Burton Greene's methods of spontaneous music making, and juxtaposed against their output in the mid sixties, a continuous growth in these incredible talents.
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