The Squid's Ear Magazine

Travassos

Life Is A Simple Mess [BOOK + CD]

Travassos: Life Is A Simple Mess [BOOK + CD] (Shhpuma)

A fascinating book of artwork from Clean Feed visual designer and electronic improviser Travassos, with perceptive text from Nate Wooley punctuating the imagery, plus an accompanying CD with audio work ranging from improv to electroacoustic from bands with Travassos as a member: One Eye Project, Pinkdraft, Pao, Fluke, Iff + Travassos, and Big Bold Back Bone.
 

Price: $19.95



Quantity:

In Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 16.00 units


EU & UK Customers:
Discogs.com can handle your VAT payments
So please order through Discogs

Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Travassos

See track listing.


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




UPC: 5609063800357

Label: Shhpuma
Catalog ID: SHH035BK +
Squidco Product Code: 24971

Format: BOOK + CD
Condition: New
Released: 2017
Country: Portugal
Packaging: Book with CD

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Life is a Simple Mess presents us with an imaginary journey divided into three stages: "Life is Simple", "Life is a Mess" and "Mish-Mash" where simple and complex forms co-exist in a natural and complementary way. Along the way the texts of Nate Wooley are giving clues and Revelations for a possible interpretation of this symbiotic scenario of the real-unreal.

Can illustrations or graphics survive to the context for which they were created for? Yes, they can, as it is a wonderful example the book Life is a Simple Mess, by Travassos. What we can see in these pages was originally destined by its author for record covers released by the labels Clean Feed, Shhpuma, Sunnyside and Why Play Jazz or for the promotion of the music festival Rescaldo, of which he is the programmer, but here it all gains a second existence.

Without the name of a musician or a group, without a title and without the logo of a discographic company on a specific album, each piece shows itself without the rationalizing caution of an imagetic translation of the impressions provoked by music. It's like if the images free themselves not only from its purpose but also its cause, eventually finding in its inner force their justification and their significance, even considering the inherent undefinition in the effort not to determine our individual interpretations.

Travassos' world sums - and usually on the same visual composition - elements from several sources. One of them is a reiterated naturalist perspective, with flowers and birds protagonizing a number of visions which transforms our reality in an alien fantasy, and that simply because the act of representation always result in a recriation (a modification) of the original. Another one offers us an understanding of the human figure owing everything to comics, and prefering a pop iconography to the centuries of Beaux-Arts' body stylizations, though treated with a formal essentialism that plays with familiarity (a house is a house is a house) and not with strangeness, in a sort of minimalist conversion of surrealism.

Music doesn't disappear completely from this visionaryism turned autonomous. The texts on the book never refer to it, but they were written by a musician, the trumpeter and free improviser Nate Wooley, and the invitation given to him says much about it.

The publication is also complemented by music on CD, with a compilation of tracks, the most part of them unreleased, of bands having Travassos as a member in his parallel activity as sound artist, like Pao, Big Bold Back Bone and Pinkdraft.

In consequence, Life is a Simple Mess leaves music to return to it. In the middle of that journey, the also manipulator of electronic audio devices finds his full identity as visual artist, a necessary condition to relate himself less obviously, less literally, with music. And that's very, very interesting."-Shhpuma


Artist Biographies

"Travassos is a graphic designer based in Lisbon. Tags: Aveiro University, Culturgest, Clean Feed, Competetive Design Network Internacional, Barcelona Centro de Diseño, Jazz, Rescaldo festival, Shhpuma, responsive, responsible, art direction, print design, web design, WordPress, clean, illustration, experimental, institucional, cover artwork, white, dark, colorful, hard working, fast working, fluently English/French/Spanish..."

-Travassos Website (http://travassos.info/sample-page)
11/8/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Pao - 021

2. Big Bold Back Bone - Mergulhador 3. IFF + Travassos - June

4. Flu - Fluke

5. Pao - Climb all The Way Down

6. Pinkdraft - Luminous Vacuum

7. One Eye Project - Mel

Related Categories of Interest:


Book
Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Electro-Acoustic
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Nate Wooley
Clean Feed
Various Artists & Compilations
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
New in Experimental & Electronic Music

Search for other titles on the label:
Shhpuma.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Lopes, Luis Abyss Mirrors
Echoisms
(Clean Feed)
Citing references including Sun Ra, electric Miles, Ornette, Wadada Leo Smith, Stockhausen & Gabriel Prokofiev, guitarist Luis Lopes's Abyss Mirrors brings together artists drawing on European & Brazilian performers from Clean Feed, Shhpuma and Creative Sources for these evolving and often ecstatic collective, experimental improvisations; unpredictably edgy and exciting!
Big Bold Back Bone (Marco von Orelli / Sheldon Suter / Luis Lopes
In Search Of The Emerging Species
(Shhpuma)
Swiss musicians, trumpeter Marco Von Orelli and drummer Sheldon Suter and their Portuguese partners, guitarist Luis Lopes and electronics artist Travassos, in an album of unconventional collective improvisation using extended techniques in a large work of evolving, subtle interactions, magnifying sound and gesture in an engrossing sonic environment.
Pao
Pao
(Shhpuma)
The Portugese trio of Pedro Sousa (sax), Tiago Sousa (keys & percussion) and Travassos (tapes and electronics), using amplified objects and circuit bending amidst acoustic and electric sources that blends melodic sound sources in rich and unexpected ways.
Other Recommended Releases:
Various Artists
Free Percussion/Water [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD]
(Tsss Tapes)
Demonstrating the striking diversity modern solo percussionists present, the Italian tape label TSSS Tapes compiles an international set of solo works from explorers Tim Daisy, Jeph Jerman, Ted Byrnes, Wojtek Kurek, Clinton Green, Rie Nakajima, Emilio Berne, Shakeeb Abu Hamdan, Lucie Nezri, Karen Willems, Paolo Sanna, Li Qing, Carlos Godinho, and Rodrigo Vieira.
Musicworks
#141 WINTER 2021/2022 [MAGAZINE + CD]
(Musicworks)
The Winter 2021/22 issue of Canada's premiere music magazine explores the creative ideas of artists engaged in beautiful, daring musical acts of innovation, celebration, and resistance--Alanna Stuard, Yves Charuest, Roxanne Nesbitt, New Age Doom & Lee Scratch Perry--plus Beny Esguerra, Jessica McMann, Juro Kim Feliz, Backward Music; and recorded & live reviews, features, &c. &c.
Musicworks
#140 Fall 2021 [MAGAZINE + CD]
(Musicworks)
Canada's leading avant music magazine in their Fall 2021 issue, with articles on Understory (Nicole Rampersaud, Parmela Attariwala, and Germaine Liu), Frank Denyer, Taylor Brook, record & live reviews, plus a 14 track CD with pieces from Rocío Cano Valiño, Understory Show One: Gabriel Dharmoo/SlowPitchSound/Lan Tung, Frank Denyer, Nick Storring, &c.
Various Artists
CICP Collaborative Recordings vol. 1
(Habitable Records)
An introduction to Habitable Records, initiated by members of the Composers and Improvisers Community Project led by Argentinian guitarist Javier Subatin, their work crossing composed and improvised boundaries, here in 18 duos and trios including work by Zé Alemeida, Pedro Melo Alves, Killick!, Federico Calcagno, Luis Figueiredo, Samuel Gapp, Javier Subatin, &c.
Oker (Larsen / Myhr / Rasten / Gismervik)
Susurrus
(Shhpuma)
Existing between composition and free improvisation, this Norwegian quartet of Torstein Lavik Larsen on trumpet, Adrian Myhr on double bass, Fredrik Rasten on acoustic guitar, and Jan Martin Gismervik on drums & percussion are informed by minimal composed, folk and improvised musics, applying unusual technique and methodology to create beautiful textural and impressionistic sound.
Musica De Selvagem (Decloedt / Nader / Rodrigues / Ferreira / Marques)
Volume Unico
(Shhpuma)
Reacting to negative comments about Brazilian music, Sao Paulo-born double bassist Arthur Decloedt recruited saxophonist Filipe Nader to create a new, spontaneous and free-form take on Brazilian jazz, using pop songs as a jumping off point, with four vocalists and a five piece band creating compelling new and unusual hybrids of Brazil's rich, rhythmic and compelling music.
Holy Mountain, The
Toad Of Light [VINYL]
(Shhpuma)
Cinematic aesthetics and themes from the Norwegian Holy Mountain duo, performing on the uncommon pairing of two instruments--accordion played by Andreas Angell, and drums with acoustic and electronic parts and vintage synthesizer played by Aleksander Tidemann--in their 3rd release inspired by the dystopian sci-fi visions of John Carpenter, Philip Glass and Daft Punk.
Musicworks
#130 Spring 2018 [MAGAZINE + CD]
(Musicworks)
In it's 40th year, the Canadian music journal Musicworks, with a reflection on their journey, alongside articles about guitarist Sam Shalabi, composer Sarah Hennies, the music series SONICBernheim in Louisville, Kentucky, electronic-music producer Vanese "VJ" Smith (Pursuit Grooves), and a 13-track CD with music from the those artists and more.
Higgins, Tyler (w / Stevens / Higgins)
Blue Mood
(Shhpuma)
Hailing from Atlanta, GA, guitarist Tyler Higgins is also a multi-instrumentalist and composer who merges genres of moody, cinematic music based around folk, blues, jazz and twisted with unusual approaches, aided in his endeavors by drummer Paul Steven and wordless vocalist Ellen Higgins, producing a alluring set of musical narratives.
da Rocha, Maria
Beetroot & Other Stories
(Shhpuma)
Using violin, viola, synth and effect pedals, Portuguese string player Maria da Rocha creates rich environments of sound and unusual rhythmic structures over which she plays with subtlety and transcendence, in her first solo album, using her unique language as she tells the story of a beet and a witch, inspired by Odyssey Ulysses and Circe from Cortazar.
Ozo
A Kind of Zo
(Shhpuma)
Acoustic free improvisation with an ea-attitude, improvising drummer/percussionist Pedro Oliveira (Bernardo Sassetti) and classical pianist Paulo Mesquita used prepared instruments in a dialog that contrasts solid rhythmically melodic piano progressions with a mix of propulsive percussion, deep resonant tones, environmental timbre, and percussive interventions.
Big Bold Back Bone (von Orelli / Lopes / Travassos)
In Search Of The Emerging Species [VINYL]
(Shhpuma)
Swiss musicians Marco Von Orelli (trumpet, slide trumpet) and Sheldon Suter (prepared drums) and by their Portuguese partners, Luis Lopes (electric guitar) and Travassos (electronics) release a new chapter in their project Big Bold Back Bone, all players embracing a unique electro-acoustic improvisation through transformation of their instruments.
Humcrush (Storlokken / Stronen)
Enter Humcrush [VINYL]
(Shhpuma)
After a six year break, the Humcrush duo of Stale Storlokken on keys and Thomas Stronen on drums & electronics return with this studio album of rhythmic angularities and experimental sound worlds, drawing on their experiences with bands including Supersilent, Food, Elephant9, Time is a blind guide, Meadow and Motorpsycho.
Martins, Luis Jose
Tentos - Invencoes E Encantamentos
(Shhpuma)
Luis Jose Martins uses classical guitar, prepared guitar, electronics, and percussion in a solo album of incredible detail and lyrical, beautiful playing of original compositions that blend his playing with modern techniques and electronics into melodic masterpieces, performed in the natural resonance of the church of the convent of S. Bento in Avis.
Vanoli, Raphael
Bibrax
(Shhpuma)
Amsterdam guitarist Raphael Vanoli in a solo record of discovery, hiper-amplifying his guitar so that slight motions create forceful statements, where gently blowing on the strings creates dynamics and harmonics rarely explored, effected to create complex sonic compositions with unique, unusual and fascinating properties.
Humcrush (Storlokken / Stronen)
Enter Humcrush
(Shhpuma)
After a six year break the Humcrush duo of Stale Storlokken on keys and Thomas Stronen on drums & electronics return with this studio album of rhythmic angularities and experimental sound worlds, drawing on their experiences with bands including Supersilent, Food, Elephant9, Time is a blind guide, Meadow and Motorpsycho.
Lopes, Luis
Love Song [VINYL]
(Shhpuma)
Solo work from Portuguese guitarist Luis Lopes, showing a different side to his work with Humanization 4tet or his Noise Solo project, instead presenting a gentler and more romantic music marked by seductive playing with an unexpectedly tender appeal.
Camoes, Joao / Jean-Marc Foussat
A La Face du Ciel
(Shhpuma)
Portugese violist Joao Camoes, living in Paris, in a duo with Jean-Marc Foussat on electronics and voice, which he approaches like those of the acoustic improvised music and free jazz; the two present two long works where Foussat processes and extends Camoes' sound.
MusicWorks
#110 Summer 2011 [MAGAZINE + CD]
(Musicworks)
Summer 2011 issue of Canada's premiere music magazine and CD, with articles and tracks from Gregory Oh, Grimes, Doldrums, The Vegetable Orchestra, Terri Hron, Miguel Azguime, Rachel Wadham, &c.
Christou, Jani
Enantiodromie / Praxis / Epicycle / Anaparastasis III / Mysterion / Anaparastasis I / Praxis For 12
(Edition Rz)
7 works by Greek composer Jani Christou performed by the Oakland Symphony Orchestra, Rundfunkorchester Hanover, NDR, Ensemble "musik unserer zeit", and Christou himself.
Various Artists
Redrawn: soccer Committe & machinefabriek remixed and covered
(Machinefabriek)
soccer Committee and Machinefabriek's duo album from 2008 is remixed by artists Nate Wooley, Francisco Lopez, Taylor Deupree, Lawrence English, Xela, &c. &c.
MusicWorks
#107 Summer 2010 [MAGAZINE + CD]
(Musicworks)
Canada's premiere new music magazine's Summer 2010 issue with articles on Marilyn Lerner, Richard Marsella, Richard Windeyer, Psychotropic Sonics, plus a 12-track CD.
MusicWorks
#106 Spring 2010 [MAGAZINE + CD]
(Musicworks)
The great Canadian magazine of improv and compositional music, with articles on Yannis Kyriakides, Charles Stankievech, Anna Friz, loK8Tr, plus a 12 track CD including those artists.



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC