Two with Joby Ensemble Bash Powerplant - Joby Burgess, Matthew Fairclough, Kathy Hinde Signum SIGCD313
We have kept up with Joby Burgess' career since seeing him with Janey Miller, oboe, as the New Noise Duo (2001 International Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition, Rotterdam), and this has been a decade's education towards the farthest reaches of percussion/electronics developments, forefronted by Powerplant; a journey which took me further than I'd imagined possible in my old age. For general listeners, the Doll's House can be recommended unreservedly; far less 'bashing' than one might have anticipated ! These are mostly subtle pieces exploring timbre with individuality, a huge range of compositions in a variety of styles, recorded with state-of-the-art equipment by Steve Parr in July 1911. The other is equally fascinating but more esoteric, each item's intention and techniques well explained in Joby's notes - he is a 21st C explorer at the edge. Do try to see Joby in action on your computer in the staged Im Dorfe video track, illustrated above (needs Quicktime 7 or later). Riveting ! Peter Grahame Woolf |