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NOTES:
Recorded to 4-track and computer by Pilesar and Jetzu Fluke at Gamelan Studios. Mastered
by Brian McCoubrey of Green Room Productions. Originally released in 2004 as a super limited CD-R.
Personnel:
Jetzu Fluke- sequencing, percussion, keyboards, toys, thumb piano, clarinet, artwork
Pilesar- percussion, vocals, guitar, lap harp, effects, additional arrangement
REVIEWS:
Well, since i‘ve been on the subject of Brian Eno, here’s a track that sounds like it could of easily been included on Music for Airports, with its swells of string synthesizer patches over a simple, repeated piano line. Within the other various and sundry sounds on the track, a guitar plays free, unstructured lines and various percussive-type sounds are played, but without ever keeping a rhythm. if you’ve ever heard any of Pilesar’s other work, Book Fair sounds a bit similar, but on sedatives (the other Pilesar works i am referring to is the Pilesar project itself; that’s the only other one that i am more than only casually familiar with. i should probably remedy that).
I actually have a copy of the Pilesar demonstration disc in my home. its a schizophrenic maze of sound exploration and pushes the limits of just what one considers to be music. most music purists would probably hate it. none of the classically considered components of music (melody, rhythm, harmony, etc.) are stressed in the Pilesar disc, but what is stressed is timbre. the origin of the sounds on that collection are hard to place and are often abrasive, which causes it to be a very challenging listen.
Herein lies the major difference between Book Fair and Pilesar. Where Pilesar sought to disrupt atmosphere and mood, “Sympathy Vein” creates a backdrop. Where Pilesar is much more confrontational in nature, Book Fair is introspective. The function of “Sympathy Vein” is largely determined by the volume it is played. At low volumes, it achieves the exact functions Eno strove for on Music for Airports; the song becomes part of the environment. however, in order for the song to work, it doesn’t just have to be part of the environment, which is what probably turned a lot of people away from Eno’s ambient work. “Sympathy Vein” can also be listened to on a more immediate level, which is a fairly recent development in the ambient music realm. Notably, Feel Good Lost by Broken Social Scene and 1 Mile North have both expanded on this phenomenon. In fact, Sympathy Vein sounds a lot like the tracks on Minor Shadows by 1 Mile North.
However, Book Fair is still going to beg the question, “is this really music?” and many music purists are still going to say no. whether this is or isn’t music, in my opinion, is a moot point; these recordings, both of pilesar and book fair, achieve the same effect that any other music does, just not at the same levels. the major difference between these recordings and more traditional songs is that they require much more from the listener; these songs are more interactive. in the case of Book Fair, the songs demand that you pull them apart, layer by layer, as they slowly become part of what you are doing, part of your environment.
9.0/10
-Reviewed by Chimpan a on 12/28/04, Soundclick.com
Although the name may throw you, Book Fair is associated with one of Soundclick's better known denizens, Pilesar. Known, of course, for his truly anarchic music both as himself and in conjunction with fellow musicians in the extremely interesting Mandible. Those people who do know who I am talking about will no doubt be shaking in their boots right now because they know full welll what might be coming their way. If you don't know who any of these people are then maybe the weirder side of the musical spectrum is not a place you choose to hang out in. To be sure anything that is labeled 'other alternative' is going to get pretty short shrift from certain quarters.
Me? I like to live dangerously close to the edge Wink
Having jabbered on aimlessly about the danger the listener faces when dealing with any music coming from the fertile mind of Pilesar, Book Fair's Secret Smile is surprisingly 'normal' and accessible. It's even got a touch of World music about it, at least in arrangement and instrumentation - so it's bound to do well by me. There is a North African feel to this that really appeals to me, and that is probably the main reason Pilesar chose this for review - he knows I'm a sucker for this stuff. Even if he didn't I would have found enough in this track to say I'll be hanging onto it for future plays. It is, above all, a very tasty piece of modern music and one I have no hesitation about recommending to you. There's even a sound sample in there that sounds suspiciously like the street noise in gorefest Postal 2!
Secret Smile is, as I say, very engaging pretty much from the get go, it's marimba style lead lines propelling the track along nicely drawing you in as if it were an experienced Morrocan carpet seller. Believe me, no-one can sell carpets like a Morrocan sells carpets - it isn't a sale, it's an endurance test. Essentially though, the track breaks down into a couple of sections; the world sounding beginning and end and a middle section that has one of the best organ sounds/lines I've heard in a long while. All in all, I found Book Fair a surprisingly easy listen, as I'm sure you'll agree. I do, however, have a real problem adding yet another weapon to Pilesar's armoury, I know he'll only use it against us Very Happy
Highly Recommended.
-Reviewed by Steve Gilmore on 3/27/05, Soundclick.com |
