Sometimes one needs just a single listen to spot the profundity of an album and sometimes one has to revoke this first impression. In case of ‘Ritual’ by Solo Andata it all went the other way round. This first release of the vinyl/digital-only-label Desire Path Recordings still grows on me and so accidentally didn’t appear in any of my ‘best of …’ lists in 2010. The self-titled Solo Andata release on 12k is one of the most-played albums in my complete CD-collection and so it was clear to me to purchase the new album. As it has been a problem to get the vinyl of it without spending more money for shipping than the artists/label would have received I decided to get the digital version of this album and I still regret that I wasn’t able to buy the record. After the first listens I still wasn’t sure what to think about the album although its sound design is brilliant, the darkness very similar to the adorable music of composer and sound artist Thomas Köner. But now, after countless listens I can say that this album definitely is an essential release and highly recommend it to everyone interested in intelligent and simply timeless music. A combination of field recordings, crackles, dark drones and instrumental picks creates a breathtaking sort of release. Available in various editions the amazing artwork by Chris Koelle completes this impression.
The album contains four tracks, central piece of the release seems to be the final track called ‘Incantare’. The drones and field recordings often remind me of their self-titled album but the compositions are more like self-contained soundtracks. Kane Ikin and Paul Fiocco didn’t create anything I would call a melody, their creative energy was used to create a deep and multi-layered atmosphere, a sound collage built with acoustic, natural and alienated elements. The nearly 40 minutes of this album are an incredibly intensive listen and when the final breath of sound fades away it leaves the listener listening to the following silence in a very thoughtful way – just like the seconds between the last note of a symphony and the applause of the audience. Intense…
Regarding that massive label debut it will be worth it to keep an eye (or even both) on the forthcoming Desire Path releases that are truly auspicious: Kyle Bobby Dunn and Janek Schaefer with Charlemagne Palestine are in the queue to be released next. And I really hope there will be ways to get these records to Europe without feeling like I’d grant a subsidy for international post services instead of supporting the wonderful artists and label.
[ 4,8 / 5 ]
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Nice pick for write-up. Beautiful presentation, Ritual. Perfect timing too,…I got an mp3 version after ordering the art edition fr DPR around Halloween. I didn’t have the patience to wait for the LP to arrive before I tried on the mp3s. ;p
Anyway, Solo Andata are adept at combining source material and creating a headspace with it; nothing overbearing…just the right amount of a sonic element to make you long for more when a track has ended. By the way, I HIGHLY recommend a headphone listen in the dead…of night on a nice pair of phones.
In my opinion the final track from the self-titled album, titled “Words Flesh Bone” provided the Perfect prelude to the Ritual experience. The organic sounds of one of them demolishing a carcass just seem to melt into the ears…something about insinuated slipperinesses
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