Search - Ikue Mori, Theo Bleckmann, Anthony Coleman :: One Hundred Aspects of the Moon

Whoa, whoa, whoa...

Lord Chimp | Monkey World | 01/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ikue Mori is one of those special artists that blow me away with everything they do. From her dark, nightmarish ambient improvs with Fred Frith and Kato Hideki (Death Ambient), to her outlandish electronica masterpiece _Labyrinth_, to her insane improvisations with John Zorn and Mike Patton, she demonstrates spectacular imagination and the talent to have it manifest as outstanding music. She has proven that powerful musical statements can be made with drum machines (!) and she is one of the most interesting avant-garde composers out there._One Hundred Aspects of the Moon_ is no different from her other work in regards to how fantastic it is. In fact, this even sets a new high standard for Mori's work and modern composition in general. This is a mesmerizing chamber suite influenced by the woodblock print series by the artist Yoshitoshi. Scored for voice, piano/organ, strings, and percussion, the music represents a sort of "culture clash" of diverse sounds and influences. This in itself is rather trite, but Mori is successful because these musical resources are not atomistically adhered to each other but carefully, intelligently integrated and tonally coordinated for the greater supra-composition with very unique (and occasionally jarring [in a good way]) results. The music is also unique because of Mori's highly developed avant-garde use of and sensibility toward percussion/drum machines. The music, though eclectic and weird, is replete with delicate and absorbing beauty. All in all, this is probably the most sonically exquisite Ikue Mori release to date. There is a bonus track, the fierce, complex, electronica monster "Birthdays", does not fit well at all with the rest of the album, but taken on its own it is a remarkable piece. Listen to it with headphones in the darkness and try not to get too freaked out."