Transcending...
Neil Thompson | Birkenhead, Wirral United Kingdom | 01/08/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Okay, if you're not familiar with Thaemlitz's past work then this is probably not the album that's going to turn you on to what is, at best, a "difficult" musical collage. For the novice listener try "Soil", which I still believe to be one of the finest ambient works to date."Interstices" has 31 "tracks", but the deliniations are irrelevant. This isn't the kind of album you're going to dip into a track at a time and from the first 20 or so segments it's not going to be easy to pick out a "favourite"...So why 4 stars? It's Thaemlitz's fragmented, digital structures, the utter disregard for musical form of any kind and the bizarre genre-crossing sample use that pull you in and refuse to let go. It can be hard listening at times (particularly through headphones) when the levels reach such ear-splitting intensity that it's almost painful. Maybe I'm hearing too much between the notes and Thaemlitz is having a laugh at my expense, but the seeming chaos of audio highs and lows mirrors the emotional turmoil of a troubled soul and for that it must be applauded.The continuing themes of gendre confusion and sexuality is more obvious here than on previous albums, as are the social perceptions of "being different". Tracks 24 - 26 use soundbites that deal unflinchingly with these issues and must be heard to be appreciated. (Experienced would probably be a better word).How to conclude? Sonically this album travels a path previously trod on "Institutional Collaborative" with Jane Dowe and has far less of the ambient soundscapes listeners of "Soil" and "Couture Cosmetique" will be used to. Consequently, it's not an easy listen... but it is rewarding and I would recommend it to those of you looking for the height of avant garde musical production."
Track Listings (29) - Disc #1