Theremin, live electronics, flutes, electric violin, percussion,
-
plus
treated voices, kalimba, effects, drones and guest electric
guitar all combine to create gorgeous sound worlds and minimal
hypnotic patterns of sound.
background Live
concert recordings were taken from the groups performances
at the International Arts Centre, and at Improv Electronic
3 at The Musician venue in Leicester.
Having set out their stall with Live & Scanning debut
release perhaps they felt a little enboldened to be even more
adventurous in their improvisings. Although many of the same
distinctive Planet Scanner elements elements are there, there
is perhaps a more cosmic, ambient feel to some of the music
influences
Terry
Riley, Vidna Obmana, Eduard Artemiev, Robert Rich, Simon Stockhausen,
Bernard Xolotl, Lydia Kavina, Wendy Carlos, JL Ponty
trivia recorded
digitally live at the Musician and International Art Centre,
Leicester , mastered at Oblong Studios.
This
was the first Planet Scanner album to feature Chris's Moog
Etherwave Pro theremin.
Simon Styring joined as a guest as he happened to be playing
at the Improv Electronic 3 concert anyway - he joined the
group after this and plays on the whole The Third Exbedition
album.
At the International Arts Centre concert they were one of
the acts opening for Arthur Brown.
CCs favourite track - Like Daylight
review
In
a way, born out of the SCANNING PLANET 3 concept, Chris got
together this trio to explore such space music in a live improvised
setting. Basically:
Chris Conway (synthesizers, organ, Theremin, flutes, kalimba,
vocals), Mick Oxtoby (violin, guitar) and Andy Fitzsimons
(congas, bodhran, percussion), the astute amongst you may
note that all 3 have featured in different incarnations of
Shapeshifter.
This
disc documents live recordings from gigs along with Endgame
and as support to Shapeshifter, and rides a wide range of
styles from the totally cosmic, via ethnic musics, through
to bizarrely twisted jazz fusion. The latter aspect of reminds
me of Brainticket on their ADVENTURE and VOYAGE albums,
there are also touches of Between and the Third Ear Band,
but largely it's Chris Conway's definite stamp that's all
over it, ably proving he can be four musicians at once,
even in a live setting.
Violin fans are, of course, in for a treat, as Mick creates
some giddy dazzling dances of effects with his electric
"psychedelic" violin.
- Audion Magaizne
