Review

Spin is a highly original disc created by composer James Harley and performer Ellen Waterman, combining electroacoustic composition, improvisation and spatialized sound. Harley provides the electroacoustics, processing, sound diffusion and theremin playing, while Waterman performs on an array of flutes and provides vocal elements. To demonstrate their improvisational creative process, they have included two versions of two different pieces. The first two tracks, Birding I and II, intermingle a wide range of bird and flute calls, creating hints of an intimate human-nature dialogue before cascading into more complex dissonant textures.

The second two tracks, Fluting I and II, create a sonic environment that puts the listener within a field of multiple flute voices, particularly evident when listening in the 5.1 surround sound format, a major feature of this recording. Sound diffusion is the art of moving the sound sources amongst multiple speakers. In listening to all six pieces, I observed a different-than-usual approach to diffusion. Rather than sounds dispersed individually in different spatial locations, I experienced a melded aesthetic, much like being in a reverberant space with the combined sound coming from all directions. Creating contrast between different locations in the space was, however, utilized in unique ways – to split up the layers of a dissonant chord, or to highlight glissandi moving between front and back. Spin creates a unique aural experience, providing several touchstones highlighting our relationship with nature. Although primarily a surround-sound DVD without a CD layer, the disc includes stereo files that can be downloaded to a computer or iPod.