Paolo Griffin – Supports & Surfaces
David Zucchi; Duo Holz; David Hackston; electronics
Sawyer Editions SE028 (sawyereditions.bandcamp.com/album/paolo-griffin-supports-surfaces)
Imagine the challenge of having to approach music of Supports & Surfaces being told that all of the sonic quivering, undulating and often hypnotic ellipses of sounds were just “a series of pitch classes, whole numbers of octaves apart.” Try realigning that part of your brain that hears sound and redirecting your inner ear to tune into the pitch class of the frequently caressed, the note(s) C (or D, E, F or G). Lost in stultifying academia yet?
Fear not. There is much more to this meandering, hypnotically repetitious music. Its evocative gamelan-like sound is redolent of Zen-inflected gongs, whooshing woodwinds, yammering drums and hissing cymbals, the dazzling arco wail of the violin, all heated by the soaring countertenor voice.
Suddenly you will find yourself free of a proverbial desk in academia, despite perhaps encountering complicated pitch integers in the sonically charming music by Paolo Griffin.
Bending notes in the light and shadow of Griffin directs David Zucchi to employ alto saxophone and the ululations of atmospheric electronics to explore The Purpose of an Empty Room. You will emerge from the dizzying geometry of this musical space with a sense of enrichment and delight. Next, violinist Aysel Taghi-Zada and percussion colourist Michael Murphy describe the stasis of being Alone, Together. Finally on Madrigal, countertenor David Hackston melds voice and electronics to spellbinding effect.
