Latest release from the lovely Philip Perkins currently living in the San Francisco bay area not far from Berkeley. Undanceable (ARTIFACT RECORDINGS ART 3020) contains 13 examples of his craft, exhibiting his masterful ability to combine electronic compositions with field recordings in a completely original manner. I don’t make that observation lightly, since it’s such a common practice nowadays, but Perkins is one who stands head and ribcage above the herd.
Parts of this album remind me of his 1982 classic, Neighborhood With A Sky, which somehow managed the suggestion of a lot of air and space – and even sunshine – unfolding within the thoughtful, abstract music. In like manner, none of the tracks on Undanceable are over-cluttered with layers, or excessive ideas, and the found elements are given room to breathe. The effect on the listener can’t help but be a benign one. Some of the music was realised for a ballet piece in 2023; the full details are on the back cover, but it included live vocals over what I presume was a pre-recorded tape playback, and was illuminated with photo projections from local artists. The ballet theme is probably what led to the Undanceable title, but this unassuming music is very far from conventional dance fare.
Though understated, there’s a lot of imaginative and unusual ideas compacted into quite short tracks averaging around three or four minutes each, and nothing outstays its welcome. Quite the opposite, we are left with an impression of a puzzling but beautiful tableau or vista, that vanishes like a mirage as we wake up. (15/09/2023)