Four cassettes we received from the Soundholes label, which also has a sister label devoted to live recordings only. All from 23 September 2024. Here are two of them.
Ali Robertson is a marginal Scots performer whose work I wish I could enjoy more. Perhaps I haven’t heard enough of it. The tape I Used To Be An Improviser (SOUNDHOLES #115) does deliver a deal of DIY, home-made charm, sub-par recording quality, and deliberately naive playing, but its limited sonic range and flailing repetitions soon start to irritate. I’m not sure what instruments or objects are the targets for his blunt weapons, but a variety of rubbing, hitting, and strumming actions are documented, mostly generating neutral and sterile non-musical noises. The title of this release might be intended as provocative, or playful; the implication is that Ali Robertson has turned his back on the genre of free improvisation now. “Ask him for the score for this tape so that you can play along at home,” suggest the press notes. 60 numbered copies were made.
Getting more mucilage for my labels from Jones Rowden and their Sore Forest West Coast (SOUNDHOLES #113) tape. Al Jones and Zach Rowden are the performers and going by the high-res cover image it looks like they might be using mixing desks as part of their chosen machinery. These are presumably live actions captured in Canada and the US. Both new names to me; if online sources speak true, Rowden is also a bass player (both upright and acoustic), has played with Anthony Braxton, and has about 50 releases to his name since 2015. Audio magus Jones (formerly from California, now in Washington state) has likewise touched elbow-joints with fellow ear-clench geniuses in the minimal-ish area, such as Bruno Duplant, Jason Kahn, and Cristián Alvear. Sore Forest is moulding my cones in many enjoyable ways – I always like a nice continuous, no-let-up steamroller of non-specific textures and grumbleton pavings, but Jones Rowden spice up the proposal with added surprise moves, pulled from pocket like so many magic novelty tricks. I like a noise that doesn’t over-assail the listener and also I like players who don’t step up to the podium full of foregone conclusions or over-baked ideas. In short, they explore and they invite us to come with them. As such, Sore Forest West Coast keeps the attention hovering nicely in place like magnetised man in suit, regardless of how many contradictions are thrown up. This may sound like they make it easy, but this duo are in full control of their multiple layers and never let a single caterpillar slide off the glass into the bucket of PVA waiting below. The use of voices – looped? Pre-recorded? – speaking absurdist rondellos into the ether is especially innovative and effective. A good one!