Crónica 012 CD sold out
Release: 1 June 2004
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I once saw o.blaat perform seated with her laptop in the back of a club, connected to the stage by a string of lights, like an umbilical cord she was holding on to while at the same time eager to break. The confused audience was looking at an empty stage oblivious to the performer in the back. With our experience of music being more and more mediated it seems normal that the live physical presence of the performer is being questioned by musicians like o.blaat. How can one reconcile the live presence of musicians with acousmatic music, now so easily downloadable whenever and wherever you are? For this CD o.blaat interfaces with some of her regular collaborators such as Kaffe Matthews, Toshio Kajiwara, dj Olive, Eyvind Kang, Ikue Mori, Aki Onda & Akio Mokuno. The second half of the CD is designed for headphones listening, like a scientist looking through a microscope. It reveals soundscapes full of minutiae and electric movements. o.blaat’s shoe tapping has now morphed into light keyboard clicks, subtle and precise.
This is o.blaat’s first release and introduces her as one of the players of the new downtown electronic music scene. This recording finally makes o.blaat audible for a wider audience, while at the same time remaining invisible — a fact she must enjoy. (excerpt from Christian Marclay's liner notes)
01: duo with Kaffe Matthews, 2001, engineered by Leslie Lavelanet / Harvestworks
02: duo with Toshio Kajiwara, 2001, Toshio Kajiwara‘s apt studio
05: duo with dj Olive, 2001, partially engineered by Kenneth Babbs / Harvestworks & self-engineered at subtonic, with additional sounds from handmade electronics by Barry Weisblat
06: sound module by Aki Onda, 2001 (material), engineered by Toshio Kajiwara at his E. Village apt., sound module by Akio Mokuno, 2001 (material), self-engineered at Akio Mokuno‘s E. Village apt., 2003 (re-digested) by o.blaat
07: duo with Ikue Mori, 2001, engineered by Paul Geluso / Harvestworks, with additional sounds from handmade electronics by Barry Weisblat
09: sound module by Eyvind Kang, 2001 (material), engineered by Paul Geluso / Harvestworks, 2003 (re-digested) by o.blaat
03, 04, 08: solo 2001~2003 (all at my home, 95 norman ave. 2001-2002, & later at 330 ellery st. 2003, both in brooklyn)
all tracks (10~18): solo, 2001~2004 (all at my home, 95 norman ave. 2001-2002, & later at 330 ellery st. 20032004, both in brooklyn), originally the tracks in this half were made for listening with headphones. However, a few tracks may be dangerous for sensitive ears. (be warned!)
the recordings at Harvestworks were made possible by Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center’s 2000-2001 Van Lier Foundation fellowship for Electronic Composers.
swel: 2003 (shot) > 2004 (edit), in the J line train & nyc cab driven towards 330 ellery st., shot and edited by o.blaat