Review

Metamkine seem to have returned to normal scheduling — the last one we looked at was in 2001_04. To recap for the uninitiated, the collection “Cinema pour l’oreille” is a growing set of 3” cds which engage with the diverse electroacoustic, musique concrète genre. The format allows for a focused presentation. There was a slight production hiatus after 25, but with a new cover format and a retrospective sampling (Mantra have returned as strong as ever.

And this is a great release — as the name suggests it is a more stable piece: it is 22 minutes of engrossing minimal drone based sound. It ends with a bell briefly peeling, which suggests that the previous sounds are possibly processed ringing. However what we hear after a brief spooky opening that sounds like a lift and then a gathering of buzzing sounds that build into a strong deep drone. It has a sense of pulsing beat in it, and swirling around are lighter, higher overtones and other puttering drones.

This forms the base for the whole piece, with subtle and more obvious changes throughout — at around 10 minutes it settles into a deep and mysterious mood, or at 15 when a rapid ringing joins in and continues to the fade: while there is a continual weaving of elements between figure and ground. I have listened to this at least 6 times since picking it up a couple of days ago, and am constantly drawn into its slow unfolding and refolding. The sound palette is restricted but the pace and mod are hypnotic: as you would expect from a mantra. Highly recommended member of an essential series.