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04/08/2007: ""
Âme - "Fiori" [Ostgut Ton]
A total stunner and early contender for track of the year. "Fiori" is from a new compilation of tracks done as some kind of art collaboration between Berghain (an old Berlin power station converted into an impressively cavernous and bizarre multi-tiered venue, which also houses the equally infamous Panoramabar) and the Berlin Staatsballet. So I guess it's some kind of modern-dance type thing that will be performed inside of Berghain's concrete walls, and this being Berlin they got all of these really good producers (Âme, Luciano, Sleeparchive, etc.) to make the soundtrack for the ballet. The comp has the title "Shut Up and Dance" and the cover art is terrible. "Fiori" is 16 minutes long, and there are parts of it that would work really well for a floor, but this is some serious headphone music. Reference points are '70s analog-synthesizer epics--it reminds me of early Tangerine Dream a little, and it reminds me of Chris and Cosey a little bit too, or more specifically of Chris Carter's instrumental synth solo record "The Space Between" that was originally released on Industrial Records as a cassette tape in 1980. Also classical minimalism--the ever-so-slowly building, arpeggiated opening sounds like Philip Glass, before he started to suck. The opening eventually crests into a huge, radiant, pulsing center where digital handclaps and a big bass drum come in, while the main melody loop gets subjected to all kinds of treatments--it gets pushed up an octave, down an octave, subjected to bizarre pitchbending, filters, etc. In their hands, though, all the effects sound unforced, and the intense concentration required to make this all sound seamless, musical and somehow mystical reminds me of Carl Craig's recent remixes. Modern reference points: the Carl Craig remix of Delia and Gavin; the spaceyness of some recent Cobblestone Jazz excursions; Basic Channel; DJ Koze's "Brutalga Square." This is huge. Ronan just posted a great new mix he did for a Dublin radio show that culminates in "Fiori," and his mix is available here.
