My Favorite Records of 2004 - #11 - Savath & Savalas Mañana (Warp)
Yes, technically it's an EP. But over 30 minutes worth of new Scott Herren material is certainly something to look forward to, and on this record, he uses the glitched-out techniques of Prefuse 73 to reinterpret the sounds of his adopted home in Barcelona. The results are gorgeous.
If you're unfamiliar with Prefuse 73, Scott Herren's most well-known project, then you should absolutely start there. 2003's One Word Extinguisher was the most interesting release of last year - an effortlessly innovative and sparkling collection of glitch-hop breakup tracks. Even Extinguished: Outtakes were good enough to stand on their own, and not simply as a document of what made OWE great. Mañana takes the impeccable production from that album and adds more vocals and live instrumentation. The result is a warmer, more organic-sounding album. Whereas OWE was Herren sealed in his recording studio, surrounded by old pizza boxes and staring at computer screens for months at a time, Mañana sounds like it was recorded in the front room of a Barcelona flat, with the windows open. There's light and life that was at times absent from OWE
"Interludo Inconcreto" begins with vocal blips, cut up in typical Herren fashion. But it develops much more organically than one might expect. "No Pueda de Cidir" is another marvelous track, with what is probably the most charming melody on the album being picked out on processed guitars. "Interludo Humedo" is the most Prefuse-y track, and also the shortest. But the master stroke comes last. "Eqipatge Des Flors Seques" begins with strings, blippy sampled vocals and gentle piano, all seemingly playing randomly repeating melodies. As the track continues and the melodies mutate, they gradually come together to form a coherent whole. Shakers gently hold the rhythm together and the vocals pick up a cadence. It's probably the most stunning piece of individual work I've heard from Herren, and is worth the price of admission alone.
And at #11, Mañana sits contentedly.
If you're unfamiliar with Prefuse 73, Scott Herren's most well-known project, then you should absolutely start there. 2003's One Word Extinguisher was the most interesting release of last year - an effortlessly innovative and sparkling collection of glitch-hop breakup tracks. Even Extinguished: Outtakes were good enough to stand on their own, and not simply as a document of what made OWE great. Mañana takes the impeccable production from that album and adds more vocals and live instrumentation. The result is a warmer, more organic-sounding album. Whereas OWE was Herren sealed in his recording studio, surrounded by old pizza boxes and staring at computer screens for months at a time, Mañana sounds like it was recorded in the front room of a Barcelona flat, with the windows open. There's light and life that was at times absent from OWE
"Interludo Inconcreto" begins with vocal blips, cut up in typical Herren fashion. But it develops much more organically than one might expect. "No Pueda de Cidir" is another marvelous track, with what is probably the most charming melody on the album being picked out on processed guitars. "Interludo Humedo" is the most Prefuse-y track, and also the shortest. But the master stroke comes last. "Eqipatge Des Flors Seques" begins with strings, blippy sampled vocals and gentle piano, all seemingly playing randomly repeating melodies. As the track continues and the melodies mutate, they gradually come together to form a coherent whole. Shakers gently hold the rhythm together and the vocals pick up a cadence. It's probably the most stunning piece of individual work I've heard from Herren, and is worth the price of admission alone.
And at #11, Mañana sits contentedly.
posted by P at 4:38 AM
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