SnoOKs
"Unfinished Business" CDR
Blind Dates Music
Genres: experimental, found sounds, electronics
Blind Dates Music
La Providence, 31560
Nailloux, France
June 9 - 16 2002 |
SnoOKs is a collaboration between Jim Shepard and
Doktor Liborius that was done completely over the mail. Starting in 1983, the two
would mail each other tapes of music and then, upon receiving them, add each other's
contribution. By the end, the tapes would be full of edited and re-hashed
experimental pieces featuring instruments, electronics, and even vocals. This took
place all the way until the late nineties, even though the two of them had never met each
other in person. This was mainly due to the fact that they lived in different
countries, and it wasn't until 1998 that Doktor Liborius finally arrived in the US (from
France) in order to deal with a work project. Eager to see his long-time
collaborator, the Doktor arrived at Shepard's door and knocked. Alas, there was no
response. Later that year, Doktor Liborius learnt that Shepard had passed away.
The two had done so much work together, but had never even met. This, the
aptly-titled "Unfinished Business" album, is a collection of music that the two
created together. On first listen, it may just seem like a bunch of stupid sounds
and samples pasted together, but repeated listens will teach you that there's much more to
experience. Tracks like "Slushy Cucumbers" and "Maste Ut" are
silly little numbers that bounce about with synths, drum patterns and xylophones leading
the way. The results are happy and bubbly, yet surprisingly deep. For all the
silliness, though, there are also a number of moving bits to behold. For example,
two consecutive pieces, "The Last Limousine Ride" and "For You (I Would Do
Anything)", create a sad, unsettling mood. "The Last..." poetically
describes John Lennon's assasination, and then "For You..." follows up as a sad,
moogy interlude; the two go together to create an amazingly eerie, yet entirely beautiful
musical moment.
So is this worthwhile? Well, that up to you to decide, but this succeeds in not
only being an obscure little artifact, but also an intriguing glimpse into the early
experimental soundscape territory. It ranges from silly to poetic to playful to
moving, and never settles down into "normalcy." I liked this more than I
probably should have.
90%
Matt Shimmer |
