Search - Bruce Gilbert :: In Esse

In Esse(nce)

Mark Champion | San Antonio, TX United States | 12/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bruce Gilbert (guitarist and songwriter for Wire/Wir; partner with Graham Lewis in Dome/Duet Emmo, P'o, et al) has released several solo works since 1987's "This Way," many of them commissioned for ballet or other projects. Such works have a point of reference other than the music itself and while always the most wilfully experimental of his former bandmates, without that referent the work- - forced to fall back on itself- -remains successful on its own terms. To label Gilbert's latest projects (including AB AVO and the "Instant Shed" pranks) "difficult music" is perhaps to miss the point; allow me, however, to do both. It is difficult noise, definitely, purely. And, perhaps, even simply. It is certainly as extreme as anything by, say, Merzbow or the early noise experiments of Controlled Bleeding. Yet Gilbert seems to be operating in a different context. The deconstruction of the music/noise polarity has already been accomplished. If it were simply that, Gilbert presumably would have moved on to something else. Much his work with Wire proves his melodic sense, and the incredible Dome predated or was contemporary with the art-damage/noise crowd of the last two decades. Gilbert now seems content to forge ahead within his own milieu (or rut, depending on how one listens) and without further regard to either consumerism or aesthetic context. Given all this, there is no longer any way to listen to his work except on its own terms; nor can it succeed to fail. Hence the truncated title: it exists essentially outside of, and apart from, purpose."

Would have given it no stars if it were possible....

Mark Champion | 05/21/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"As someone who's followed Bruce Gilbert's solo career with interest, I was looking forward to listening to this release, especially as I had enjoyed the similarly packaged "Ab Ovo". Well, what can I say, except to register my profound disappointment over this lazy, self-indulgent drivel. The opening "Soli", begins as a harsh foreboding electronic wall-of-sound: after 5 minutes you get the general idea - a "confrontational" display of what Whitehouse and their useless imitators used to call "Power Electronics"; after 10 you're bored silly and just wish it would stop; incredibly, this nonsense then continues for another 35 minutes, a truly pointless and arrogant exercise, Gilbert's 'Metal Machine Music', and about as interesting to listen to. The two other tracks are featureless electric drones but at least they're short. Dreadful, quite dreadful."

Not music, to be sure!

Mark Champion | 07/24/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The newest release of former Wire guitarist Bruce Gilbert is probably the most brutally dissonant soundscape ever committed to disc. The main title "Soli" lasts over 45 mins. and sounds mostly like amok-running drilling machines. No rhythms and melodies, just pure noise. While the previous album "Ab Ovo" is recommended to everyone with a sense for innovative electronic music, "In Esse" is for very advanced hardcore listeners only."