Search - Erdem Helvacioglu :: Altered Realities

Captivating electro-acoustic music

Murat Batmaz | Istanbul, Turkey | 04/24/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Here is what it says in the liner notes of the CD:



"Altered Realities is an album of solo acoustic guitar and live electronics. All of the compositions were recorded in real-time, directly to DAT (Digital Audio Tape) without any overdubs, mixing, editing, post-processing, or the use of previously recorded material. All of the textures were created based only on the acoustic guitar signal with no other sound source used during the recording. Within these textures, there are long sustaining single notes, beautiful shimmering chords and rhythmic clusters. With no post-processing, no editing and no use of previously recorded material, the moment that is recorded is the moment that we hear on the CD."



This is possibly the most fitting description of the music presented on this 53-minute disc. Written and recorded entirely by Turkish composer Erdem Helvacioglu, whose resume includes stints with artists as diverse as Kevin Moore (check out his solo material for creepy cinematic pieces), drone metal masters Merzbow, and Kazuya Ishigami among others, Altered Realities is in a way similar to the way Kip Winger recorded his first solo album where he would ask guitarist Andy Timmons to improvise without letting him hear the compositions beforehand and record his parts on the spot, and therefore capturing the magic of the moment -- bits that could only be produced once in a lifetime. The songs here give off a similar vibe. They are pure and simple, stretching single acoustic guitar notes into eternity atop curiously arranged keyboard shimmering and weird rhythmic angles. Helvacioglu's acoustic guitar is crystal clean but it does sparkle with scintillating urgency during certain climactic moments. The compositions mostly flow timidly through minimalistic soundscapes, but some sections bravely venture into electronic territory, such as the violent "Frozen Resophonic" with its protruding static and white noise blanketing a peaceful acoustic melody. Not all of the album maintains an ethereal feel, however. The composer's darker side comes through on the suspense-laden "Dreaming on a Blind Saddle", which could be imagined as a worthy film soundtrack.



This is by no means an easy album, but will be very rewarding to the patient listener. The fact that this "huge" atmosphere was built almost instantly is reason to check the album out alone. There is a reason why Kevin Moore worked with him on his solo material, and still continues to use his samples at live shows. (He recently performed to a small audience of about hundred people and used Helvacioglu's captivating guitar samples to evoke a similar atmosphere heard on his CD's.)



Erdem Helvacioglu is a great musician with incredible potential and unparalleled compositional ability. Give his music a listen.

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Tracklisting- Bridge to Horizon . Sliding on a Glacier . Frozen Resophonic . Dreaming on a Blind Saddle . Shadow My Dovetail . Pearl Border . Ebony Remains"