Search - Akira Rabelais :: Eisoptrophobia

A refreshing and listenable deconstruction of sound

Andrew Ross | Chicago, IL USA | 08/08/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Rabelais is apparently both a musician and a software engineer. He developed the sound tools used by Terre Thaemlitz, among others. After listening to his second CD on the excellent Ritornell label, I can understand why his tools are favored by fellow musicians, as (in his hands here at least) they exhibit a subtlety of sound manipulation and deconstruction that is a rarety among CDs of this type. Of course, with source material as strong as this (piano pieces by Satie, Bartok and others) it's hard to go wrong. But if you like this kind of stuff, and I do, then I swear that Rabelais' manipulations actually add another dimension to the music, forcing you to pay attention to familar pieces and how they were constructed by the composers. Rabelais also doesn't disappoint in the more usual cheap sound-hack thrill of "what sound am I going to hear next." Various pieces sound as if they are coming from underwater, from down the hall, wafting from the late 19th century. All in I'd highly recommend this release. On the other hand, I've also read reviews stating that the pieces added little to the originals.Less experimental than Stephan Mathieu's Wormloch Variations release, less visceral than Fennesz's white noise barrages, this CD nevertheless uses sound deconstruction techniques in a novel, refreshing and listenable way. Worth a listen."

A compelling listen

L. Jones | Lafayette, CO USA | 08/30/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a big fan of all kinds of ambient, but am particularly drawn in by this one. It compels you to listen to every melted, punctured and smothered note.



I've always loved Satie, who Rabelais takes to an unexpected but logical place here. I get the impression that this sensibility was always behind Satie's playful, curious exterior."