With 'But Remember What You Have Had', Stephen O’Malley continues and expands his musical approach by transposing it to multiphonic electroacoustic writing and acousmatic listening. Drawing not only on his extensive experience as a composer and live instrumentalist, but also on the countless studio production and mixing sessions he has taken part in the course of his many projects (in solo, with SUNN O))) or KTL, to name but a few), Stephen O’Malley’s work on this new piece is ambitious, engaging in an inspired research that delves into the deep intricacies between polyphony, intonation and timbrality, enhanced by melodic motifs. To do this, O’Malley summons up his own very personal sound universe, constellated with amplified textures, instrumental sustained tones and raw energy, in order to diffract them into wavefronts, waves and blows that weave a complex, rich and fascinating matter. But remember what you have had stands out as an important work in Stephen O’Malley’s repertoire: it brings together the multiplicity of his musical approach in an exemplary way, while laying the foundations and promises for the future of an already extraordinary journey.
STAFF COMMENTS
Barry says: As one half of Sunn0))), you'd expect that O'Malley is well versed in drone, be it catatonic earth-shattering distortion and belly-wobbling bass or brittle, textured modern-classical wrought from woodwind and strings. This (much like the brilliant 'Gruides', 2015) is of the latter ilk, and is absolutely stunning. Slow-mo classical drone.TRACK LISTING
1. But Remember What You Have Had