Daniel Avery & Alessandro Cortini – Illusion of Time (2020)
When working with certain forms of experimental music, it often seems that the artist is only partially responsible for the sound of the final output. It may still be their vision of the music, I would never dispute that. Nevertheless, so many external factors play a role in the development that is difficult to control how the music will finally blossom – context truly does matter.
Collaborative efforts seem particularly open to the environment around the recording process, with every decision having an important impact on the final sound that ends up between those grooves. The artist is the conductor, but maybe not in the way music listeners so often assume. Artists are the trigger and set their vision in motion, transmitting concepts between their artistic vision, the environment and the listeners. It’s a partnership, with the musician navigating the music but without the full control of how his or her will be perceived by the outside world. And here’s the point. That “lack of artistic control” is, in many ways, that which has given us some of our most cherished moments in modern sounds and recordings.
Everything from the Rolling Stone’s drugged-out masterpiece Exile on Main Street to Lee Perry’s voodoo dub to Public Image Limited’s Metal Box was enhanced by those unexpected elements. Environment and context twist and mold the music into something beyond the artist’s original course.
Techno producer Daniel Avery and experimental composer Alessandro Cortini have given us an up-close, troubling and equally beautiful view to this process. With music that is sounding as if the subatomic particles that hold its foundations together, slowly but deliberately become fragmented, divided, and dissolved.
Much of the creative process between the two artists happened by sending each other bits and fragments of music while in separate locations, and this process has pushed and pulled the music in fascinating and chaotic directions. The two only came together at the end of the process to see their project completed, and together they have achieved something unique in the sound of electronic music.
The album’s sound is that of a blissful negation. And you can’t help but put that into the context of the increasingly isolated and surreal world in which we find ourselves. Given that context of reality, Illusion of Time calls into question our assumption of modern “civilization” and our time and place in that young history. Maybe we even dare to ask what a post-civilization will look like?
Filled with chaos and melancholia, beauty and maybe a glimmer of hope, Avery and Cortini have created a record that dares to look past the lonely dystopia of our brave new world. And although real answers are never specifically provided, the music gives us hints of hope among the distorted walls of noise.
On the track Enter Exit we can hear the crying sirens of deterioration. Of emptiness. The music begins as a bitter wall of distorted sound, radiating from your speakers as a reduction and repetition. Until eventually, the melody emerges and points our way home.
Like the rest of this fascinating record, Enter Exist brings me the realization that change is inevitable. You could call it the sound of doom but it’s just as easily a rebirth.
Illusion of Time uses an odd combination of electronic drone and frantic shoe-gaze that builds (and destroys) these massive clouds of metallic light and space. Building ever louder, denser and higher until they burst.
The sound devolves by its very nature, occupying ever smaller amounts of space. Each moment the silence surrounding the music expanses, dissipating the effect. It’s the nature of the modern universe we have created. It’s that process of destroying and rebuilding that makes the music on Illusion of Time so beautiful and, occasionally, difficult and brutal.
The context here was beyond the control of the musicians, but it can’t be dismissed. Given the world in which we find ourselves; the music here is almost an eye witness – tragic and even horrific. Asking us to be serious, thoughtful, and brave.
by Shawn Ciavattone
That’s a magnificent recommendation, just ordered the vinyl, thank you very much 👍
It’s a beautiful record. I’m certain you will enjoy it. Thank you.
Shawn,
I agree with your assessment that “environment and context twist and mold music into something beyond the artist’s original course” and that “unexpected elements” are part of what makes music enthralling or exciting.
I listened to the clip you shared. Daniel Avery’s and Alessandro Cortini’s droning electronic soundscapes feel like being subsumed in a slowly surging ultraviolet light.
That’s well said, Mark. The record is incredibly original and I’m certain will be one of my favorites of the year. The fact that it came out during these strange times adds another layer. Thank you.
“Increasingly isolated and surreal world in which we find ourselves”. That sums up perfectly the constant catastrophes and boiling nightmares that live with us. Social media tell us to focus on one specific theme, but there are many other insane problems out there. The reevaluation of art is necessary.
Indeed, the track “Illusion of Time” is a beautiful crescendo, this is the kind of music that destroys gravity for a brief moment.
Thanks, Shawn. Don´t stop spreading these recommendations !
Thank you for your comments, Octavio. This is a really special electronic music album. It’s the sound of everything falling apart for me. The more we experience this environment around us, the more I see music, art, movies differently. And a bit more suspiciously. Stay safe.
The album is starting to click inside my brain. I was already familiar with those sounds, but this special blend is something else. That´s an interesting thought, we can perceive all types of art inside this particular times… In my particular case, I often see flashbacks of the movie “Safe” around the actual environment.
Stay safe, too. All the best for you and yours !
Nine Inch Nails? I didn’t know that, interesting. Mellow tunes so far!
Streamed this after reading your review. Being lost in the world and confidence as as anchor for the soul, those are my associations and feelings after listening. A fantastic discovery for me, thanks.
Thank you so much for your comments. These are strange times we live through. For the first time, music just doesn’t matter as deeply. Strange times.
Very, very interesting review and thesis about how the context also molds art, and how ‘somnambul’, in different degrees, artists act while creating. The context of a work of art also includes all the cultural and background aspects that influenced the artists reason for creating the artwork, and that can be very interesting! It’s important to understand that for an accurate and apt critique. Great review (and maybe the album is good too)!
Of course. All those factors that we cannot see or overlook. Cultural and historical but even decisions that an artist makes that lead to unintended consequences. All contributing to the sound that we hear. Look at how this horrible virus forces us to reevaluate everything, especially art and music. Things that one sounded significant no sound trite and meaningless.