DADAVISTIC ORCHESTRA
Dokument.01
DUSTV024
Dust Science Recordings 2011
02 Tracks. 22mins12secs
Format: 12″

Amazon UK: DLD US: DLD Boomkat: 12″ | DLD iTunes: DLD

From the Dust Science labs comes this slice of breathtaking ambient, concocted by members of two of the most intriguing and refined techno acts of the last twenty years. Formed of Ken Downie and brothers Martin and Richard Dust, known collectively as The Black Dog, and former members of seminal Dutch outfit Psychick Warriors Ov Gaia Tim Freeman, Arbe and Robbert Heijnen, Dadavistic Orchestra became an entity over the last year, but The Black Dog and PWOG have long shared a similar vision by blending together elements of techno and ambient.

For their first output, the six-headed Dadaist ensemble has collected two stunning ambient pieces, each clocking at around eleven minutes. Firmly anchored in contemporary atmospheric electronica, complete with just a hint of modern classical, Strung Valve Checkout focuses on a series of piano sequences which are purposely distressed, stretched, filtered and dubbed into a highly polished drone-like structure, which is itself subject to constant changes in tone and form. At times reminiscent of The Black Dog’s recent Music For Real Airports project in the way the atmospheric landscape is forever refined and contextualised, this is as elegant a piece of electronic music as one could expect from this collective.

Harking back to mid-nineties lush organic ambient which formed part of PWOG’s usual set-up, Dada Fish Sticks is quite a different offering. Occasionally recalling the vast topographic soundscapes of Biosphere, but with an ethic which can be traced back to the cosmic meanderings of early Tangerine Dreams, this piece is much more vaporous and ethereal. There is no melody as such here, but a succession of looped chords upon which blows an arctic wind, its intensity ebbing and flowing with insistent regularity. Unlike its predecessor, this piece doesn’t call so much on emotional characteristic, but instead builds on its inherent abstraction to reveal a dream world which only appears to be connected to reality by the distant sound of alarm bells (an ambulance perhaps, or a level crossing danger signal).

The first of at least three releases to see the light, Dokument.01 is a totally fascinating release, steeped in tradition, yet sounding contemporary and fresh, it is a testament to the combined creative forces behind Dadavistic Orchestra. Released in very limited quantity (300 copies pressed on heavy 180 gram red vinyl), this EP is utterly essential.

4.8/5

Dadavistic Orchestra | The Black Dog | Psychick Warriors Ov Gaia (MySpace) | Dust Science Recordings
Amazon UK: DLD US: DLD Boomkat: 12″ | DLD iTunes: DLD