About Traces
by Adrian Moore |imed_0053-0001|
The works on this disc fall into three categories: those verging towards
the abstract (Junky, Dreamarena), those focusing upon re-hearing natural sound-objects
(Study in Ink, Foil-Counterfoil) and the ‘radiogenic’ (Sieve).
Are there any common stylistic traits present in this music? The works on
Traces offer a search for the hidden, both within the
piece and within the sound. It is this hidden property in certain sounds that
still excites the ear. The microphone offers us the chance to examine these
hidden qualities, such as the sound of a marker pen on a whiteboard, the sole
sound-source used for Study in Ink. An everyday sound
that could perhaps be described onomatopoeically by the word “squeak” offers
surprising versatility when examined through the microphone, extending even
to ‘human’ characteristics of strength, weakness, enquiry, frivolity, humor
and self-parody.
Traces can be seen as that which is left behind but
which can still be recovered, at least in part. One takes away a
representation of having been in the presence of the original, much as one
might take away a brass rubbing of a memorial plate. It is the marks on the
paper that then become important and which need to be reaffirmed and
redefined.
The word “traces” resonates with other titles on this disc: Dreamarena — our dreams are often remembered only as fleeting
images; Foil-Counterfoil — the wordplay in the title
refers to a receipt (such as the counterfoils or stubs in a checkbook);
Sieve — the sieve leaves only a trace of that which
passed through it.
Finally, you have a tracing of my experience of working with these sounds
to shape the pieces that make up this disc. I hope you enjoy them.
Adrian Moore, Sheffield [xi-00]
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