23 December 2011

David Sylvian & Holger Czukai - flux & mutability (1989, Virgin)

This is the second collaboration between David Sylvian (ex-Japan) and Holger Czukay (member of Can) and through the years I've stayed quite fond of this release.

There are two tracks, "Flux (A Big, Bright, Colourful World)" and "Mutability ("A New Beginning Is In The Offing")", which are close to the Brian Eno ambient works, but developing their own aesthetics. 


I find it quite much more accomplished than their first collaboration, "Plight & Premonition" (1988), and consider this as a brilliant classic ambient work. 

The first track (17 minutes long) is richer and more developed, using percussion and sampled sounds, some radio recordings for a result both cinematic and full of suggested visions - keep your eyes closed and let your imagination work -, like a perpetual walk into unknown and beautiful territories. You feel like at the end of a warm sunny day, under diminishing lights, welcoming a peaceful evening. 

"Mutability" with it 21 minutes,  is more minimal, atmospheric and contemplative and strangely echoes in my mind some recent ambient works. It wouldn't be out of place today on a label like 12k. 

I'm quite surprised about how this records hasn't lost his pertinence today. I consider it as an essential masterpiece.







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