Light Is Calling

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CD Details

Composer: Michael Gordon
Edition: Music CD
Format: Enhanced
CD Release Date: 2004-04-06
Music Label: Nonesuch
Soundtracks:

Tinge
Instrumental
My Frig
Receiver
Idle
Light Is Calling
Imreadywhenyouare
Soundtrack

Music reviews of Light Is Calling

Music Review: Visceral Minimalism at Last
Rating: 4 Stars

I've never been a big fan of minimalist expressions in classical music. Composers like LaMonte Young and Terry Riley seem completely preoccupied with their "theory" rather than the music itself. As if the obesity of the concept nudges aesthetics out of the score. Surprisingly, a whole generation of talented young composers inspired by the minimalists have been making really beautiful, economical music. Michael Gordon and others seem determined not to make the same boring mistakes. And what's really great about Michael Gordon's Light Is Calling is that he doesn't seem to be trying to subvert any antiquated ideas about music, he's just trying to affect you.

The album begins with a rhythm and strings piece, "Tinge." Some computer arranged industrial rhythms are quickly followed by a panicky melody, punctuated by nod-your-head-here staccato bursts. "My Frig" is a relatively cheery song. Gordon uses a descending violin slide for texture, very different from his Decasia symphony. "Receiver" sounds at times like an homage to Tubeway Army, followed by "Idle" which sounds something like Henry Flynt's avant-fiddle sampled into a Coil beat. The title track is beautiful, with some quiet bubbling samples giving way to a simple, somber violin solo. The song builds a bit but maintains it's simplicity, finally careening into itself and sliding apart. The CD also features a short movie set to this song. I'm assuming it's made by Bill Morrison, it features decaying footage of a couple dancing, much like Decasia.

My only complaint is the electronic/computer aspect. It's mostly pretty boring stuff, and it doesn't mesh well with the rest of the arrangements. Most of, but not all the beats sound like stock sounds on an outdated program. I should say it's not all bad, I like the result on "Instrumental" for instance. But electronica was invented by composers, you'd think they'd be making more interesting stuff by now. It's symptomatic of most of the contemporary composers mixing electronic and classical. The weird thing is, they all seem to think they're doing really great new stuff with rhythm. I picture these guys sitting around listening to UFOrb all day and talking about how to "deconstruct the electro-classical dichotomy."

Ostensibly, Gordon is one of these academics who feels just as at home in the underground scene as he does in the academy. With the exception of the intimacy of this record, that duality is unfortunately not well represented here. Actually, Decasia is a much better execution of this. Still, along with Max Richter's Blue Notebooks, Light Is Calling is one of the best collections of engaging, minimalist, contemporary classical music that I know of.

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