“Quaristice” has a fluid opening piece. It contrasts with the more active and rhythmic second piece. Throughout, electric brass and percussion echo and meld together. There seems to be a glob of sound in the middle; however, the kick and percussion are very clear and well mixed. The intermittent instrumentation of background buzzes and hums give an organic feel to the performance of the otherwise heavily-processed sounds.
Stockhausen’s piece creates a sinister atmosphere with robotic noises and isolated cuts of analogue instruments. It feels as if this is a backing track for a thriller movie. There are build-ups of suspense and moments of calm.
“The Pulses of Time” features a collection of percussive sounds, ranging from a dull kick to a ringing gong. The pauses between the sounds give a disjoint feeling to the piece. The reverb effect applied to some of the sounds lend depth to the piece. The sporadic strumming of the stringed instrument emphasizes the piece’s abstract quality.
“Base Metals” makes use of a variety of metallic whirring, creating a feeling of isolation and machinery. There is no easily-discernable pattern of melody or harmony. “The Disintegration Loops” uses similar instruments and applies them in a melodic context.
“Hold On” features a more conventional application of the techniques showcased by the preceding pieces. It has rhythm, melody, and harmony that evolve in complexity.
Music 26 Blog: Ryan Hyun 