These works are composed for concentrated listening and also live
performance. Instructions for concentrated listening are also given with
the works. The material on this EP is entirely synthetic and
connections between human agency and digital technological landscape
have been made.
Review Phillip Clarke (The Wire)
Each of the three tracks, "Tula", "Ultra" and "Shine", feels like its
energies are scrambling to break from the restraints that Thomas has put
upon them. " Ultra" is especially impressive as her hyperactive bleeps
keep getting dragged towards stasis, jamming the music spinning inside
disorientating deja vu from which it can't escape. The stand out moment
in "Shine" sees Thomas busy material abruptly fall through a structural
trapdoor , as she opens a new space.
Program notes
1. Tula
The meaning of the name Tula is strength. Tula exists in two worlds. One
is a light-hearted phonetic pattern, which sings throughout the work.
The other is an impending rhythmic world of micro sound and glitch.
2. Ultra
Ultra is the Brother of Tula. This work is an embedded world of
continuum and stasis. The sea and the raw physicality of contemporary
ballet inspired this work.
3. Shine
Shine is a work, which explores a very human need to shine when times
are not so light. A very deliberate association to human agency breath
and body is made through this work incorporating the winding of gentle
micro melodies and subtle rhythms.
These works are written as focused miniatures. It is intended for a
good home system with a balanced EQ and a strong bass system. The set up
of the speakers should be classic stereo with both speakers facing
slight inwards. Ideally you should sit centre of the speakers about two
meters away while listening.
The audio content of the music is mostly glitch material. Glitch
essentially is spectral peaking. A good policy is not to peak in the red
on the desk as this may cause damage to your speakers and also your
ears.
The diffusion of the music should be warm and full enabling audio
clarity to delicate passages of high spectral material and bass
morphologies.
