duggup

Artist: David Torn
Website: www.davidtorn.net/
Track Name: Structural Functions of Prezens
Playback: flash
Download?: No

I really am going to have to create that “Hard Listening” category, cause today’s muso is a gem. David Torn started playing back in 1970′s in a jazz band and by the Eighties was playing with Jan Gabarek and recording his own albums for ECM and Windham Hill (this is where I first heard him). I was reminded of him when following up some old Windham Hill material last week.

He has made contributions to recordings by David Bowie, kd lang, John Legend, Tori Amos, Tony Levin, Mick Karn, David Sylvian, Chocolate Genius, Michael Shrieve, Steve Roach, Patrick O’Hearn, Andy Rinehart, Matt Chamberlain, Meshell Ndegeocello, Don Cherry, et cetera. And composed music for film and television as well. Busy dude huh?

“Structural Functions of Prezens” is strangely compelling with it’s heartbeat bass, electronic insect noises, sax pushed to the limits and guitars pushed beyond limits. And then it gets really gets down to serious business. This is music that doesn’t entertain the notion of compromise.

Sadly you will have to fight your way through a flash driven website. Click on the link above, then hit Listen, you want music on the left hand side of the screen and then track 3 of the Prezens album. Remember this is not a three minute single with a beat you can dance to. This is music that requires a bit of work. But you hopefully will find it worth it. Try the songs if “Structural Functions of Prezens” is a bit intense.

He also messes with looping and other ambient music and “integrated noise” materials that can be used as samples by other artists. If you think this is hard going keep an ear out for the pseudonym “splattercell”. That’s were David releases the really weird stuff.

thatch is fascinated by guitars, music, guitars, production, silly noises, guitars and used to be a musician. Did I mention the thing about the guitars?
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