Released
1995
Label
Drone Records
Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund
Contact
Stefan Knappe
Drone Records
Gneisenaustrasse 56
28201 Bremen
Germany
Visit
Last Edit/Update
28 august, 1998
Tam Quam Tabula Rasa
COTIDIE MORIMUR (7"EP)
(first edition: 250 copies)
Track Listing
Side A
Dyskrasía
Side B
Ataxía
Italian experimental quartet Tam Quam Tabula Rasa's first appearance on
vinyl came out as part of Drone Records' on-going series of 7"EPs
in 1995. The first edition of the single is pressed on transparent blue vinyl,
features rather disconcerting cover artwork by Claudio Gentiluomo, and is limited
to 250 copies. Also true to Drone Records' standards, the single plays at
33 rpm, affording both the two compositions an extended running time closer to that of a
10" or 12" release.
"Dyskrasía" on Side A is
a very rich and tightly woven sound tapestry, which is in constant development. Many of
the incorporated sounds have metallic textures of a rusty and corroded quality, and the
piece as such resembles nothing so much as an old and rather complex mechanical
contraption, the workings of which screeches and grates, and constantly threatens to fall
apart altogether. The beginning and end of the piece are propelled by strange, echoing
beats that scamper across the droning carpets of decayed harmonies like rattling tinker
toys, while the center stretch of the composition is given over entirely to dark, hovering
atmospherics. Altogether a great little soundtrack for a haunted evening.
"Ataxía" is a sparser
and more monotone creation. What sounds like a harmonica theme walks hand in hand with a
rather unashamed electronic rhythm loop through a landscape of rumbling and distorted
acoustic presences. If the atmosphere on "Dyskrasía" was nightmarish, then this
leisurely meandering piece is more of an excursion into a fairy tale world. Tam
Quam Tabula Rasa's strange and fascinating music conjures up all manner of images
and memories that it would be inappropriate to superimpose on their music; what may be
said in conclusion about these recordings is, that they manage to evoke imagery of a
highly imaginary nature in the listener willing to travel along for a quarter of an hour.
Tam Quam Tabula Rasa
have been creating music for close to a decade, and have released a rather extensive lists
of tapes since the late 80s. However, this 7" was their first appearance outside the
cassette format, and a full-length CD is scheduled to come out on Old Europa Cafe
in the near future.
