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Projekt
Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund
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Last Edit/Update
22 juli, 1998
Vidna Obmana
THE RIVER OF APPEARANCE
Track Listing
1. The Angelic Appearance
2. Ephemeral Vision
3. A Scenic Fall
4. Night-blooming
5. The Solitary Circle
6. Weaving Cluster
7. Streamers Of Stillness
8. The Ominous Dwelling
The River Of Appearance was released in 1996, and according to Vidna Obmana
himself was "...a return to exploring methods of harmonizing and shaping the minimal
structure." However, while Obmana's compositional approach may have been
minimalist, and while the compositions as such are simpler, and the instrumentation
sparser, than on some of his other CDs; he still reveals a huge and mystifying universe of
sound that appears all but minimal. Naturally, it is the art of the magician
to make his most difficult tricks and manipulations look matter-of-fact and easy.
Fluid transitions bridge all the
eight tracks on this CD, and the beginnings and ends of these individual tracks mark
nothing so much as bends in the river. The unified structure of The River Of
Appearance is reflected in each of the eight pieces constituting it. Thematic
elements, and single sounds -- for example, the impression of water trickling over pebbles
and seashells -- recur and echo through the entire CD. And, it is perhaps in these aural deja
vus that the true beauty and power of this particular album comes to the fore. Obmana's
continuous, streaming cloudscape of music, enter the listener like ether, suspend gravity
and time, and carry the listener into a dreamlike state. The recurring aural motifs appear
on this motionless journey like memories -- the only indicators that time has actually
passed. Memories do seem to play a great role on The River Of Appearance.....
From the above, it should already
be clear that the music on this CD is of the mental and spiritual worlds, and therefore
problematic to translate into words. The list of instruments utilized by Obmana
in creating his music may give an idea of the general sound, although the way the
individual instruments are weaved into the greater harmonic flow, makes the identification
of these -- even when one knows what they are -- a rather difficult task.
"Electronics, loops, five rainsticks in different tunings, shells, claypot, click
sticks, maracas, waterbottles, Bolivian flutes, bamboo flute, ocarina and harmonica."
These are the instruments; in Obmana's compositions the interplay between their
various musical qualities accomplishes a synergetic effect.
It would probably offend noone to
describe The River Of Appearance as "ambient," yet, despite Obmana's
self-confessed minimalist intentions, "ambient" seems too reductive a term to
tag onto these recordings. Whatever they may be called, they are very beautiful, calming
to listen to, and of an almost celestial integrity and serenity.
Like most of Vidna Obmana's
works in recent years, The River Of Appearance has been released by Projekt.
It is presented with conceptual cover art depicting dreamlike water and foliage; the
photos were taken by Obmana himself, while Sam Rosenthal designed the
cover.
