27 April 2010
The beautiful and captivating Ukiyo features Portuguese percussion maestro, Pedro Carneiro has just been released by Rattle Records. Featuring Jeremy Fitzsimmons, Stroma conducted by Hamish McKeich, and Tim Prebble, this album is percussion-based, and while it contains moments of explosive energy characteristic of John’s work (particularly in the extended chamber ensemble, Psyzygysm performed by Stroma), overall Ukiyoprojects an intimacy and moodiness that reveals another side to John’s music.
It ends with a touching remix of One Summary by Tim Prebble. Tim has opened up Summary and allowed the ambient atmosphere to breathe. The music itself feels like it is breathing in and out. It’s beautiful and mysterious, revealing hidden elements in the piece.
John Psathas on Ukiyo:
I’ve never thought of my music as classical. I just often use old instruments (like an orchestra). I’m equally comfortable working with Serj Tankian, Michael Brecker, and the Little Bushman as I am working with Michael Houstoun or the Halle Orchestra.
Today most of the world’s culture is a key tap away, and a great many artists have moved on from even thinking about genre or category. I guess what does make the music on this album different is the use of groove. The album presents four new percussion-centred pieces, with rhythm and groove very much to the fore.
One Study One Summary and Psyzygysm tap into the idea of groove as something that makes you want to move. But I feel powerful groove in the last movement of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, Pat Metheny’s Bright Size Life, and Bijan Chemirani’s Yunan.
Music to me is about movement. Music is a trigger, whether it’s emotional, visceral or physical. It will never cease to amaze me how sonic energy travelling through the medium of air can make us want to get out of our chair and move around the room. Or how these abstract audio impulses can make us see the person in front of us in a different light, in matter of seconds. How does this happen?
Percussion is the best for tightly interlocked and driving rhythms. The right kind of groove creates in us an undeniable urge to move and - the best of all possibilities - to move together.
One Study One Summary is cool about its rhythm. Psyzygysm generates heat, and at times, fever. Ukiyo is meditative, centred and grounded. Rhythm communicates with a visceral, subconscious, and primal energy. We respond to it without thinking, often without understanding how or why.
Available now from Rattle Records for a special introductory price of NZ$25.00 (with free P+P for NZ & Australia).