CD – Sonic Arts Network
Vaudeville musicality and extreme cut-up, precise techniques for assembling and overlapping audio, intentional intertwining and multiple collages. These are just some of the gimmicks used by Vicki Bennett, in her spiky re-contextualizations, which are not alien to pop culture, experimental art, cabaret and surrealists influences. The union of sound art and humor is not at all usual. Her music displays a rare aptitude for cutting-edge contexts, is generally always slightly too compressed and staid, while remaining plainly self referential. Throughout these tracks her technical abilities are always at the fore; directing and manipulating sound materials in various forms with skill and precision. Some sound mixtures seem to bring the listener back to the characteristic exotica, reviving “vintage” flavors. It’s easy then to be astonished by the “loopsided swing” by John Oswald. Take, for example, the track ‘Take On Me’ , an A-Ha anthem from the eighties – the listener is amazed by the very hoarse and disturbed voice of Rank Sinatra. It’s not a coincidence that more likeminded people are joining the cd selection, including Christian Marclay (with a tribute to Maria Callas), and immediately following the “seven Viennese singer sisters” combo, of the Nihilist Spasm Band e the same Bennett together with Ergo Phizmiz (not to talk about the acapella of the Xper.Xr. or about the Nurse With Wound). It’s really a unique kind of listening experience and the attached book with an essay by Kembrew McLeod, turns out to be a seminal one