Alva Noto - Xerrox Vol. 2

Customer reviews
Press release

While xerrox vol. 1 (r-n 78) referred to the ‘old world’ with its tradition deeply rooted in classical music, xerrox vol. 2 tries to access a ‘new world’. it works with samples that have been gathered and developed in the usa – the so-called ‘new world’ – where the album also has almost completely been recorded. the dramatic and dynamic approach of xerrox vol. 1 on vol. 2 has been replaced by a structural density. instead of working with individual musical entities the new album rather develops an overall, linear aesthetic that refers to musical strategies of film music. hence there are no implicitly singular pieces, but open musical structures – a journey without a predetermined target. the first four tracks of xerrox vol. 2 actually condense to one track, using samples of michael nyman and stephen o’malley. they kind of combine to a soundtrack as for a movie before fading away in a swell of reverb feedback. xerrox sora is a rudiment from the collaboration with ryuichi sakamoto, which originates from and has been performed as encore during the 2004 insen tour. continuing from xerrox monophaser 2, the album creates a dense and interweaved complexity, which only gradually unfolds its depth.

01 phaser acat 1
02 rin
03 soma
04 meta phaser
05 sora
06 monophaser 1
07 monophaser 2
08 teion
09 teion acat
10 tek part 1
11 monophaser 3

5...according to Carpathian.

I've selected the 'ecstatic' option but this release made me feel many things. After Carsten Nicolai's outstanding back catalogue a second Xerrox volume had a lot to live up to but, if anything, this is possibly one of the the finest things he's done yet. Where Vol.1 had undercurrents of emotion under a strict frame this is much looser (well, as much as his work ever gets) and has a far wider colour palette to it. The ability to pull emotion from you is turned to 11 - it's a heady ride and you're unlikely to get through the album without involuntary reaction. At times there are noise builds and drops that made me think of Ben Frost's 'Theory Of Machines' album but Vol.2 remains a piece of work that could only have come from one man. A highlight, for me, of the last few years and pretty much a classic from day one. Glorious.

Just buy it and thank me later.

So, what do you think? Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!