ilya monosov
A collection of small sounds, field recordings and idiosyncratic compositions plus a nerve-shattering audio documentary involving CVA survivors suffering from speech impediments, this album by sound artist Ilya Monosov is certainly diverse and alluring. The author's vast field of interests ranges from mixtures of concrete/acoustic sounds and Alvin Lucier-like piercing frequencies ("Music for Electronics and Hurdy Gurdy 2") to microsound improvisations with music box, toothpicks, turntable and objects ("Composition A") and lo-fi urban experiments ("Performance I"). "Untitled" is a near-silent piece with Larry Polansky, while "Architectures on Air" is the abovementioned recording of heart attack victims blowing and talking into harmonicas by way of therapy. Their broken voices and panting efforts are truly something to be heard, the deep pain of baby demons trying to utter their first syllables. My favourite track though is "Autonomous Guitar Music for Marc Schulz", in which a motor is put against the wood of the guitar body, setting off a continuous scintillation of jangling strings whose slight dissonance sounds like a cross between Remko Scha and Fred Frith ("Water/Struggle/The North" on Guitar Solos 2).
architectures on air and other works
(eeaoa022) CD
Elevator Bath proudly presents the first full-length CD from Ilya Monosov. Architectures on Air and Other Works is a challenging collection of recordings, perfectly summarizing the various interests of this inventive sound artist. The range of these works is tremendous: From harsh intensity to gorgeous drone to virtual silence, concluding with the deeply affecting title track.
Monosov recorded three of the six pieces presented here as solo works, while the other half are collaborations. Two of these collaborative tracks feature conceptual sound artist Civyiu Kkliu (Banned Productions) and the third includes the work of veteran electronic composer Larry Polansky (Frog Peak).
Architectures on Air and Other Works displays the fruits of several years' worth of activity, and though each piece is distinct in concept and execution, the album offers a solid block of organic sound, compelling from beginning to end. In addition to the stunning audio work, this enhanced CD also features two QuickTime movie files of Monosov's sound performances (about 18 minutes of material).
Ilya Monosov's sound works have been released by Bremsstrahlung, Eclipse, & Elevator Bath.
Packaged inside two elegant printed sleeves of 100% recycled paper, this compact disc has been issued in an edition of 330 copies.
Track list:
- Massimo Ricci, Paris Transatlantic
Intimate sounds, very minimal and usually static. Monosov brings us in close to tiny sounds: a toothpick-strummed music box in “Composition A” (#2), vocalizations during harmonica-playing in “Architectures on Air” (#6) and a mic dragged down the sidewalk on “Performance 1” (#4). And there's a lack of horizontal progression: the vocalizations in “Architectures” are cut up and reorganization to resist linear flow, and even the stroll down the road in “Performance 1” doesn't seem to cross any different terrain in its course. At most, a few tracks get a little louder and denser near their conclusions. My favorites are “Autonomous Guitar Music” (#3), which consists of a shimmering sustained open guitar chord played by vibrating the body of the guitar with a motor (actually a fairly dynamic piece for its minimal nature), the minimal glitch blips of the untitled 5th track, and the creepy title track (#6) (a cut-up harmonica-playing music therapy session for stroke survivors).
- Jacob Heule, Breakthrough in Grey Room
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