Review:projections of What Might Glenn Kotche

Projections of (what) Might...
taken from
Glenn Kotche - Mobile

Now, im all up for a bit of mind destroying soul crushing noise that basically doesn't fit into your life at all, but at the same time makes everything seem right, but this cd is just ridiculous.

I've got to say, on first listen it didnt rate at all. Luckily then, did i somehow let itunes carry on playing through and end up with surround sound plinkity plonk. Even more so, with the only track on the album that resembles something you might find me listening to somewhere getting released on April 24th (12" Only)

It's the kind of track somebody would play in Tribal Sessions for a laugh, just to tip everyone over the edge, or more significantly at 11am in the morning, DC10 ibiza style, just to wake everybody up. This track will destroy you. It's magnificently brilliant a collection of tribal squelch and teaspoons. Your mother will hate it, your dad will think the stereo is on its last legs. Your ipod will think its being punished. And your friends might just stop being your friends because of it.

Aptly, its followed by my favourite track on the album, Monkey Chant. 11 minutes of drums, bongos, taps, claps and cymbils, anyone who has seen the film 'Man on the Moon' will be strangely reminded of various scenes. It's tribal, it controls you and then, after 11 glorious minutes, it stops.

Do something for me. Listen to this album once. Then whatever your thoughts, leave it a week then listen again.

Strangely brilliant.

Rich Skiddle

Nonesuch Records releases percussionist Glenn Kotche's 'Projections Of (What) Might...' on April 24.  'Projections Of (What) Might...' is taken from Kotche's recently released critically acclaimed solo label debut, Mobile.  The album comprises eight new compositions by Kotche, with inspirations ranging from mobile sculpture, composer (and label-mate) Steve Reich, the Ramayana, Wilco drumbeats, the Nonesuch Explorer series, and percussionists Tony Allen and Ed Blackwell.  The album features a wide range of instruments, including vibraphone, kalimba, mbira, and drum kit.

"In the right lighting, I'm usually struck as much by the shadows that a mobile creates as by the sculpture itself.  I'm also fascinated by the kinetic nature that affects relationships between the same basic parts to make something perpetually new," said Kotche.  "Throughout the record I investigate the idea of negative or opposite rhythm by utilizing the intrinsic spaces - or rests - of rhythms.  Many of these songs were shaped from a few simple ingredients and then used in varying forms and different contexts, each time creating something new, yet homogeneous."

The Massachusetts Daily Collegian said of Monkey Chant, a solo drum kit composition featured on Mobile, 'The piece sounded as if Kotche ran into the jungle with a tape recorder and simply played it back to the audience.  Everything was perfectly mimicked - from looped sounds of crickets to the roars of gorillas produced by Kotche pulling various pieces of metal with string and the tribal drum rhythms produced by Kotche's thundering on the toms."

"Glenn's writing for percussion instruments is beautiful, original, and unexpected - unexpected, that is, unless you have heard his work with Wilco or Loose Fur, or during his solo performances," said Nonesuch Senior Vice President David Bither.  "Mobile brings together his rock experience, his classical training, his love of traditional music from around the world, and his knowledge of contemporary composition.  It draws on the past and looks forward simultaneously, with brilliant results."

A graduate of the University of Kentucky's highly regarded percussion programme, Glenn Kotche's various stints with groups and ensembles have resulted in participation on more than 70 recordings to date.  In 2001, he joined the rock band Wilco.  Since Kotche joined as drummer/percussionist, Wilco's accomplishments include the gold-selling album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, the Grammy-winning A ghost is born, and the recently released double-disc live album, Kicking Television.

Beyond Wilco, Kotche is one-third of experimental rock trio, Loose Fur, along with Jeff Tweedy and post-classical composer/producer Jim O'Rourke; that group's self-titled album was released in 2003, with a new record slated for 2006.  Kotche also is half of the jazz experimental duo On Fillmore with bassist Darin Gray.  Their latest recording, Sleeps with Fishes, landed them at the prestigious 2005 Percussion Pan Festival in Brazil.  Kotche has released two previous solo works, Introducing and Next.

 
Visit the official Glenn Kotche website: www.glennkotche.com
Visit the official Nonesuch website: www.nonesuch-uk.com