do the "do"

[gg <gg2g4ink@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

it's no secret that Sachiko M is amazing. and Toshimaru Nakamura has been involved with his share of intriguing projects, not least of which was a fine recent solo disc on Zero Gravity. But bring these two together - Sachiko with her frightening, almost inhuman focus; Toshi with his clever "no-input mixing board" tricks - and the results write a whole new page for microsound music.

in light of the debate about "Matrix," Erstwhile's forthcoming Sachiko/Nakamura duo disc "do" proves just what is wrong with Ikeda's post-"+/-" output. without going into detail about why "Matrix" is such a disappointment (http://www.fakejazz.com/reviews/ikeda.shtml), i'll say why "do" is such a triumph. this is an astonishing, sure to be seminal disc. 

Sachiko has been honing her complete control of the "no-memory" sampler for a while, and her releases to date have hinted at just what she can do. but her choice of instrument - and the limitations it imposes - are not her secret weapons. it's her concentration. Sachiko can focus a single sine tone until it burns with the heat and pinpoint precision of a laser beam. i imagine that many musicians would wither under the intensity of her concentration, but Toshi can take it. he meets Sachiko's fire head-on with an equally focused stream of mixing board feedback. and, on "do," that's just the beginning of their dance.

As Sachiko and Toshi modulate their sounds, very deliberately altering pitches and frequencies, they develop a new dialect of improvised communication. their responses owe nothing to traditional improv modes and not that much more to the maturing instrumental/electro-acoustic idiom. only Sachiko and Toshi know what's being "said." but the listener picks up immediately on the exciting dynamic of their discourse. 

"do" is alive, engaging, and unpredictable - not a pre-programmed pattern of tones but a  conversation between two flesh-and-blood individuals. "do" grabs you by the gut and drags you into the dialog. while you can't directly affect the colloquies between Sachiko and Toshi (recorded last Summer during three different performances),  you CAN participate actively by tuning in and out or by altering your own level of concentration. that's an opportunity for true interactivity that records rarely afford. if you're willing to accept the challenge of "do" as a test  of your faculty for "responsive listening," the rewards will make this demanding disc (lead-off track "do#1" runs a very intense 36:35) one of the most gratifying experiences your stereo has ever given you.

gg/
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"establish enigmas. not explanations" - robert smithson