Biota - Tumble (1989)

Biota - Tumble (1989)

rock, electronic, avangarde | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 495MB

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Allmusic:
This album contains two distinct projects from Biota recorded between the fall of 1988 and the spring of 1989. Tumble, the longer of the two, has recurring hints of various flavors of American pop music, and in particular the music of the American West. Fingerstyle guitar is at the center of "Things Seem Like Just Happen," and the first half of "Wire Talker" is a twisted jig with bagpipes, kazoos, and concertina. Other pop influences include a jazzy saxophone line at the beginning of "House of Suitcase" and early rock on "Operator for Cataract" and a greater interest in melody than any previous work. But enumerating the various influences and elements barely scratches the surface of this album, as with all of their work. While there may be a recognizable instrument or two in the foreground, the listener is hard-pressed to pull specifics out of the murk that backgrounds the entire album. Biota's working methods almost always start with more or less traditional instruments, but electronic processing starts early and continues throughout the recording process. The slow concertina waltz that constitutes "Finder," for example, is accompanied by acoustic guitar and a simple percussion, but there is a big unspecified cloud out of which this material emerges. It is this cloud that gives Biota its instantly recognizable aura. Throughout Tumble, episodes succeed each other, presenting more different pieces than the track listing would suggest. "Ghost Shirt" is more abstract but still episodic, with clattering noise and percussion sections alternating with quiet melodies, reverb guitar, and demented blues riffs, and uses the same source material as "Operator for Cataract" and "Shadows Appear to Do."

Tracks
-01. "New Lookout" - 2:58
-02. "One Eye Open" - 3:17
-03. "Things Seem Like Just Happen" - 5:16
-04. "Wire Talker" - 6:32
-05. "Shadows Appear To Do" - 7:05
-06. "Picture By Accident" - 7:21
-07. "House Of Suitcase" - 4:58
-08. "Finder" - 1:22
-09. "...Buffalo Come Back" - 5:44
-10. "Operator For Cataract" - 6:39
-11. "When They Know" - 5:55
-12. "The Less Said" - 7:14
-13. "(silence)" - 0:14
-14. "Ghost Shirt" - 9:15

Personnel
* Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica, Flute – Tom Katsimpalis
* Guitar, Psaltery, Banjo, Ukulele, Recorder, Trumpet, Percussion [Balafon], Tape – Mark Piersel
* Saxophone [Alto], Clarinet [Bass], Clarinet [Bass], Flute, Guitar, Autoharp, Bells – Steve Scholbe
* Tapes - William Sharp
* Piano, Accordion, Guitar – Gordon Whitlow
* Kit drums, bongos, bodhran, side drum - Larry Wilson
* Concertina - Randy Yeates
* Violin - Deborah Fuller

 sample & buy: Tumble

 

Biota - Invisible Map (2001)

Biota - Invisible Map (2001)

rock, electronic, avangarde | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 500MB

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Allmusic:
The fifth album by the collective Biota (if one doesn't count the LPs under the name Mnemonists), Invisible Map carries on with the change of direction instigated on Object Holder. This time, instead of having about 20 minutes of pop songs in the middle of the group's usual dreamy landscapes, the pop material is thoroughly integrated to the music. The singer is Montrealer Geneviève Heistek (of Godspeed You Black Emperor's entourage). Her half-alternative, half-trip-hop voice appears on every third or fourth track, starting with "The Rapid Color." In 76 minutes, Biota takes the listener on a beautiful, if tormented, journey through 37 short pieces. Gordon Whitlow's David Thomas-like accordion riffs meet with Tom Katsimpalis' balalaika, William Sharp's hurdy-gurdy, and Chuck W. Vrtacek's delicate piano lines, all wrapped up with audio art fabric. With its wide range covering delicate post-folkish pop songs to ambient soundscapes, Invisible Map may be the collective's most accomplished and accessible release to date. All music styles (folk, jazz, blues, rock, musique concrète, free improv, etc.) coalesce to be filtered through the dreamer's ears: background vocals are slightly treated, soloing instruments are heard from a distance, rhythm tracks are deliberately just a bit out of sync. This way, the simple tunes never really come into focus, giving the whole album an aura of mystery. The 12-page booklet contains beautiful artwork by the Mnemonists collective. Strongly recommended to both fans and curious newcomers.

Tracks
-01 . "Moment" - Biota, Heistek - 0:44
-02 . "The Rapid Color" - Biota - 3:46
-03 . "Port" - Biota - 2:59
-04 . "Call" - Biota - 2:36
-05 . "Landless" - Biota, Heistek, Katsimpalis - 2:39
-06 . "Air on Water" - Biota - 0:29
-07 . "Mineral" - Biota - 3:19
-08 . "Common Broom" - Biota - 2:12
-09 . "Birthday" - Biota, Heistek - 3:29
-10 . "Dustman" - Biota - 0:52
-11 . "Sleeping Car" - Biota - 2:25
-12 . "Snake Out" - Biota - 3:21
-13 . "Occurrence" - Biota - 1:36
-14 . "Top Ray Done" - Biota - 1:58
-15 . "Glass Lizard" - Biota" - 2:08
-16 . "Telegraph Plant" - Biota - 0:56
-17 . "Spoonbender's Visit" - Biota - 0:54
-18 . "Remodel a Whisper" - Biota - 0:32
-19 . "Measured Not Found" - Biota - 3:22
-20 . "The Slow Forest" - Biota - 4:30
-21 . "Canopy" - Biota - 0:46
-22 . "Red's Big Day" - Biota - 1:32
-23 . "Lampblack" - Biota - 1:33
-24 . "There Is Probably Something" - Biota - 0:37
-25 . "Worry Hill" - Biota - 1:28
-26 . "Olive Drab Morionette" - Biota - 1:15
-27 . "Invisible Gap" - Biota - 1:19
-28 . "Yarn" - Biota - 3:18
-29 . "Words Disappear" - Biota, Heistek, Katsimpalis - 1:22
-30 . "Ballad Of" - Biota - 2:05
-31 . "Soil and Token" - Biota - 1:37
-32 . "Glazed Paper" - Biota, Katsimpalis - 3:21
-33 . "Paste" - Biota - 3:08
-34 . "Truth Table" - Biota - 0:56
-35 . "Dual" - Biota, Katsimpalis - 3:23
-36 . "Flicker" - Biota - 2:38
-37 . "Presto the Human" - Biota - 1:03

Personnel
Genevieve Heistek; lead vocals, violin: Steve Scholbe; slide guitars: Tom Katsimpalis; guitars, Clavioline, balalaika: Gordon Whitlow; accordion, pump organ: William Sharp; electronics, hurdy gurdy: Larry Wilson drums: James Gardner; Rhodes, noe, trumpet: C.W. Vrtacek; piano: Randy Yeates; Biomellodrone keyboard: Mark Piersel; acoustic & lap steel guitars: Andy Kredt; electric guitars

 sample & buy: Biota: Invisible Map

Biota - Object Holder (1995)

Biota - Object Holder (1995)

rock, electronic, avangarde | 1cd | eac-flac-cue-log-cover | 470MB

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Allaboutjazz:
“Object Holder” is Biota’s 12th release and as we celebrate the origins of Biota with the re-release of the Mnemonists “Horde” (see AAJ April 99’ review) it seems appropriate to shed some light on Biota’s latest release. Analogous to the music and era depicted on “Horde” which was recorded 20 years ago, “Object Holder” is a fascinating endeavor that illustrates the impetus and cutting edge strides this band has made since the early 1980’s.
Released in 1995 and recorded between 1992 and 1994, “Object Holder” contains 23 tracks that interweave, ultimately representing a series of dreamlike pieces as the musicians incorporate a vast array of acoustic, electronic and exotic instruments. Forever Einstein’s C.W. Vrtacek lends a helping hand on piano along with percussionist-composer Chris Cutler who handles percussion and electronics duties.
The press kit alludes to the music being that of “a half remembered dream”. Prior to reviewing this CD and reading the press release, this writer immediately conjured thoughts or impressions that parallel that notion. Vocalist Susanne Lewis of the fine band “Thinking Plague” makes her debut with Biota on this release and supplies an angelic and multi-colored balance that rides on top of the textured yet highly abstract thematic developments and unusual rhythmic patterns. Unusual instrumentation such as Steve Scholbe’s use of a marxophone and rubab compliment the guitars, electronics, horns, accordion’s and pump organs. A hodgepodge of diverse instrumentation all add to the uniqueness of these pieces yet the blending, coloration and skillful implementation is what makes it all work. The music is dense yet prone to delve into ephemeral passages that catch the listener off guard.
Biota explore different diatonic and chromatic regions by fusing or meshing sounds of instruments that emit unorthodox voicings as the outcomes are frequently compelling and quite interesting. Overall, Biota provides enchanting dreamscapes supplanted by odd thematic developments that contain elements of elasticity and musical shaping which adhere to a formula that is unique to this band. Comparisons are tough. Biota has created a deeply personalized style that has evolved over many years and needless to say; the music is enticing and picturesque which coincides with the colorful CD artwork by the Mnemonists.

 Tracks
-01. "Bumpreader - 7:52
-02. "Spillway - 4:15
-03. "Eavesdrop - 1:46
-04. "Blind Corner - 2:21
-05. "Under the Hat - 1:33
-06. "Flatwheel - 2:08
-07. "Reckoning Falls - 2:40
-08. "Swallow - 0:39
-09. "Move - 1:14
-10. "Steam Trader - 2:49
-11. "Understander - 2:43
-12. "Private Wire - 3:03
-13. "Cinder - 1:25
-14. "Distraction - 5:41
-15. "Signal - 3:33
-16. "This Ridge - 0:44
-17. "Idea for a Wagon - 3:21
-18. "More Silence - 4:02
-19. "Coat - 1:58
-20. "Gate Climbing - 5:31
-21. "Protector - 3:03
-22. "Visible Gap - 1:38
-23. "The Trunk - 4:03
-24. "[Untitled Track] - 2:08

Personnel
Susanne Lewis (vocals); Steve Scholbe (guitar, hurdy-gurdy, clarinet, reeds, saxophone); Gordon Whitlow (guitar, mandolin, whistle, accordion, Fender Rhodes piano, organ, xylophone); Tom Katsimpalis (guitar, keyboards); Andy Kredt (guitar); James Gardner (flugelhorn, piano); C.W. Vrtacek (piano); Randy Yeates (keyboards, kalimba); Larry Wilson (drums, congas, bongos, percussion); Chris Cutler (percussion, electronics); William Sharpe (tapes).

 sample & buy: Object Holder