The Possibility of a New Work for Aquaserge (Made to Measure Vol.46)

Description

Aquaserge, a variable-geometry experimental pop band whose influence extends far beyond France, is driven by breaking down genre boundaries. With this 6th album, the band successfully ventures into the internal waters of so-called contemporary music from the mid-20th century, exploring four of its great atypical figures: Giacinto Scelsi (1905-1988), György Ligeti (1923-2006), Edgard Varèse (1883-1965), and Morton Feldman (1926-1987). Drawing inspiration from these composers' approaches to dynamics, sound textures, and duration—notably Scelsi's beloved play on timbres and oscillations, Ligeti's moving clusters, Varèse's melodic cubism, and Feldman's graphic scores—Aquaserge invites listeners to break free from the territorial rules of certain "learned" music, using a hybrid instrumentation that is half-rock, half-classical, combining intuitive gesture with millimeter-paper precision. Featuring synthesizer canons, wind instrument fugues, and episodes of spectral guitars, Aquaserge's new album revolves around three slow, expansive, ethereal pieces where instrumental timbres blend into one another to form a fascinating sonic material, both moving and still, much like in some works by Ligeti and Scelsi. These pieces alternate with free and explosive moments (homages to Varèse and Feldman), as well as three covers of rare songs written by these latter two composers, ensuring that Aquaserge's taste for romantic pop melodies is not forgotten. These compositions, along with a few others, will be performed in Aquaserge's musical and theatrical show, titled The Possibility of a New Work for Aquaserge - Lost in a Guitar Case. The album is being released as part of 'Made To Measure,' Crammed Discs' famous composers' series, which is being relaunched this year.