Carl Michael Hausswolff - Topophonic Models [Feld-records - 2007]Topophonic Models offers up six track of drone craft based around modern cites & architectural space, from one of the old masters of the genre, who’s beign creating sound works since the mid 1980’s. Where someone like Phil Niblock often brings to mind organic and graceful moods with his drone craft, Hausswolff brings to mind the feeling of very angular modern buildings cutting into charcoal skies, clean airless airport lounges, brutal white neo strips, the beauty and logic of organised /modern architectural space and also it’s buzzing underlying lonelyness. Most of the tracks are built around one revolving electronic drone tone, that pulls you in further and further to it’s almost; electro generator, circuit purr, neo pulse world. On a few tracks he adds touches of static admittances, or traces of steel like corridor echo. But for the most part the tracks, that run about seven minutes a piece, introduce an drone then looping it out and out, like the duel ring of a phone, or the slow scan of an x-ray machine. Sure it’s very clinical in its feel and sound, but it's some how very involving/rewarding in its cold emotional throb and grip. It’s packaged in a cd size cardboard box with screen printed white and black mountain/cloud imagery printed on the front & ltd to an edition of 500. Of interest to those who enjoy the work of Phil Niblock and the like, or those who like near stasis drone craft. Roger Batty
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