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Archival Series Volume Two

title

Archival Series Volume Two

label

The New England Electric Music Company

format
various artists 3inch CD

Archival Series Volume TwoSubtitled 'Musique Concrete Soundtracks to Experimental Short Films 1956-1978.' Artists are Bernard Parmegianiand Wlodzimierz Kotonski. Volume Two of the archival series of 3' cds, put out by the New England Electric Music Company, is the most coherent of the three Archive series that I have heard so far.

There are 2 long tracks which mix seamlessly.

  1. Bernard Parmegiani Jeux Des Anges 1964 - Dir: Walerian Borowczyk
    Track one is the soundtrack for Jeux Des Anges directed by Walerian Borowczyk, and was voted one of the 10 best animated films of all time by Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Monty Python) [read article]. It starts out sounding like a a railway yard with a few zap sounds from outer space. About 2.5 mins in it, fades into an electronic hum with some bubbles. At around 4.20 some church organ music mixed with some popping/banging and pig sounds. The organ ends and there's more clanging and humming and whirling. The organ comes back more adamant than ever only to have a spring come loose. Somebody eventually starts singing along with the organ and squeeling pig while sharpening some knives. With two minutes left we are left with a humming sound as someone tries to pull a bedspring up the stairs. Gladly, at the fade we end with the organ and singer as we go on the next track. Keep in mind, i have not yet seen this film, this is just what I imagine to be happening in this film.
  2. Wlodzimierz Kotonski Dom 1957 - Dirs: Jan Lenica and Walerian Borowczyk
    Track two is from a short film collaboration between Jan Lenica and Walerian Borowczyk called Dom (House, 1958) which won them the first prize at the 1958 Brussels Experimental Film Festival. The soundtrack mixes outer space gurgles and plucked piano and zylophone notes. Eventually some drum patters arrive along with more outer space sounds. In general as things come and go in this track there is a mellow empty city street feel to it all. This one has a lot of silences so keep that in mind if playing this on the radio.

Volume two is definitely up there with the other two volumes we've heard so far in this series. Some day I hope to see these films.

I think track one is amongst my all time faves in this series; I mean anything with organ, singing and pigs squealing and you really can't go wrong.

---Patrick Rands, February 12, 2002