In contributing to the Green Peace campaign for the preservation of Antarctica, Kutiman has chosen to paint a sonic portrait of the mysterious continent rather than to launch into an appeal. A producer and a multi-instrumentalist, the Israeli artist offers up a listening experience that feels soothing at times and haunting at others.
“Terra Australis” opens the project with several minutes of piano arpeggios. After all, it takes patience to perceive the slow movement of nature; the echo of water drops along the crevasses, the wind rushing between the walls of the massifs (mountains) – everything is reproduced by a skilful mix of instrumentation and electronic effects.
The omnipresence of percussion is reminiscent of some of Iannis Xenakis’ works, but we can only suppose a desire to do justice to nature, instead of the more rational aim of generating musical pathways.
With Antarctica, Kutiman is spokesman for a continent. If a glacier cracks, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
Kutiman – Antarctica (Siyal)
