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the PiNG presents WHIPPOORWILL & POLMO POLPO
Psst . . . the PiNG has quietly been working with Jon Spencer
to bring Robert Rich back to Toronto for a performance as
part of his 2006 Spring Tour. We're still working out the final
details, so things are subject to change, but here's the scoop:
THE AMBiENT PiNG & Jon Spencer Present
ROBERT RICH . LiVE . SATURDAY APRiL 29th 2006
Holy Trinity Church . 10 Trinity Square, Toronto
(south of Dundas . west of Yonge . behind The Eaton Centre)
More details and ticket info soon @
http://www.THEAMBiENTPiNG.com
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THE AMBiENT PiNG . http://www.theambientping.com
Tuesdays @ HACiENDA . 794 Bathurst Street at Bloor . Toronto
(upstairs - directly across from the Bathurst subway station)
Doors open at 9pm . 1st set at 9:30 . PayWhatYouCan
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THiS Tuesday April 4th . WHIPPOORWILL
(Chris Gartner, & Great Bob Scott) and
POLMO POLPO (Sandro Perri)
WHIPPOORWILL is a new duo from the former Look People
rhythm section of bassist/guitarist Chris Gartner, and
drummer Great Bob Scott.
This is an exciting and innovative group that creates a forest
of sound and texture with just two people. Gartner plays
composed guitar and bass loops live, switching instruments
within the pieces to form the illusion of a number of players
at once. Scott's infamous drumming is spiced with
electronic triggering, and samples. Dense multitracked
soundscapes composed by Gartner, and live video
projections augment their live shows.
The two members of WHIPPOORWILL have been part of a
number of high profile acts over the years. They both toured
Europe and North America as members of Canada's
legendary "Look People", and appeared in recordings,
magazines, television shows, rock videos, and
Lollapalooza festivals with the group.
http://www.myspace.com/chrisandgreatbob
Also on the bill, Polmo Polpo is the solo project of Toronto
composer, musician and producer Sandro Perri. Between
1999 and 2002, he released several full length and EP releases,
beginning with his own label, Audi Sensa, and later moving
on to various releases with Alien8, Intr-version, and Constellation.
Perri operates in a strange netherworld between avant-dub and
more post-rock influences and pointedly incorporates traditional
instruments into his electronic experiments "as part of the fabric."
Polmo Polpo creates a unique blend of dense and intoxicating
layers of hisses and crackles, looped percussion, long-burn
drones and submerged rhythms overlaid with instrumental
sources (slide guitar, strings, accordion).
"Polmo Polpo" loosely translates as "octopus lung" in Italian.
Much of Perri's music is reminiscent of deepwater, photic
zone atmospheres.
http://www.alien8recordings.com/subsf05.php3
http://www.audisensa.com
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Before Sets CD . Rainforest by Robert Rich
Well how could we not given the above news. To celebrate
Robert Rich's return to the ambient north, we'll be featuring
some of our favourites from his extensive catalogue as we lead
up to his Toronto performance at the end of April. Tonight we
drift back to 1989 to hear the polyrhythmic, electroaccoustic
journey of Rainforest which was the introduction for many
of us here to Robert's sonic realms of "glurp" and "shimmer."
http://www.robertrich.com
Between Sets CD . Degrees of Separation by The Circular Ruins
Tonight we feature Degrees of Separation by Anthony Paul Kerby's
The Circular Ruins. APK's music is a complex and distinctive
amalgam of ambient, groove ambient, and experimental forms
of electronica. Read more about it here in rik's *ping things*
CD review below and hear it Tuesday @ the PiNG.
http://www.databloem.com/z_tcr.htm
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COMiNG Tuesday April 11th . PHOLDE and Greg Lauzon
It's a night of heavy metal, PiNG style, as Alan Bloor returns as
Pholde to bow, scrape, brush and caress his self created metal
sound sculptures with other metal objects to produce
atmospheric hauntingly spacious soundscapes.
http://www.theambientping.com/pholde/home.html
Next up will be Greg Lauzon's first live performance with his
recently built Spring Dulcimer which is like a Hammered Dulcimer
except that it uses springs instead of wire strings. Greg will also
be using a pan drum and a Yang Chin (Chinese Hammered Dulcimer)
and effects to compliment the Spring Dulcimer. The show will be
an exploration of melodic ambient percussion. Some songs will be
pre-written, others will be improvised within the East Indian Ragas.
http://www.greglauzon.com
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rik maclean's *ping things* CD Reviews
The Circular Ruins . "Degrees of Separation"
Anthony Paul Kirby has proven time and time again that he
is an impressive musical talent with a firm understanding of
ambient/electronic ideals. Over the years his work as both
The Circular Ruins and Lammergeyer has delighted and inspired
me, leaving both a strong impression and a tremendous appreciation
for his work. And so it should come as no surprise that I'm quite
taken with his latest release as The Circular Ruins "Degrees of
Separation". It's a stunning collection that stands up with the
best of Kirby's catalogue, continuing and developing on
the work that he's done in the past.
The long form piece "Epiphenomena" opens the disc, a masterful
blend of drone and melody interspersed with infrequent samples.
It's a fascinating work that unfolds over the course of it's sixteen
plus minutes, where a bed of dark ambience anchors the track
while lighter tones rise up to break the surface. Melodic phrases
and occasional notes run throughout the track providing touchstones
and reference points for the work as a whole, giving suggestions of
theme and ideal, but never giving the plot away so much that you
can't imbue it with your own meaning, your own understanding.
The title track "Degrees of Separation" follows, a study in
connectivity where form and pattern is created by association.
It's a very dense piece with many levels all blending together in
a loosely woven mix, masterfully assembled in such a way as to
form bonds between it's elements while still allowing for those
same elements to retain a certain distinction between them.
Track three, "Doon Hill", is a fine example of locational ambience,
a piece meant to evoke the memory of a particular magical spot in
Scotland where the barriers between our world and Faerie are
thinner than the norm. While I've never visited Doon Hill myself,
Kirby has done an excellent job in recreating it's charms enough
so that I feel I've been there in some way. Maybe seeing such a
magical environment in my mind's eye makes it even more real to
me than an actual physical visit? Either way it's a testimony to
Kirby's talent that I can feel so connected to this space.
"Empty Hands" uses oblique motion as a backdrop for a series
of subtle arpeggios and almost jazzy riffs. Beautiful and bright
in it's presentation, "Empty Hands" brings to mind future
possibilities and hope, the chance to go beyond our
limitations to create something new and better.
The fifth track "Departure" moves away from the drone textures
used in earlier tracks, opting instead to use a burbling synth that
plays underneath a series of beautifully sweeping pads. Sublime
and lovely, this one is surely my favourite track on the disc.
"Darkness Between Them" follows in a similar pattern, employing
sweeps and sustained notes to maximum effect. The track seems
to exist as a companion piece to the earlier "Degrees of Separation",
but where that track suggested connectivity this one gives the
impression of isolation between it's elements, a strong feeling of
separate existence. Still beautiful, still inspiring, but perhaps with
a touch more regret in it's charms.
"Subspace-Overdrive" closes the disc, a flight into space and all
of the mystery that entails. Twinkling stars, meteor dust, nebulae
and more, it's the sound of the heavens, the sound of beyond.
A charming excursion outside of our selves and a
wonderful way to close the disc.
Without doubt, "Degrees of Separation" is a stunning collection
that re-enforces my belief that Kirby is one of the most significant
ambient/electronic artists working today. All of the tracks on this
disc give pause for thought, reflection, and contemplation, all of
them send the mind reeling with possibility and opportunity.
An essential work by an essential talent.
rik - ping things
"Degrees of Separation" is on sale now at ping things! Visit
http://www.pingthings.com/CIRCULARdegrees.htm
to hear mp3 samples
"Degrees of Separation" is one of many discs you'll hear
featured on ping things radio every Sunday and Wednesday
nights from 9pm to 12am EST on Live365! Tune in to
http://www.live365.com/stations/marastorment
to hear some great music from artists in the ping things
catalogue. And as an added treat, this week's show features a
special almost live performance by mara's torment! Don't miss it!
http://www.pingthings.com = ambient + electronic + chill things
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* Other Toronto area sonic/visual events of interest this week:
* Thursday April 6th . Improvisors' Pool
The improvisors' pool is a weekly gathering for musicians who
practice collective free improvisation. It welcomes players
of all levels and backgrounds.
7:00-9:00 . Ralph Thornton Centre . 765 Queen Street East
* Thursday, April 6th . Pianist Eve Egoyan - Double CD Launch
and Concert - pianist Eve Egoyan will perform works from
her two new recordings, WEAVE and ASKING, her fourth
and fifth discs of music by living composers.
Glenn Gould Studio, 250 Front St. West
$15 - Students/seniors/arts workers $10
* Thursday April 6 . 4 in 1
Guitarist Ken Aldcroft and drummer Dave Clark blast off on a
crisscross ride through the wonderful universe of T Sphere Monk.
Good times guaranteed.
9pm . the Red Guitar . 603 Markham St
* Friday, April 7th . Leftover Daylight Series
i- Remnants Trio
Ken Aldcroft- guitar, Evan Shaw- alto sax, Joe Sorbara- drums
ii/iii- From Chicago Rempis Percussion Quartet
Dave Rempis- alto sax, Anton Hatwich- bass,
Frank Rosaly- drums, Tim Daisey- drums
9pm . ARRAYMUSIC Studio 60 Atlantic Ave., Ste 218 . $15/10
* Saturday April 8th . The Window Series - Eric Chenaux & John
Oswald + Paul Swoger-Ruston & friends
First set: Eric Chenaux and John Oswald improvise on
hollow-body electric guitar and alto saxophone.
Second set: Compositions by Paul Swoger-Ruston for electric
guitar and Rhodes. Featuring Jordan Wright, Josh Thorpe,
Mike Kane, Nicole Marchessau, and Richard Benedict.
Lots of nice microtones! Co-presented by Arraymusic.
9.30 pm . Arraymusic Studio, 60 Atlantic, side door . $5
* Saturday, April 8th . THE GROUP OF SIXXX with FABle
8 PM . The Music Gallery . 197 John St., Toronto
$10 regular/$7 members & seniors/$5 students . all ages
* Sunday April 9th . The Man Show featuring Final Fantasy,
Mantler, Matias + guests . two shows: 4 PM & 8 PM
The Music Gallery . 197 John St. . $10 . all ages
* Sunday April 9th . The NOW Series
2:00- Workshop- Ken Aldcroft- Improvisation / Composition
4:00- Aldcroft / Haas
w/ ken aldcroft- guitar, andy haas- soprano saxophone
5:00- Alex Lukashevsky + guests
w/ alex lukashevsky + guests
6:00- Haas / Thomson / Sorbara / Yue / Wilson
w/ andy haas- soprano saxophone, scott thomson- trombone,
joe sorbara- drums/percussion, andy yue- electric piano,
john wilson- guitar
NOW Lounge, 189 Church St. . $6
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THE AMBiENT PiNG is a social sound/art event presenting live
performances by Toronto's finest ambient, chillout, improv and
experimental music artists plus performers from around the world,
every Tuesday evening at HACiENDA . 794 Bathurst Street at Bloor.
http://www.theambientping.com
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Please forward this e-mail to any friends who may be interested in
live ambient, chillout and experimental music performances or to
any of your appropriate newsgroups. Thanks.