MNEMONISTS

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Hmm.. I was talking with other noise maker about perhaps surprisingly few (?) people knowing or talking Mnemonist. And suddenly I wondered, have they ever been matter of discussion. Run search and could only find few of my own comments and this:

Biota / Mnemonists - Musique Actuelle 1990 cd
I put this on inspired by the Anomalous Records -thread. Not the best Biota / Mnnemonists stuff ever but still highly enjoyable. It's amazing that they can create this strange mass of sound with basically just acoustic instruments. One of the most distinctive musical groups ever and also one most the most "difficult". I think I need to revisit more of this stuff...

So, what was Mnemonists?

Discogs says:
Mnemonists is a collective of avantgarde musicians from Colorado, lead by Mark Debyshir and Bill Sharp. Their music is a crazy mixture of modern classical, experimental sounds, noise, industrial, avantgarde and free jazz. Their releases were published by their own self-produced label Dys between 1981 and 1986. In 1987 the group changed its name into Biota.

Perhaps "free jazz" or "modern classical" will turn off people, but check out the samples of HORDE LP (1981) and I think there are some good examples of what could be done instead of formula noise. So many releases tend to be like one trick pony.

In drone/noise/whatever is felt like this one simple good idea will carry the release. And it might, but many times the repetition of one formula where piece just starts and then stops, or the most typical "lets start quiet, then grow louder" compositions are very easily digested instantly. And there simply ain't more there. Sound might be already getting old before you finish the listening. Most definitely not looking for flipping tape and starting again.

It sometimes gets little boring to have dominance of releases, where it is one thing on A-side and the samey thing B-side. Or just continued session. Just stretching the one good idea further and further, when suddenly it might not be THAT good idea anymore. While better idea could have been to leave it to 5 mins and look for next idea and next sounds and if it should be new song or find way to make good transitions. And leave hunger for listener and potential to find new things over and over again.

1981 Horde
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4adaFsNY4g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK38026pZaA&feature=relmfu

1984 gyromancy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkHmZ6CeNEo&feature=related

Latter piece I just listened from CD while ago, and while Horde is pure gold from beginning to end, Gyromancy is often disturbing. The volume differences leaves me with  "... what the hell?!?" -type of reactions, but still lures for more listenings. Found that CD from shelves of jazz shop in New York.

[ImpulsyStetoskopu]

So, what was Mnemonists?

MNEMONISTS is the great band and one of the most favourite in my life. It was set up in 1979 as MNEMONISTS ORCHESTRA. The first album ("Mnemonists Orchestra") was recorded during one session when members/musicians were dislocated in two rooms without any led idea/concepts what they had to play. There were qualified jazz/rock musicians. painters and scientists. I like their idea of playing cacophony noise music by acoustic/traditional instruments with a little bit tape collages. Must.

[ARKHE]

New acquaintance, interesting music, have listened to the Horde album now. Calmer moments remind me of UNIVERS ZERO/ART ZOYD's more disturbing moments. 


Agree with the comments on the common formula of noise.

[heretogo]

One of those bands that I don't spin too often but when I do I'm always overwhelmed. Such a congested, dense block of sound, filled with details to the extent of being overpowering to listen. The Biota discs are somehow even more difficult, groovy & poppy even sometimes but of the sort that just makes your head go dizzy. One of the first words that come to mind playing this stuff is always "alien" - it just doesn't sound human at all to me. Impossible to use as background music, the weirdness just graps you and demands attention.

[Arvo]

I have a dubbed copy of their very rare cassette "ROTO LIMBS", and it is among my favorites, in my top 5 noise releases for sure.