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artist: Elliott Sharp
album title: Figure Ground
release date: 08/29/2001
label: Tzadik (Film Music)
genre: Avantgarde
original date: 03/18/1997
ripper: kinagrO
tracks: 20
bitrate: 192k
size: 75MB

credits:

Though composed for four very different films (among them
two documentaries ù one on the life of gay erotic artist Tom
of Finland and the other on transvestites who live in the
salt warehouses of New York City), the music on Figure
Ground hangs together as a cohesive collection. Somewhat
confusing liner notes make it a bit difficult to assign all
of the songs to specific films, but a general idea of their
distribution is given. The songs seethe and hum with an
often erotic energy, with long, vibrating synth tones
stretched over layers of shuffling rhythm. A kind of dark
minimalism pervades, especially on the first track,
"Incandescent," which lumbers on like a somnambulent slave.
A strong dance influence can be felt in places, with
somewhat tribal drums setting the pace for rhythmic
scratching. Indeed, the influence of many kinds of music can
be felt on these works, with Sharp pulling musical tricks
out of his hat to suit the mood he is trying to create, from
bluesy to icy to hyperactive. The nearly frenetic "Letha" is
one of the most interesting tracks on the album, combining
hypnotizing rhythms and guitar gurgles. Two tracks later,
"Nightmare" seems like a score for the yawning gates of
hell. This is one of Sharp's most complex and varied albums
ù nevertheless, it rarely manages to miss the mark.

All Instruments played by Elliot Sharp

URL: http://www.tzadik.com

track list:

01 Incandescent
02 Machine
03 Float
04 Letha
05 Playground
06 Nightmare
07 Dogboys
08 The Bridge
09 Talk
10 Backroom
11 Farm and Field
12 Lumberjack Boots
13 Nazis
14 Sketching
15 Musclehouse
16 Erasing
17 Motorbike
18 HomoCop
19 Prey
20 The Salt Mines

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