Monday, March 19, 2012

[TO:42V] Chris Watson – El Tren Fantasma - The Signal Man's Mix Vinyl 2011

Chris Watson – El Tren Fantasma - The Signal Man's Mix
Label: Touch – TO:42V
Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM
Country: UK
Released: 09 Nov 2011
Genre: Non-Music
Style: Field Recording

Tracklist:
A         El Divisadero - The Telegraph        
B         Veracruz - The Tunnel   

http://boomkat.com/vinyl/466770-chris-watson-el-tren-fantasma-the-signal-man-s-mix
Holy crap - Chris Watson on vinyl? Is it true? Well yeah, Touch are really treating us with this one, and veteran field recordist Watson has pulled out all the stops for this very special release. Whereas usually Watson's recordings are 'pure' representations of the subject matter, here we are presented with two 'mixes' of audio collected as he recorded for a BBC documentary. The difference in approach can be heard almost instantly as the train's engine forms rhythmic pulses beneath what sounds like manipulations of the train horn itself. This collision of drone and environmental sound is nothing new, but Watson does it with such skill that it's hard not to be totally taken aback by the sheer quality of the sounds. On the flipside, the harmonic elements are almost removed entirely to allow the crushing engine noise to take centre stage, bellowing and wheezing like the Wolf Eyes record you never heard. Sterling stuff as always from Watson then, and all the better for being on vinyl! Highly recommended.   

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Oh, and this one too. :-) Endorphin.