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Water Seeks Its Own Level

by Illusion of Safety

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Rim 11:29
5.
Relapse 02:58
6.
Not Good 03:16
7.
Even Lower 02:43
8.

about

Grating and noisy but strangely alluring, the new IoS disc dances a
wavey line between the gradually evolving noisescapes of Cancer and
the denser, rhythmic slabs of menace found in Inside Agitator. With
somewhat ambiguous liquid imagery being the album's recurring motif, sound manipulators Dan Burke and Jim O'Rourke often bring about near- frightening intensities through shifting layers of oscillating tones, gravelly percussions, scraping metallic atmospheres and shades of
discreet 'living' ambience. A number of the tracks, such as "Rim" and
"Scratching the Surface," begin with almost imperceptible bits of
naturalist noise, before sprouting into ominous landscapes. Burke and
O'Rourke have a multitude of sound tracks up their sleeves (a favored
sound is shortwave radio demolition, much like Charles Hayward did in This Heat, or Richard H. Kirk in the dawning phase of Cabaret
Voltaire), but without resorting to cheap gimmicks, Water Seeks Its
Own Level curiously sidesteps the elements of post-industrial,
experimental and ambient musics in the creation of something
fascinating and unrecognizable. Darren Bergstein

credits

released June 6, 1994

1994 CD release on Silent Records
Burke: Composition, DX-7II FD, Samples, Field recordings.
(additional DX-7II FD source tapes provided by Jim O'Rourke)

license

tags

about

Illusion of Safety Elgin, Illinois

Since 1983, Burke and his many conspirators under the IOS banner have over the course of 40+ releases traversed most every facet of the avant sound plane, from early industrial pop deconstruction to blindingly minimal sound art to densely surreal found-sound collage, creating uneasy music that is dense and dystopian and yet also beautiful. ... more

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