Arnold Dreyblatt & Paul Panhuysen – Duo Geloso LP

Description

Black Truffle continue its program of archival releases fromArnold Dreyblattwith a recently unearthed concert recording from Dreyblatt andPaul Panhuysen‘sDuo Geloso. While isolated examples of Dreyblatt’s collaboration with the legendary Dutch multi-media artist appeared on the CD reissue ofPropellers in Loveand Black Truffle’s wide-ranging archivalSecond Selection, this is the first release to document the variety and playfulness of the concerts thatDuo Gelosoperformed throughout Europe in 1987-88. Both working across sonic and visual forms, fascinated by numerical relationship and the infinite complexity of string harmonics, Dreyblatt and Panhuysen had a natural affinity for each other’s work, strengthened through Dreyblatt’s many visits to Het Apollohuis, the important experimental art space Panhuysen helped to found in Eindhoven. However, asRen van Peersuggests in the liner notes enclosed within this release, Dreyblatt and Panhuysen took very different approaches to these shared interests; the wonderful energy of theseDuo Gelosoperformances results from the meeting of Dreyblatt’s more austere, compositional process with Panhuysen’s spontaneity. Recorded at a concert at Het Apollohuis in December 1987 (a series of beautiful photographs of which adorn the LP’s packaging), each of the six pieces presented here is distinctive in terms of instrumentation and performance approach. Using electric guitar and bass tuned by Dreyblatt and played using E-Bow and Panhuysen’s motorized plectrums, the opening “Razorburg” moves slowly through a long series of held notes with a madly insistent tremolo that crossesDick Dalewith a mechanized take on the layered guitars ofGnter Schickert. The same pair of instruments returns on “Duo for Guitars”, where the mechanized attacks dissolve into a harmonic wash, reminiscent of the machine guitar work of fellow Het Apollohuis alumniRemko Scha. On “Love Call”, the guitars and bass are accompanied by Panhuysen’s distant warbled vocals, familiar toMaciunas Ensemblelisteners. On the remarkable “Synsonic Batterie”, Panhuysen begins proceedings with a solo barrage of electronic percussion on the Synsonics Drum Machine (a simple drum synthesizer produced by the toy manufacturer Mattel), joined eventually by Dreyblatt performing his signature percussive natural harmonics on pedal steel guitar. When Panhuysen adds his bird whistle to the mix, the performance becomes the perfect exemplar of theDuo Geloso‘s unique mix of studious close listening and subtle absurdity.