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Magnetic Flights

Christina Kubisch
1 disc

1. Magnetic Flights
2. In Transition
Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): IMPREC328
Credits

Producer
Engineer Eckehard Guther
Liner Note Author: Christina Kubisch.
Photographers: Eckehard Gther; Christina Kubisch.
The two pieces presented here consist of sounds generated from electromagnetic field recordings made by sound artist Christina Kubisch on airplanes and in airports. The term "sound artist" seems especially appropriate here, as the resulting two tracks (one 18 minutes in length, the other 40 minutes) rarely contain anything that the average listener would be likely to consider "music": the two tracks, "Magnetic Flights" and "In Transition," are both characterized by sounds that sometimes barely even register as pitches. When pitches do become obvious, it's a pleasant surprise, and even more so when they interact in ways that would be considered musical in a more conventional composition. There are moments of actual harmony, and these are even more startling (and may cause the listener to wonder how, given the sound sources, it could have happened). This is music that leads you to get philosophical: what is the functional purpose of this kind of sound art? Is it for attentive listening? (It doesn't reward that kind of attention very richly.) Is it for meditation? (It works pretty well for that purpose.) Is it meant to create an atmosphere or ambience? (Marginal.) Can a sound sculpture that is created by means completely outside the control of the composer be said to have been informed by any musical intention at all? These are interesting questions. Maybe more interesting than the music that gives rise to them. ~ Rick Anderson