Oswald, John - Discosphere

Tracks

		Track Name	Length
	1	Skindling Shades	05:00
	2	Amina	04:41
	3	Bell Speeds	03:00
	4	Field	04:23
	5	Nothing	02:26
	6	Short Attack	02:05
	7	Angle	02:42
	8	Melody	02:34
	9	Shane	03:30
	10	Prey	10:07
	11	Soine	00:59
	12	Touch	01:22
	13	Love1	01:57
	14	Fence	12:13
	15	VT	00:20
	16	Beat	03:19
	17	Code	03:53
	18	The Case of Death	09:21

Photos

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Information/Write-up

This compilation is a treasure trove of short, evocative, and themed pieces written for dance or adapted to movement. Ranging from delicate soundscapes like "Skindling Shades," built on incendiary sounds, to the rhythmically wild rock of "Angle," and the intricate layering of tiny bell sounds in "Amina," each track reflects Oswald's remarkable ability to transform sound into storytelling. The mysterious and humorously fractured "The Case of Death" stands out as a playful narrative. Oswald’s music dissects the layers of our illusions with a rare blend of wit and affection.
(Review adapted from AllMusic)

A porcelain figure in a pinwheel dress pirouettes perpetually on the lid of a music box. The spinning mechanism powers the gears timing the sonorous striking of tongs. The dance and sound are inseparable, a fusion of movement and rhythm. Dancing is watching, and music is hearing the dance.

This album is devoted to soundtracks for dances, some created first and later adapted to choreography, others born directly from watching movement. Every piece reflects the art of dance. However, some of Oswald’s works, such as "Shane," "Baryshnikov," and "Fence," are omitted here as their power lies in their inseparability from the visuals. The portions of longer works featured here stand alone as captivating vignettes.

The ballet "Zorro" features live performances by Shelley Hirsch and David Moss but exists only as a live recording, excluded from this collection for that reason. "Wili," depicted on the cover photo, is a solo danced by Sue Lee and a companion piece to "Wounded," a rare full collaboration by Oswald at the time.

Music: John Oswald (except "Small Attack" by Holly Small & John Oswald)

Photography:
Bill Coleman by Tom Brazil
Denise Fujiwara by Stephen Katz
Holly Jumping by Antonia Villa Señor
John Oswald & Holly Small by Vid Ingelevics
Sue Lee, Marvin Green & Sonia D'Orléans Juste by Cylla Von Tiedemann

Collage: Holly Small
Design: John Oswald

Recorded, Mixed, & Mastered by: John Oswald
Digital Transfer: Clive Allen
Stills Editor (Film Prep): Bob Wilcox
'Soine' Title: Naoko Murakoshi
Executive Producer (ReR Megacorp): Chris Cutler
CD Manufacture Coordination: Bill Sharp

Release Details
Originally Released: December 1, 1991
Re-released: May 10, 2020
Some rights reserved.
This album is a testament to John Oswald's innovative genius and his profound connection to the interplay between music and dance. Whether delicate, wild, or humorous, each track immerses the listener in a world of movement and sound.

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