Kraanerg

[snyprrr]

Alpha Centaura Ensemble/Woodward (Etcetera;1989)

ST-X Ensemble/Borstein (Ashodel;1997?)

Basel?/Weatherington? (ColLegno;200?)

Callithumpian Consort/Drury (Mode;2008)

This is a massive 75minute work in 40 sections, with an aggressive  ensemble alternating with apocalyptic tape sections, sometimes mixing,... with silences. It's certainly one of those types of works, like Pettersson's 9th or 13th, that forces you to listen to it in one giant monolithic slab. If you're in the mood for over an hour's journey into a quite unfriendly outer space exploration, 'Kraan'erg' (Kraanerg) is for you.

The flagship recording by Woodward in 1989 is notorious for an extremely low recording level which makes you have to turn your system all the way up for proper playback. However, when you do, you will most definitely be greeted by the classic account of this piece. The legendary mixing here washes the differences between 'live' and 'Memorex' so that you really do have a hallucinatory experience, even without the party favours! This might be my recommendation, but is on One Track- over 70minutes- so, I do recommend one of the two that do have Tracking. However, this is definitely your second choice. The drooling and dribbling low tones of the winds are caught with relish here.

I haven't heard the ColLegno, but on sheer non-musical merit it falls to the bottom of the pack: it, too, is only One Track, like above, and no Amazon Reviewer has singled this out in any particular way- don't know about the price- so, anyhow, what would be the point here? There's only four, just get this one last!

The short lived ST-X Ensemble, which recorded the first four discs of the proposed Xenakis Cycle (on Vandenberg and Mode, of varying quality), here, apparently by others' Reviews, we may have their finest hour and fifteen. This, I believe, is Tracked to about 40 Tracks, one for each entry of either the ensemble or the tape. This of course is incredible convenient, and the sound and performance have gotten healthy marks- I can't vouch for the mic placement- DJ Spooky is the technician.

The newest Mode version (2008) is also Tracked, but only 20 times, once for each entry of the tape. Other than that, the recording and mixing are by house standards, which means ecellent, crisp and clear. Though, one might have preferred a more interior micing also to highlight certain instruments (the Etcetera recording is very very present, even if you have to turn it up to 11 to hear it!). Even so, the perspective is just fine and there is only pleasure listening here. Since I haven't heard the Ashodel/Bornstein I can't say, but other reviewers seem to tip the hat to Mode, Tracking apparently not being an issue.

Has anyone all four? And?...

[Mirror Image]

I liked the Drury performance on Mode but haven't heard any other performance.

[snyprrr]

I liked the Drury performance on Mode but haven't heard any other performance.

GAAAAAAH!!!