Customer Reviews

Mobile

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If you think of Glenn Kotche as just a drummer in a popular rock band (Wilco), then you are very mistaken. Kotche is one of the most interesting percussionists on the planet, and an intriguing composer/rearranger.

His reimagining of Steve Reich's 'Clapping Music' stretches and layers the original parts into a percussive tapestry - very inventive. 'Moblies Parts 1, 2, and 3' is a wonderful exercise in melody and rhythm, where the rhythm often becomes the melody. Sounds move in and out, with a nod towards minimalism. 'Projections of (what) Might...' melds African and jazz sensibilities into a drum 'n bass sort of heavy groove piece.

'Reductions Or Limitations' is another minimalist piece with cycles of rhythmic melodies. 'Individual Trains' is a sort of ambient industrial soundscape. Over a static background, Kotche layers various sounds, noise, and pieces of rhythms. The resulting music is hypnotic. 'Fantasy On A Shona Theme For Solo Vibraphone' is a transposition of African Mbira (thumb piano) music. This shows off Kotche's very melodic side. A lovely way to close the album.

But the master piece here is his over 11 minute reimagining of the Balanese "Monkey Chant," This chant for massed male voices is an epic telling of the Hindu Ramayana tale. Kotche has nailed it! His version brings up images of the various originals, pulling out the various rhythms and sounds, weaving them together in a cohesive tale. Different percussion sounds play the various characters of the story. Truly stunning in vision and scope. Even more-so by the fact that he plays this 'live' with no overdubs.

MOBILE is an adventurous recording that is even more rewarding upon repeated listening. Highly recommended. © Michael Bettine

I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Glenn Kotche perform some of these works (as well as seeing one of his compositions performed) at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. There is an extremely talented Percussion studio (among the other fine studios available) at Kutztown, and it is a testament to them to have played alongside such a talented drummer as Mr. Kotche.

The album begins with "Clapping music variations," which was originally written by the minimalist composer Steve Reich. Kotche reworks the piece into something that is slightly more interesting than the original.
The rest of the compositions on this were written by Kotche, and if his exceptional performance on this album wasn't enough, his compositional strengths make this an exciting listen.
The masterpiece of this album is "Monkey Chant," which uses various percussion sounds to portray characters from a Hindu epic Ramayana tale. The sounds include pull-strings on a snare-drum head, spring-clusters on a snare-drum head, hit-hat, and even some crickets. I saw Glenn's 'prepared snare drum' and it was filled with strings and wires and springs. He really gives the listener an aural trip through the story with the mulitude of sounds he conjures out of his percussion kit.
The other compositions on this album feature some sampling and layering of sounds and either reduces or expands them as a compositional device. The mix of electronic and acoustic percussion on this album is tastefully done and this album is highly recommended to anyone who is interested in modern compositions that incorporate the use of technology. Keep on pushing the envelope Glenn!