Terma

Nick Parkin, Tuu

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 18, 1998)
• Original Release Date: August 18, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hearts of Space
• ASIN: B000009QK9
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #81,463 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Percussionist Martin Franklin from Tuu teams up with flautist Nick Parkin for this intriguing recording, which gives the now-familiar old-instruments-and-new- electronics combination a new twist. It's not so much that the combination of instruments is unusual--synthesizers and samplers, an arsenal of percussion that includes water drums and clay pots, and Parkin's various flutes--but how they're used. Layered over atmospheric, often spooky (without delving into horror-movie-soundtrack schtick) sounds, percussion, and flute take the forefront. The electronic processing done on these instruments doesn't make them sound artificial; instead, it reinforces what makes the instruments unique, so that the sustained bell sounds on "Djinn" and the layered flute sounds on "Water Memory" sound natural even though the listener can tell they've been altered. There's an east Asian feel to this recording, particularly on "Magus" (which reminds one of the music for an Akira Kurosawa film; Rashomon, perhaps) and on "Serpent Fire," which is reminiscent of nothing so much as field recordings of Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dark and ambient, all cycled into one, September 10, 1998

By	Matthew S. (Maine) - See all my reviews

The one complaint I have is that the disc is only 46 minutes, being too short it leves yu wanting more. The songs go as follows:

1. "Djinn": an ambient percussion rumble (4:44)

2. "Water Memory": rippling synth sounds underneath the heavy water drum percussion (8:45)

3. "Magnus": hypno flutist Nick Parkin shows his stuff here (8 22)

4. "Ghosts in the Landscape": the longest track at 8:51 is a brillant ambient trek (very dark)

5. "Terma": the title piece which lhas some interesting sounds is in the spirit of the entire album (very dark) (5:46)

I can't clearly recall what these last tracks sound like because I got the disc a few days ago and I haven't listend to these ones as much.

6. "Plateau" (5:17) 7. "Serpent Fire" (4:53)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars darker than their first tuu..., April 21, 2001

By	C. H Smith (Bowling Green, Kentucky United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Terma" pretty much picks up where the preceding album "Mesh" and its predecessor "All Our Ancestors" left off. Indeed, one might even say that their material, though little changed emotionally or technically, has become more and more "extreme" with each passing album. This one is dark--very dark--and punctuated by monotonously resonant percussive rumblings that impound one's attention for several minutes before being broken by much lighter, synthesizer and flute-based atmospherics. I don't know--I'm interested to see what their upcoming project will bring, because this one seems to have brought their current direction to a final point. Hopefully the new work will be longer than this one, too (or should I say tuu??)--again, it weighs in at well under 50 minutes.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tuu + Nick Parkin - 'Terma' (Hearts Of Space), December 18, 2006

By	Mike Reed (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Nice 'innerspace electronica' effort here by Tuu,who is basically one member, Martin Franklin. However,on 'Terma' he had help from composer Nick Parkin. Maybe not a CD I'd play all the time, but since I borrowed it from a friend, at least I know what Tuu has to offer. Tracks I was most impressed with were "Djinn",the true ambient gem "Magus","Ghosts In The Landscape" (has a great Middle-Eastern vibe to it)and "Serpent Fire". Makes for a good meditation CD. Personnel: Martin Franklin-water drones, drum programming, harmonica, samples& synthesizer and Nick Parkin-bass, wind gong, voice effects, pipes and flutes. Might possibly appeal to fans of Loop Guru, The Orb, Lights In A Fat City, System 7 and Aphex Twin.