Ryonen

Product Description

Man Forever is an exploratory percussion project helmed by John Colpitts (aka Kid Millions), one of New York s most versitile and critically lauded collaborators and a founding member of Oneida. Since its inception in 2010, Man Forever has hosted an impressive list of guest performers, but few have been as specially qualified to perform Colpitts technically challenging meditative workouts as So Percussion, the United States premiere contemporary percussion ensemble. So Percussion has commissioned and premiered new compositions by Steve Reich and their interpretations of John Cage have revolutionized the legendary composer s cannon. Following a collaborative performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in June of 2013, So and Colpitts entered the studio together to record Ryonen, two pieces that combine the former s precision and ingenuity with the latter s restless punk spirit. While previous Man Forever records were inspired by blissful, overwhelming confusion, Ryonen derives its power from its clarity and immediacy.


The two pieces on Ryonen are rhythmically seductive and instantly exciting while retaining the experimental legacy that Man Forever has cultivated over several albums and relentless touring. The Clear Realization is an exploration in polyrhythm performed on two drums sets, two sets of bongos (an instrument Colpitts rediscovered while performing with Yo La Tengo on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon), a concert bass drum, snares, crash cymbals, and vocals. Each instrument is performing in a different time signature at the same tempo, creating a beat that is both propulsive and nonpredictive. Ryonen is more chaotic on the surface, but repetitions and rhythms hidden beneath the surface emerge with close listening. The drums are tuned to resonate with each other, creating a series of overtones that hover over the music and provide a baseline drone for the ensemble to harmonize with during the piece s dramatic climax.


Colpitts continues to be one of the most in-demand drummers in New York. Throughout 2013 he toured as a member of Spiritualized, performed in duos with Greg Fox and Jim Sauter, recorded a record with Akron/Family, released an album with People of the North on Thrill Jockey, and performed with Rhys Chatham as a member of Oneida. So far in 2014 he has recorded an album with Rick Moody and is performing with William Basinski at the Ecstatic Music Festival in March. Man Forever will tour the US and Europe performing Ryonen.

Review

The band brings unprecedented precision to Kid's compositions, and his layered vocals and interventionist mixing give the music added depth. The record's two pieces are fields of rhythm that seem to pull away from your reach like ea curtain blowing in a breeze, yet swing back to knock you on your ass. --Magnet

Art music fans could trace the concept to La Monte Young and Steve Reich s experiments in the 60s, while world music aficionados would say that you d have to go back through the centuries to the origins of West African ceremonial music. Either way, even the most ardent modern drumset players are generally used to working within much smaller chunks of time, and with more obvious variation, and listening to minimalist music without being totally prepared for it can be a maddening exercise. But like the first time you watch an Ingmar Bergman movie or try yoga, once you put your expectations on hold and stop fighting the structure, it can be powerfully mind-expanding. --Modern Drummer

Just drumming-- this is the simple but never simplistic concept that guides Kid Millions' Man Forever project. When not beating skins for Oneida, Kid Millions (birth name, John Colpitts) rounds up other drummer friends to help him realize uncomplicated yet sophisticated percussion compositions which float like ragas and invite somewhat deceptive comparisons to Steve Reich's non-tape compositions. --Ad Hoc