New from Australia’s Rocket Machine Tapes comes Husnaan (given name, Duto Hardono), a solo synth Indonesian artist of the minimal variety. The album is evocatively titled Recordings of Names and Misled Trains and it was recorded in real time using a Nakamichi CR-1 and Nakamichi LX3 onto a cobalt type II cassette. ”Luth” is a track from the tape with one chord that pulses through the composition as the occasional whizz-whirl scream flies past us like a hawk dive bombing a mouse. There is so little activity in this piece that we must confront our surroundings and ourselves whilst in the track’s trance. It puts its hooks (not hooks like Beiber or hardcore mind you, but “hooks” like metaphysical devices of spiritual intent) in our ear canals, and maybe even deeper. Focusing on music like this is a challenge as difficult as repeating a mantra is for those new to meditation. Under the rule of this rhythm, we start to hone in on sounds outside our listening station. People walking in the hallway adjacent or cars driving past an open window. Exterior sounds overdub themselves onto this piece, creating a fleeting, sui generis sound collage. Whether Husnaan intended that or not, we don’t know. All we can safely say is what Lennon sang all those years ago, “turn off your mind, relax and float down stream.”
Recordings of Names and Misled Trains is available on cassette from Rocket Machine Tapes
Written by Jeff Daily
