[ reviews ]

wasps31. Wasps [ rec. 1993 ]

> rel. 2003 - miniCD Longbox, USA ()
Francisco López "Wasps" (3"CD - Longbox Recordings, 2003)
There is no better way to celebrate longbox's 30th release than by issuing a recording by this masterful concrète practitioner. originally recorded in 1993, this is one of francisco's most sensual pieces. a natural high-end mist is contrasted by a dense, majestic and unrelenting bass rumble that sounds like swarms of it's namesake engulfing you in a warm aural glow. Longbox Recordings press release (USA, 2003)

Francisco López "Wasps" (3"CD - Longbox Recordings, 2003)
Maybe it's my perception of things, but things have been a bit quiet lately with releases from Senor Francisco López - but here's a 3" CD.
Two things can be noted right away. It's not called 'Untitled', like 97% of all of his releases and it's an older work, this being from 1993, but remastered last year. This release being called 'Wasps', one assumes the sounds of buzzing wasps. López captured few in a jar, and holding a microphone against it. Let's see. After the usual silent one minute intro (that has become another López trademark), things slowly start to vibrate, a massive wall of sound. It's not one or a few wasps, but millions. If this release was called 'inside ship' or 'near motor' I would have believed so aswell (and therefore it would have been better if it was called 'untitled'? hmmm....). The big question here, as usual with López, is it audible? Yes it is. Once the volume kicks in, there is no need for further adjustment. It's present. It's a beautiful work of drone music, endless humming, with small changes to be noted. Another damm fine López work. Vital Magazine (The Netherlands, 2003)

Francisco López "Wasps" (3"CD - Longbox Recordings, 2003)
Originally recorded in 1993, this is one of francisco's most sensual pieces. a natural high-end mist is contrasted by a dense, majestic and unrelenting bass rumble that sounds like swarms of it's namesake engulfing you in a warm aural glow. www.soleilmoon.com (USA, 2003)

Francisco López "Wasps" (3"CD - Longbox Recordings, 2003)
Originally a two-hour long piece recorded in 1993 when he was "still under the influence of a diffuse sense of inspiration from insects", Wasps is a fine example of vintage Francisco López, emerging from silence to reach maximum amplitude at a level when you'd be hard pressed to make anything out without headphones. The soundscape is as ever rich and complex, though to what extent it's sourced in the eponymous insects is for you to guess, as López is, as ever, not giving much away. The austerity of the sound is perfectly matched by the unadorned white graphics associated with Adam Sonderberg's Chicago-based Longbox imprint. The Wire (2004)