David Dunn is a 50-year old composer who spent some time as an assistant to Harry Partch late in that great man's career. But his own work, judging from the bulk of this release, is far more reminiscent of the academic, electronic-music world than of the rough and tumble microtonal one. The four pieces explore different aspects of processed sound and, while the sonics are occasionally of interest, the overall effect is one too tinged with academe.
"...with zitterings of flight released" consists largely of long, ascending tones interspersed with birdlike cheeps and staticky washes. Much of it is reminiscent of James Tenney's "For Ann, Rising" but without that works' single-minded focus. The sounds employed are also of no inherent interest, recalling the sterile sort of tones, beeps and bloops of every other research lab album since the mid 60s. "Simulation 1: Sonic Mirror" is in slightly rougher territory, backing the electronics with an attractive field recording from the Cuyamaca Mountains in California, attractive enough that the listener wants to swat away the swarms of processed sound. Additionally, a human kind of aimlessness sets in long before its 15 minutes are up that contrasts unfavorably with the unforced meandering of the natural sounds. "Wildflowers" is admittedly designed to summon up exactly those early electronic music sounds that have long since been consigned to science fiction movies and video games but, unfortunately, this goal is all to easily achieved without providing any other particular reason to listen.
Only the concluding track, "Ennoia 2," manages to fuse computer-generated electronics, here consisting of rich, interweaving drones, with the sort of exploratory and sensual aesthetic of Partch. In fact, the sound itself is more than a little reminiscent of his chromelodeons and kitharas. It unspools in a mesmerizing manner, avoiding clichés and possessing for more of a feel for the real world than evinced earlier in the disc. It's the most recent work included here (1999) and perhaps a promising indicator of the future. Whether or not it salvages the disc and makes it worth the purchase is another question.
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