Akemi Ishijima - Time Drops (Music CD)

The EP Time Drops contains two strong electro-acoustic pieces by Akemi Ishijima. The title track uses all kinds of bells and metallic bowls, along with wood blocks to create drop-like sounds. It serves as a nice introduction to "Ab Ovo" -- the pièce de résitance, both in terms of length and interest. Made of musique concrete sounds (except for the opening and closing egg-cracking noises), it alternates between static and troubled sections, building into a sudden climax about two-thirds in. Although simple in appearance, it captivates the attention the way Pierre Henry's or Gilles Gobeil's works do. Time Drops makes a short but convincing set. ~ François Couture