CD released on Hibernate 17 May 2010
With ‘Music in Four Movements’ I set out to compose four long pieces of music that would act as suites rather than shorter melodic songs as I had done on my previous record ‘Some Ambulance’. Using longer time frames afforded the sounds time and space with which to evolve and move. This has led to what could be labelled as my most ambient work i have released but I think also the most intense.
Throughout the recording process I became interested in the fundamental ideas of life and death and why people would choose to take their own lives, (reading ‘The Road’ on a day long train back to London from Scotland, hungover after New Year certainly contributed to this). Slowly a narrative presented itself and the 4 tracks started to represent a journey of the final days of someone who has chosen to end everything. I became particularly interested in reading stories about people who drowned themselves in rivers or the sea – a bleak yet strangely beautiful image of someone walking their final walk into the sea became a strong visual influence for the record.
“Death or more specifically suicide has been painted in many different shades across artistic disciplines over the years…
Recent examples of creative takes on self-immolation have included Gus Van Sant’s movie “Last Days,” which through a slow paced narrative recreated the final moments of a musician made to resemble Kurt Cobain. Last year in the literary world readers were treated to the excellent debut novel from David Vann entitled “Legend of a Suicide” which contained a selection of fictional short stories all of which housed reflections on the suicide of the writer’s father. Now, from a musical perspective comes “Music In Four Movements” by Talvihorros, a four track album representing the final four days of an individual set on ending their own life.
Talvihorros is London based Ben Chatwin, an experimental composer primarily focussed on guitar playing. Unlike his previous work, which often contained short form melodic tracks, “Music In Four Movements” is built upon long compositions ranging between five and close to twenty minutes in duration. A deliberate ploy by the artist, this was done with the intention of allowing the sounds at hand to evolve through the tracks.
For example, the opening track “A Continual Echo of the Sound of Loss (Part I)” opens with an ominous humming and looping of guitar which, as the track progresses forms the background to other processed guitar sounds which range from static, distorted crackles to high pitched reverbs . Eventually this breaks away to introduce some melodic playing and seamlessly integrates into the second track on the album (Part II of the same title) which also blends synthesised instruments. The contrast between these sounds is like that of sunlight breaking through a winter cloud; a piercing cold light. On the albums longest track, “Thoughts Of Violence” this combination of acoustic and electronic sounds continues, with vocal samples also introduced.
In his notes on the album, Ben has mentioned the visual image of someone taking their final walk into the sea to drown as a strong visual influence for the record. Unsurprisingly the track “And Then They Walked Into The Sea” is the product of this influence. Here recorded footsteps are supported by a more traditional use of acoustic guitar, before perhaps the most haunting moment on the record; a traumatic climax simply made up of the sound of splashing water. The listener is only too aware of this representing the suicide within the music’s narrative and after 45 minutes of intense musicianship, the loss is felt hard.
Mastered by Ian Hawgood, the production quality here is excellent, with subtle accents picked up throughout the recording. As with both the film and book examples cited earlier, the artist here presents a work that in subject is one that is difficult to grasp. Despite this, we are taken through a journey full of colour and expression, but one that is also laced with dread and despair. Ultimately it is this desperation that we are left with for suicide is the ultimate act of hopelessness.”
– Josh Atkin, Fluid Radio