Linear Obsessional is delighted to release this extraordinary solo EP of a tam-tam performance by Mark Wastell, one of the founders of the "New London Silence" movement, and a truly original presence on British improvised music scene. 

"During late October 2006, Burkhard Beins and myself has been invited to undertake a short tour, entitled 'Minimal Percussion', organised by film maker and sound recordist David Reid. We presented solo and duo material at each concert. The solo tam tam piece I was performing at the time was called Vibra. It had been conceived and dedicated to the memory of artist, musician and writer Roger Sutherland. In the previous couple of years I'd completed a trilogy of studio recordings of the piece, each of which had been released on various labels, and played it a number of times in concert. Recollection tells me that this show and another the following evening in Liverpool were the last times I actively performed the piece in public. 

Roll on eight years to 2014. Richard invited me to release a project on Linear Obsessional. Around the same time I'd been trawling through my catalogue of old recordings, principally to find vintage works to release on my label Confront Recordings. Vibra seemed an obvious choice. The construction and momentum of the piece correlating nicely with the label name. 

Coincidentally, 2014 also marked 10 years since the passing of Roger Sutherland. 

[Mark Wastell - January 2015] 

Michael Rosenstein discussing Vibra in Signal to Noise magazine circa 2006- 

"From the first reverberating waves, the piece pulses with complex layers of metallic overtones. With spectacular control, attack and decay are woven into enveloping, resonating gradations; from low, palpable rumbles to swelling surges of higher-frequency vibrations. It is how these basic elements unfold over time, meted out with an intense focus and control, which makes this such a riveting listening experience"

credits

released 01 February 2015 

Mark Wastell 

Vibra: Trent 

Mark Wastell: amplified 32" paiste tam tam 

Recorded live in concert by David Reid on 27 October 2006 at Powerhouse, Victoria Studios, Nottingham Trent University.