EVAN PARKER | ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC ENSEMBLE - Toward the Margins (1997) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Founded in 1992, Evan Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble is a highly sophisticated grouping, which for this recording conceptually pairs three acoustic musicians with electronic tone manipulators. What keeps it so interesting is the different approaches to electronics, with Walter Prati transforming Parker's sounds, Marco Vecchi reformulating Paul Lytton's percussion, and violinist Philipp Wachsmann processing his own acoustic sounds and those of bassist Barry Guy. It is all fascinating stuff, and if it does not swing or fit into any easy definitions of "jazz," it takes the concept of improvisation to a new level. There is sometimes an aimlessness to it all that can be off-putting, but concentrated listening can produce wonderful rewards for the patient consumer. Parker's role seems less that of a leader than an instigator. He does, nonetheless, afford himself the opportunity to press his revolutionary technique to action. The detailed 20-page booklet, with extensive liner notes by Steve Lake is a real plus. Steve Loewy
Tracklist :
1    Toward The Margins 4:31
Music By – Guy, Parker, Wachsmann
2    Turbulent Mirror 5:51
Music By – Evan Parker
3    Field And Figure 7:06
Music By – Guy, Parker
4    The Regenerative Landscape (For AMM) 3:34
Music By – Evan Parker
5    Chain Of Chance 4:19
Music By – Vecchi, Lytton, Prati
6    Trahütten 6:17
Music By – Parker, Wachsmann
Shadow Without An Object (6:00)
Music By – Guy, Parker, Vecchi, Lytton, Wachsmann, Prati
7.1    (I) Engagement    
7.2    (II) Reversal    
7.3    (III) Displacement    
8    Epanados 4:27
Music By – Guy, Parker, Vecchi, Lytton, Wachsmann, Prati
9    Born Cross-Eyed (Remembering Fuller) 2:49
Music By – Paul Lytton
10    Philipp's Pavilion 7:32
Music By – Parker, Wachsmann
11    The Hundred Books (For Idries Shah) 4:09
Music By – Evan Parker
12    Contra-Dance 3:38
Music By – Guy, Parker
Credits :
Cover – Mayo Bucher
Double Bass – Barry Guy
Electronics [Live Electronics], Effects [Sound Processing] – Marco Vecchi, Walter Prati
Percussion, Electronics [Live Electronics] – Paul Lytton
Soprano Saxophone, Gong – Evan Parker
Violin, Viola, Electronics [Live Electronics], Effects [Sound Processing] – Philipp Wachsmann