Eight sound pieces delicately handcrafted like a game between inside and outside.
It has been almost seven years since the release of Alpestres, the impressive debut by Matthias Puech on Hands in the Dark.
While that first experience took us on a mystical journey through fascinating fictional landscapes, "Cabanes" lets its narrative unfold in a confined space: eight pieces each resembling small structures or makeshift shelters that, while enveloping and isolating the listener, remain open to their surroundings. These are not merely interiors; they are handcrafted spaces through which we gain insights into the world. Yet they allow the light from the outside to seep in, reminding us of reality.
According to Puech, each composition has a distinctive two-part story that are both clear and intriguingly interconnected. The first one often revolves around the anecdotal and tangible aspects of instrumental "play," showcasing a technical exploration with his tools, the discovery of sounds in a library, and the serendipitous encounters that inspired them. The second part, however, delves into the more elusive yet profound state of existence that the French artist experienced while engaging with these sounds, reflecting on the moments he listened and re-listened to them, ultimately deeming them worthy life companions. These two narratives, perhaps reshaped over time like distant memories, interact in ways that can either clash or complement each other, creating a lasting impact on the listening experience.
A significant aspect of the compositional process involves distancing oneself from these connections to creation, allowing for the rediscovery of a state of listening that is free from prior emotional influences—what one might call "pure" listening. This method enables the transformation of a sequence of events into a narrative that is independent of its original intent, resulting in a universal object. After spending considerable time with the attached pieces and attempting to induce a form of amnesia to reconstruct an artificial narrative, Matthias Puech has ultimately chosen to relinquish this pursuit. Thus, the album is aptly termed "Cabanes" ("Huts"): fragile structures whose design clearly reflects the intention behind their creation, showcasing all the signs of considerate craftsmanship.
Matthias Puech is a composer, instrument designer, researcher and teacher born in Paris in 1983. He is a research and development scientist at
INA GRM, where he leads the development of
GRM Tools, and an associate professor of Computer Science.
He pursues a dual interest for natural phenomena and the mathematical and computational concepts that let us apprehend our world. Interpreting "ambient" and "noise" in their original sense, his compositions intend to disturb the distinction between sound synthesis and field recording, transporting the listener amidst imaginary ecosystems, fruits of the symbiotic relationship of the machine with its environment. His music was released by labels
Hands in the Dark, Hallow Ground or Nahal, and was performed notably at Cafe OTO (London), GRM Akousma (Paris), Sonic Acts (Amsterdam) or Kaserne (Basel).
His academic research and teachings, initially focused on programming languages and logic, are now focused on real time audio signal processing application and embedded programming, especially sound synthesis and creative processing. His synthesizer instruments (4ms Ensemble Oscillator & Tapographic Delay, Mutable Instruments Parasites) are available and used worldwide.
