Edmund Welles
Agrippa's 3 Books
© 2005 Zeroth Law (656605899220)
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An unprecedented occult exploration of deep, dense, pulsating low woodwind music from the world's only composing bass clarinet quartet, the sole proprietors of heavy chamber music.
tracks
- 1 Prelude: the Conspiracy Manifests
- 2 I. Cause & Effect
- 3 II. The Black Lodge
- 4 III. Corso v. Torchia
- 5 IIII. Asmodeus: The Destroyer, King of the Demons
- 6 Postlude: Aphel, Die Schwarze Schlange
- 7 Into the Void
- 8 Roots Bloody Roots
- 9 Big Bottom
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notes
HEAVY CHAMBER MUSIC, MUZAK FOR CONSPIRACY THEORISTS.
EDMUND WELLES: THE BASS CLARINET QUARTET's debut CD, Agrippa's 3 Books, explores the expressive extremes of the four bass clarinets, inspired by occult philosophy heavy metal music.
Mixed and mastered by Grammy award-winning sound alchemist, Oz Fritz (Tom Waits, Bill Laswell, Primus), the sonorous timbre of this potent instrumentation takes woodwind chamber music into the realm of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Melt-Banana.
Agrippa's 3 Books, features the piece of the same name (commissioned by Chamber Music America), composed by founding member, Cornelius Boots, as well as a classic metal trilogy of cover tunes from Black Sabbath, Sepultura, and Spinal Tap.
This album comes in Deluxe packaging (designed by Theresa Wong) including a 24-page booklet detailing connections between the occult, sound, the bass clarinet and various influences on the composition and performance.
"There are patterns whose configuration mimes the harmony of the universe: a kind of ultra-sound, to establish contact with the subterranean currents."
"All the frequencies I respond to."
--Tom Waits about Edmund Welles
What the press said about the first Edmund Welles album, Agrippa's 3 Books:
"This strange thing may be the most original and total use of the clarinet yet recorded. Steeped in arcane symbols, clever wit and skilled musicianship, Agrippa’s 3 Books defies all expectations of the range of its featured instrument. Despite the dense philosophies expounded in the accompanying booklet, the Edmund Welles quartet is hardly a somber experiment, calling forth honks, buzzes, beeps, hums, the stormy grind of a heavy-metal guitar, and the bluesy cry of a saxophone all from the clarinet’s throat. It surges in staccato bursts and slows to a vintage vibrato, demanding attention, irritating if left as mere background music. If there’s such a thing as in-your-face classical, this would be it, deft and tricky, nervy yet polite. Includes diverse and astute references to David Lynch, Arturo Perez-Reverte, Black Sabbath, and Spinal Tap."
--Gothic Beauty Magazine, Issue 24
"The music itself matches the titles well, consistently out of kilter, full of disarmingly quirky juxtapositions and rhythmic surprises. Boots has an inventively playful take on his material, and the unforeseen turns that the music makes are both highly sophisticated and highly entertaining, even more fun than the program notes lead us to expect. For fans of new music and/or heavy metal, Boots' original voice is not to be missed."
--allmusic.com
"Edmund Welles: the bass clarinet quartet, really is unique. Their intricate, classically arranged but sometimes rock-inflected clarinet music--BASS clarinet music--transports the listener into a special state of mind, where strange notions flower. It's all fairly indescribable."
--John Shirley's Edge Trends Online Magazine
reviews
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Great music to make you feel good inside. Sooothing. Eye-opening.
author: New Image MediaAn incredible, Unique, Unusual Audio experience. If you are looking for something fresh, tangible and relaxing this is it. If you like music, and I mean really like, like get in bed and spoon with it, than you need to buy this CD and expose eveyone you know to it.
Different and very cool
author: RatchetIf you enjoy "avante-garde" jazz as well as Spinal Tap and Emperor, this is the cd for you. Some of the quartet's original material brought to mind the arrangements of John Zorn's group Masada, while the sound of four bass quartets playing flawlessly over eachother is something I can't say I'd ever heard before.
Pure Musical Power
author: Claude ClarkThe recordings are strong on melody, with no drums or wall-of-sound to obscure these great players. This CD is a musical treat with many flavors to enjoy. If you play music, listen and learn.
Best Bass Clarinet Quartet Album Ever
author: Rob EwingVery impressive recording. All aspects handled beautifully - composing, arranging, performing, recorded sound, packaging, liner notes...Highly recommended. Serious music, but with a sense of humor. Out there, but engaging.
Frightening virtuosity...
author: senoritaoverdriveDeep, raunchy and studious, Agrippa's 3 Books had me from the beginning and held on to the end. Got this album while I was going through a Twin Peaks marathon and it was the perfect accompaniment to the ensuing mood. Check out their cover of Roots Bloody Roots!
all warm and fuzzy
author: Ambrose PottieGreat stuff, nice mix of compositions/covers and great sound.
technically brilliant, musically tongue in cheek, overall badasses
author: NathanGreat musicians, great spirit, great music in the end. I was pretty impressed at how well metal music translates to 4 honking bass clarinets. Open fifths and octaves on bass clarinets sound eerily simliar to the same power chords of metal bands of yore. The Agrippa's Books piece is great, some wonderful techinical moments, and Big Bottom just cracked me up. kudos.
- author: CD Baby
You might call it "clarinet rock." If the clarinet brings up painful, high school band memories, this album is an absolute must. And if it doesn't, still, this album is a must. Never have you heard the clarinet take on so much attitude, so much angst, so much personality. Mixing in styles and approaches from contemporary classical writing to jazz to just good old rock 'n roll licks, Edmund Welles's album, "Agrippa's 3 Books," wins the award for capturing the most imagination and making the most out of one instrument family. Just listen.