Olivia Block

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Chicago based composer Olivia Block played guitar in a band called The Marble Index until 1995. Since then, using found objects and trumpet, she has engaged in site-specific work with Pauline Oliveros, and has devoted herself to electroacoustic composition that, on this evidence, demands serious attention. Pure Gaze evolves over 30 minutes, starting from intriguing rustling and percussive popping. A glorious sequence of unison chords, played on wind instruments, subtly embellished with electronics, seems consciously to echo David Behrman’s magisterial On The Other Ocean and Leapday Night. Then, subdued field recordings conclude this impressively assured debut.