Well, this two disc set by Alexander is nothing if it isn’t ambitious. As the notes say, while the performance is credited to “Alexander Berne & The Abandoned Orchestra,” the truth is that this means that the music is composed, recorded, performed, mixed and produced by Mr. Berne Himself. He even painted the cover! There are some extra voices, and there is an emphasis that there are not synthesizers or sound samples here, so you’re getting an organic product.
And what, pray tell, is this product? Two Volumes of “Self Referentials”; one with names such as “Transsubliminations” and “Amphibiana” and a 3 part “Sonum Oscurum: Headphonic Apparitions” and the other one being a Roman Numeraled collection from I-XVII (how did people multiply with these things? ) of “An Nunnamed Diary of Places I Went Alone.” Do the titles really make a difference here? Eeerie intros and moods permeate much of the material such as “Four Instantiations” and something that resembles buzzing bees makes you reach for a canopy net drives you to scratch your skin on “SOHA Part III” . Something like a glass harp on steroids whines on “III” while much of the sounds on the Roman Numeraled pieces come across like either ambience, or the flying monkeys from the Wizard of Oz. Fascinating, intriguing, and possibly suited for a party where you ask your guests what they envision and picture in their minds with each piece. Could be a major conversation starter, or evening stopper.
Innova Records