Antologia De Musica… coll – Tomlab

25 year (1972-97) overview of work by 15 Portuguese artists. I can’t say that most of this material seems radically different from various pieces I’ve heard before -works based on computers, Moog / Arp synthesizers, sequencers, tape manipulation, feedback, etc- but each piece has an interesting slant and is certainly worth a listen. Stuff I like: Track 3 was made with microphone/amplifier feedback. Tracks 6 and 7 are nicely ambient. And damned if Track 10 doesn’t sound like a completely electronic take on free jazz(!). Local note: Track 8 was recorded at Mills College in 1997. My research reveals that some of these people have worked with old-school heavies such as Boulez, Cage, and Stockhausen, as well as modern pioneers like Zorn, Bailey, and Sonic Youth. There are informative notes for each piece here, including some quotes from the artists themselves. It’s good to see this apparently thriving scene getting some exposure.