Brown, Chris – “Iconicities” – [New World Records]

Chris Brown composed and performs on 3 longish pieces that combine traditional instruments and electronics, both digital and analog. There are bells, chimes, vibes, and an overall feeling of an Indonesian gamelan influence. Pleasant sounds, but whether it is monotonous or trance inducing depends on your point of view. Liner notes describing the iconicity concept are rather incomprehensible, but I think it involves takes a simple idea, making it more complex, and using electronics to transform the percussion.

William Winant teaches at Mills College and at UC Santa Cruz and is considered a leading avant grade percussionist.