Singular Pleasures: Percussion Music for Listening and Sampling

Gino Robair is a drummer who creates other instruments from his drum kit by adding elements to the skins or cones of his drums. On Singular Pleasures, he has created a series of improvisations employing bowls, hand whisks, mixers, and other kitchen utensils, as well as bells, whistles, wires, finger cymbals, and all manner of detritus that recreate the notions held dear about both sound and percussion by placing these objects on and inside his drums for resonant effect. Friction, timbral overtones, thrumming, weighted screeches, and scratches are all integrated into a sophisticated yet light-hearted system of improvisation that is more than provocative, it is outrageous though pleasant to listen to. There is no violence in Robair's approach to music-making. He has no idea of what will happen when he combines certain elements together so, over 14 selections he creates systems for his percussion effects and other systems in case his original ones don't work. It's not a record for everyone, but for those interested in the unusual and in the brave new world of improvisation, this is your baby.