"Sound is all our dreams of music. Noise is music's dreams of us."
—Morton Feldman
Rhythm is the core of our universe. Atoms pulse in an infinite creation dance, and our collective energies resonate with the harmonics of the stars. And somewhere beyond poetry and mathematics blooms an indescribable connection with each other and with the heavens.
Daniel Corral's Diamond Pulses is a profound meditation, whether by intent or accident, on the connectivity of souls. It glistens in a sort of magical starlight, like aliens dancing under a cosmic disco ball, and, well, "pulses" with a dreamlike vitality that entrances the the imagination. Drawing on cultural influences as broad as Balinese rhythms, Terry Riley and Harry Partch, and even modern EDM, the sound reaches into outer space while kicking Earthen dust with dancing feet.
In Corral's own words own words:
"Somewhere between the structural rigidity and spaced out washes of sound, there is a memory of standing by the ocean at 2am, listening to the hypnotic sets of waves and hearing the roaring swells of the city - a relentless parade of numbers and words ringing silent bells, making it impossible to focus on the endless business of trying to square an imperfect circle."
In today's world of endless informational influx and the constant roar of business and progress, it's important for artists to create space for our collective imagination. This, in essence, has always been art's purpose, and finding links across cultural and stylistic lines is a natural move for an informed creator. Corral's "32-minute aural experience combining electronic polyrhythms, microtonal tuning systems, classical minimalist influences. and noisy ambiance to open new sonic dimensions" is a vital and writhing work that rises from our continuously expanding worldview. It's the kind of music that we as listeners need in order to escape our own realities and float into the realm of imagination.
It's also the kind of music that can resonate with anyone on the planet or beyond. Through vibrant rhythms, emergent melodies, and waves of harmonics, Diamond Pulses speaks to the core of our very humanity. As humans we all share a inert sense of rhythm, and a natural inclination toward melody - we recognize each others music far more easily than language. And when music crosses stylistic, cultural, and aesthetic borders, we find a connection to each other that has the power to transform everything.
Here at Orenda Records, we're always striving to bring you experiences that do just that. We hope to provide transformative experiences through our music and artwork. And when we're lucky enough to have an artist like Daniel Corral come our way, we rejoice, as his vision expands the depth of the broader cultural conversation we try to stir. Diamond Pulses is a gem that resounds through the cosmos and dances in our minds, and offers us all the chance to draw closer to each other, and to dream a little farther beyond our world.
Score for Diamond Pulses by Daniel Corral