Paul Williams: Beyond Here
By Bruce Morley
In solo performance mode, Paul Williams of the Beautiful Losers delivers four long, stand-alone, live-in-the-studio improvisations using only his cello and a few samples, mediated by five electronic devices (thoughtfully listed in his liner note). There are no edits or overdubs, and the result has such a seamless, hypnotic quality that it's easy to overlook the fact that, given some preparation by Williams, it's being developed on the spot. Spoken-word samples from Martin Luther King, HAL in '2001' and others (no doubt related to Williams' earlier incarnation as a singer/songwriter) create a curious feeling that there's a hippie philosophy behind the sophisticated soundscape. Intriguing, and deeper than it may sound on first hearing. Available via www.beautifullosers.co.nz
Related Information