Abul Mogard and Rafael Anton Irisarri’s partnership unfolded serendipitously at the sold-out opening of the SoundSet Series at Madrid's Condeduque cultural center in 2023 - a program that featured performances by legends such as Autechre and younger artists like Caterina Barbieri and KMRU. The duo's encore that evening, recorded for Spain's Radio 3, resonated deeply with the audience, igniting a creative spark that propelled them to work remotely in their respective studios.
At the heart of their effort lies a delicate balance of restraint and innovation, evident in the live concert track "Waking Up Dizzy on a Bastion." This piece, inspired by their musical sensibilities, serves as a testament to their shared vision and mutual respect. Utilizing a familiar parallel chord progression, the track builds from a simple melodic motif played live on synths that transforms into a call-and-response interplay between Mogard's synth lines and Irisarri's bowed guitar loops, creating a dialogue-like interaction between the musicians. As the piece moves forward, we are greeted by melting guitar patterns (recalling Kevin Shields most lysergic moments on Loveless), followed by an intense subsonic full body massage - the visceral physicality of the Ampeg bass amps and cabinets stacks on full display.
Building upon the energy of that live performance, Mogard and Irisarri crafted "Place of Forever," a companion piece that combines Mogard's Farfisa organ and modular synthesizers with Irisarri's signature guitar tones and looping techniques at his Black Knoll studio in New York. Starting with a somber and minimal tone, the track gradually evolves, unfurling layers of deep bass tonalities draped in blissful gauze as it progresses during its 17-plus minute duration.
The resulting album exudes a profound sense of alchemy, effortlessly weaving intricate soundscapes that feel simultaneously faraway and intimate. The cover artwork, by Marja de Sanctis, depicts a vase sculpture made of unfired clay. Created and photographed by herself, it reflects lights and shadows of fragility. The rawness of the material mirrors the purity and the delicate nature of the improvised duet’s performance. Daniel Castrejón’s design responds to the image transforming the shape of the vase into lines and empty spaces. His typography on the vinyl jacket features a spot varnish, creating a tactile reflection.
Through these joint pieces, Mogard and Irisarri have created a work that encapsulates the dichotomy inherent in its title: impossibly distant, impossibly close.
credits
released April 26, 2024
“Place of Forever” recorded between London, Rome and New York
“Waking Up Dizzy on a Bastion” recorded live on February 24, 2023 at
Centro de Cultura Contemporánea Condeduque in Madrid by Damián Schwartz & Felipe Lara Pardo
Composed, produced and mixed by Abul Mogard & Rafael Anton Irisarri
Abul Mogard: Synthesizers, Farfisa organ, Effects
Rafael Anton Irisarri: Electric guitars, Augustus Loop, Treatments
Mastered by Stephan Mathieu at Schwebung
Lacquer cut by Loop-O
Artwork by Marja de Sanctis
Design and layout by Daniel Castrejón
Pressed on BioVinyl at Optimal
Made in Germany
Many thanks to: Damián, Daniel, Elisa at Folkwisdom, Felipe, Marja, Noelia & the Delicalisten team, Pepo, Stephan, everyone who attended our concert at Condeduque, all our friends and family.
supported by 38 fans who also own “Impossibly distant, impossibly close”
As I drift away from the Earth and all its chaos, its gleam reduces to a speck in the vast cosmos surrounding me. I close my eyes and take my solace among the ocean of stars. Christopher Nolan
A combination of looping, spacial effects, and modular synthesis turns modern classical sounds into submerged, haunting ambient. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 20, 2024
