Showing posts with label Tom Dissevelt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom Dissevelt. Show all posts

Sunday, 28 June 2020

Tom Dissevelt ‎– "Tom Dissevelt ‎– Fantasy in Orbit. Round the world with electronic music by Tom Dissevelt" ( Philips ‎– 633 302 BY) 1963


This could have been the Dr Who soundtrack that never was....in fact it never was a Dr Who soundtrack. Tom Dissevelt isn't as re-discovered as Delia Derbyshire, or as cute,or as tragic,so he's already struggling in the pathos stakes,as well as being compleatly forgotten until the early part of this century. that said, there isn't anything here to rival the 'Dr Who Theme' of the same year,so maybe he deserves to be in Delia's shadow.
There are, however,many similarities between the electronic concréte sound of Dissevelt and Derbyshire,which is unsurprising as they had virtually the same equipment.Although with the funding from Phillips for the Nat Lab, I guess Tom would have had the superior kit compared to what the BBC were likely to have provided the lovely Delia and chums at BBC Maida Vale.
Is this where Bowie nabbed his Major Tom character from?He was known to be a fan,and Tom was indeed the first Dutchman in space, albeit in sound only.


Tracklist:

1. Ignition
2. Atlantic
3. Spearheads
4. Zanzi
5. Anchor Chains
6. Tropicolours
7. Gamelan
8. Woomerangs
9. Waltzing Matilda
10. Pacific Dawn
11. Gold And Lead
12. Mexican Mirror
13. Seconds To Eternity
14. Re-entry


Saturday, 27 June 2020

Tom Dissevelt & Kid Baltan ‎– "The Fascinating World Of Electronic Music" (Philips ‎– P 08168) 1959


Fascinating isn't it?......what do you mean 'what!'???, The world of Electronic Music of course!?
This is the Dutch 'The In Sound From Way Out',but done seven years before Perrey and KIngsley's batchelor pad classic in the USA. This never made it into the Space-age Batchelor pads of America of course,only being released in such weird nowheres-ville places as Argentina, the Netherlands,and Mexico!?
It's not quite as silly as Perrey and Kingsley's work in the mid to late sixties, but I'm sure a copy of this may have found its way into their sweaty palms at some stage in the process....even the cover art bares some similarity to the In-Sound from not so way out,Holland in fact.
Its also Fascinating, how the technology of any age is used mainly for our own titilation and entertainment rather than helping anyone;like the internet, far from being an information superhighway,and bringing everyone together in harmonious peace,its used for masturbation,gossip,propaganda,getting laid by strangers and stealing,...oops...I mean sharing, free records.......Fuck peace man!
I know what you're all asking,"Who is this cool sounding Kid Baltan?".
Rule one is, always reverse the words when deciphering an alias.
So we are left with Dik Natlab, which is none other than Dick Raaijmakers......satisfied now with your endless questions?....No?.....Who's he?.....?
Dick Raaijmakers,is a Dutch early electronic composer,who worked for 'Nat Lab' (Baltan),(Natuurkundig Laboratorium ,laboratory for physics),.....you dig?
The enigmatic 'Kid Baltan......somehow not as I imagined him!?
So, Kid Baltan, got together with fellow Dutchman, Jazzer and experimental composer, Tom Dissevelt (real name), and made these weird musique concrete pieces for 'Phillips' in the 'Natlab' ,which was created by Phillips in order to develop new ways in music on a scientific basis. 
Again, these tunes would be perfect for some East European animation, but instead, like the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, the company didn't give enough credit to Tom and Dick, so Tom left the Natlab to Dick in 1963.
I also noticed that Perrey and Kingsley called their studio the "Stereo Lab"......inspired from the Nat Lab by any chance?...also strange because most of these things were in Mono.....'Mono Lab' anyone?
Originally credited as being by "The Elektrosoniks",this,nestling between The Incredible String Band and The Velvet Underground, was cited as one of David Bowies all-time top 25 albums!?


Tracklist:

1 Syncopation 2:49
2 Intersection 3:12
3 Drifting 7:22
4 Vibration 3:07
5 Song Of The Second Moon 2:35
6 Whirling 3:00
7 Mechanical Motions 5:25
8 Pianoforte 5:05