12U cover

12U

Untitled #164

Francisco López

Review by Frans de Waard, Vital Weekly

Things have been quiet for Francisco López. It seems, at least from my end of the telescope. Just a few live recordings were released, but not so many new studio recordings. But at long last here is "Untitled #164", composed in commission of the Brussels Sonic Matter festival, organized by Argos in 2004. López recorded sounds in the city, together with TRMX, Johan Vandermaelen, Martiens Go Home and Building Transmissions, but it's López who in the end mutates, collates and processes these recordings. López moves away from a few things: this piece is lengthy, seventy-three minutes, right from the start it stays in an audible fashion and towards the end there is also a bit of rhythm. That's three major differences. The unearthly rumble at the opening return every once in a while, and it seems that the microphone is buried deep in the ground. Other sounds rumble and hiss along in this utterly spooky work. There is nothing that refers to the city of Brussels (which I didn't visit in some time, but I know what it could sound like). "Untitled #164" is a different work than many of his other "Untitled" works, and fits more along with "La Selva" or "Buildings [New York]", which are both recognized as master works, but this is surely another powerful work. Moving away from the territory we know and loved, and entering a new territory, which we will no doubt love as Senor López explores.