Release Urban Sax « Inside »Release Urban Sax « Inside »

From Archie Patterson, http://www.eurock.com
During the long lifespan of Urban Sax, the band has never been prolific in terms of releasing proper studio albums. Leader Gilbert Artman envisions his music and the group as a multi-faceted evolutionary project that performs live. He releases albums, as well as books that document the group’s music and concerts visually, at times enhanced by the inclusion of special music CDs.

Primarily Urban Sax is a performing ensemble that plays several times a year, often aided by the French Ministry of Culture. Their latest release Inside is a stunning realization of the Urban Sax Live experience and concept. It’s a conscious attempt to offer a complete sight and multi-media sound experience. Included are – Stereo vinyl LP, CD audio, 5.1 Digital Audio/ Video DVD featuring Urban Sax broadcast Live on TV in Beijing, enhanced by an 18:35 minute groundbreaking animated futuristic Virtual 3D Visualization + 32 page art/ photo book in full color. Everything comes packaged in an elaborate 12” X 12” sleeve, the artwork is full color, full sized and fantastically surreal. The entire production is conceptually and artistically linked in every way.

Musically Inside also demonstrates the full range of Gilbert’s concept of sonically illustrating the essence of the urban landscape – indoors and outdoors. Recorded in Beijing (except for the CD/ DVD Bonus track “Baalbeck Under the Stars”), it features Urban Sax enhanced by choirs of singers, vibes, bass, guitar and dancers, all combining to create a melange of repetitive sonic sequences and loops. Elements of the very early Urban Sax extended wall of sound dirge echo throughout the mix at times. Urban life now however has devolved into a garish pastiche of sight, sound and cultural detritus. Gilbert’s recent creations have evolved as well musically. He attempts to create sonic architecture with his work, so now offers a more vibrant sound reflecting not so much post-industrial social decline, but instead offering up perhaps a soundtrack for a future where a more harmonic sensibility comes about. His work has always mirrored culture to some extent, but as a visionary artist, he also tries to create work that offers a glimpse of what could lie ahead.

The DVD illuminates that vision clearly. In essence, Urban Sax is always best as a live spectacle. Their live performances are always intentional acts of performance art and interactive theater, meant to involve and engulf the audience in sight and sound. In the beginning, they took to the metros of Paris. I saw them and interviewed Gilbert, when he came to North America for the first time at EXPO ’86 in Vancouver, BC. Especially stunning was their performance at their Palais Versailles for the G7 summit in the era of Ronnie Raygun. They have also performed for decades in countless other countries around the world.

Fans sometimes say they like the music of Urban Sax’ early albums better. In a sense all art and music is subjective, one gets from it what they get, and likes what they like. I for one believe that Gilbert does not simply create music, there seems to be a social context embodied in both the style and sound Urban Sax has developed over the years. From the time, the early band Komintern took to the streets of Paris with the students of the Sorbonne in the 1960’s, to the performance venues of the world today, I think Gilbert has envisioned music as a form of cultural intervention. In some sense, art can be a catalyst to stir people’s imaginations into visualizing what life might be like outside the walls of the box they reside in, mentally or otherwise. Urban Sax’ music is provocative.

Documenting that experience on a physical object to be listened to in isolation later can never be the same. It’s like the Internet. We now communicate with people all over the world, which is wonderful and some sort of technological miracle to be sure. However, it’s a completely disembodied experience lacking in real flesh and blood human interaction.  Fortunately, YOU can now listen, watch and experience Inside, which is a stunning virtual artifact of the sight and sound of Urban Sax. There has never been an “album” like this, just like there has never been another band like Urban Sax. A LTD ED of 1,000 copies!From Archie Patterson, http://www.eurock.com

During the long lifespan of Urban Sax, the band has never been prolific in terms of releasing proper studio albums. Leader Gilbert Artman envisions his music and the group as a multi-faceted evolutionary project that performs live. He releases albums, as well as books that document the group’s music and concerts visually, at times enhanced by the inclusion of special music CDs.

Primarily Urban Sax is a performing ensemble that plays several times a year, often aided by the French Ministry of Culture. Their latest release Inside is a stunning realization of the Urban Sax Live experience and concept. It’s a conscious attempt to offer a complete sight and multi-media sound experience. Included are – Stereo vinyl LP, CD audio, 5.1 Digital Audio/ Video DVD featuring Urban Sax broadcast Live on TV in Beijing, enhanced by an 18:35 minute groundbreaking animated futuristic Virtual 3D Visualization + 32 page art/ photo book in full color. Everything comes packaged in an elaborate 12” X 12” sleeve, the artwork is full color, full sized and fantastically surreal. The entire production is conceptually and artistically linked in every way.

Musically Inside also demonstrates the full range of Gilbert’s concept of sonically illustrating the essence of the urban landscape – indoors and outdoors. Recorded in Beijing (except for the CD/ DVD Bonus track “Baalbeck Under the Stars”), it features Urban Sax enhanced by choirs of singers, vibes, bass, guitar and dancers, all combining to create a melange of repetitive sonic sequences and loops. Elements of the very early Urban Sax extended wall of sound dirge echo throughout the mix at times. Urban life now however has devolved into a garish pastiche of sight, sound and cultural detritus. Gilbert’s recent creations have evolved as well musically. He attempts to create sonic architecture with his work, so now offers a more vibrant sound reflecting not so much post-industrial social decline, but instead offering up perhaps a soundtrack for a future where a more harmonic sensibility comes about. His work has always mirrored culture to some extent, but as a visionary artist, he also tries to create work that offers a glimpse of what could lie ahead.

The DVD illuminates that vision clearly. In essence, Urban Sax is always best as a live spectacle. Their live performances are always intentional acts of performance art and interactive theater, meant to involve and engulf the audience in sight and sound. In the beginning, they took to the metros of Paris. I saw them and interviewed Gilbert, when he came to North America for the first time at EXPO ’86 in Vancouver, BC. Especially stunning was their performance at their Palais Versailles for the G7 summit in the era of Ronnie Raygun. They have also performed for decades in countless other countries around the world.

Fans sometimes say they like the music of Urban Sax’ early albums better. In a sense all art and music is subjective, one gets from it what they get, and likes what they like. I for one believe that Gilbert does not simply create music, there seems to be a social context embodied in both the style and sound Urban Sax has developed over the years. From the time, the early band Komintern took to the streets of Paris with the students of the Sorbonne in the 1960’s, to the performance venues of the world today, I think Gilbert has envisioned music as a form of cultural intervention. In some sense, art can be a catalyst to stir people’s imaginations into visualizing what life might be like outside the walls of the box they reside in, mentally or otherwise. Urban Sax’ music is provocative.

Documenting that experience on a physical object to be listened to in isolation later can never be the same. It’s like the Internet. We now communicate with people all over the world, which is wonderful and some sort of technological miracle to be sure. However, it’s a completely disembodied experience lacking in real flesh and blood human interaction.  Fortunately, YOU can now listen, watch and experience Inside, which is a stunning virtual artifact of the sight and sound of Urban Sax. There has never been an “album” like this, just like there has never been another band like Urban Sax. A LTD ED of 1,000 copies!