CRAIG HILTON - The Smoking MirrorYGR 14
CD-R (5€)
The title of " The Smoking Mirror " comes from ancient Aztec mythology . It was the title given to given to Tezcatlipoca .. the soul of the world . The title of "Smoking Mirror" linked Tezcatlipoca to obsidian, a black, volcanic stone whose shiny surface could be used as a mirror. The darkness of the obsidian mirror symbolised the black/dark aspects of his being. Tezcatlipoca's bellicose nature related him to red . The original artwork for the cd is by Mascodegama , whose visual works i felt most complimented the Mexican/ South American usage of vibrant colors .
The piece unfolds in 3 sections . All 3 sections are quite similar in form . What i felt important in this recording ( as well in a good portion of my studio material ) was not to focus on one method of structure or a single sound source or sources altered throughout the length of the work .
Everything is used here .
Electronic sound sources , microtonal acoustic instruments , treated acoustics , found sounds , etc.
I felt that the main driving force should not necessarily focus on the actual " novelty " of the sounds displayed .
What drove these pieces was how they formed dynamically with the neighboring sections . No major themes are evolved .
It's as if walking without really taking the chance to see or hear everything in minute detail ... a large free-flowing cluster that has no beginning or end .
By the mythological nature of Tezcatlipoca , i felt this needed a much more dramatic point of attack more than anything .
I only wanted to construct something that would hopefully be as large sonically as the myth himself .
Track listing :
1. He by whom we walk ,
2. who is among us in the reeds ,
3. is an enemy of both sides .
