Originally review in German
by HEINRICH DEISL
Skug – Journal für Musik, #84, Autumn 2010, www.skug.at
One Man Nation »Suspended In A Vortex In The Middle Of A Bowl From Tibet/When I Was Young I Was Easily Amused, But Now It Is All, The Same. And The Same …« Moozak The music of this sound-non-conformist could roughly be described as a journey through electronic experiments and classical particles. Marc Chia aka One Man Nation, born 1982 in Singapore, studied media- and sound art at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam. His portfolio lists international concert tours, a residency at the STEIM Amsterdam and an article in the magazine »The Wire«. The Viennese label Moozak recently released his vinyl-only record, holding a wonderful baroque-like title. The album comes in clear vinyl and in a limited edition of about 300 pieces, which, as a surplus, makes it a perfect collector's item. Following two albums for the Belgian experimental label Syrphe, this is Chias third fulltime release. »Suspended« corrupts, misdemeans or at least transforms Erik Satie's piano pieces »Gnossiennes« from the 1890s, alienated piano, Fieldrecordings of the body and partly harsh electronica hold together these two pieces, both of about 20 minutes in length. Dark growling, hisses of white noise, microscopic rhythm displacements: While listening to »Suspended«, it seems tempting to think of early recordings of Daniel Menche or likeminded Noise-roughnecks. Deviant streams of consciousness are cut up and rearranged; it is a trip to opaque territories of the self. Unlike many others, Chia doesn't bother about cathartic relinquishing, but exorcises those territories by drastic, melancholic and sometimes quite humoresque means. It is an album that collides influences of Western classic traditions with those of Asian origins – which becomes quite clear by the sound architecture of the title track. After his presentation of »Suspended« in the Viennese club fluc in late september, One Man Nation will be touring Europe. Be there!