There are many types of silence. The absence of sound in the physical world being the most obvious, but silence also represents a philosophical anomaly which we are all concerned with in some way, whether we know it or not. The forever asked but never answered question 'If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?' illustrates the dilemma perfectly - does silence actually exist? Is it not just an ideal, only to be experienced, if that is the right word, when we cease to be?
Montreal based artist Samuel Landry meditates on this concept over the course of this two track EP '…On Silence'. For the past 2 years Landry has been creating ambient drone works under the moniker of 'Le Berger', exploring tonal dynamics through a minimal aesthetic, '…On Silence' is his most reductive work yet.
The evolution of first track 'A Manufactured Concept' appears to pass almost unnoticed, so that we move through a space quite unknowing of our location within it. The slow gaussian blur of the sine wave like tone enraptures the listener with a subtle yet enveloping texture. With this long form piece, Landry nods quietly to the work of other minimalists such as Stephan Mathieu, Taylor Deupree, Wil Bolton and Richard Chartier. 'Under the Bridge (not downtown)' qualifies as something of a warmer balance, accompanied by field recordings that bring the piece a strange percussion and sense of place. The title also, is indicative of the artists sense of dry irreverent humour.
An intriguing auditory experience '...On Silence' presents beautifully crafted patient sounds and allows for a reflective state to be cast over the listener.
Short Bio
Le Berger is the moniker for the artistic, conceptual & professional endeavors of Samuel Landry, hailing from the outskirts of Montreal.
In musical form, it usually presents as tonal ventures accomplished with primitive means & scarce source material.
More biographical information about the artist available at www.leberger.org
mastered by Le Berger
photo by Jessica Aliaga Lavrijsen
cover design by Leonardo Rosado
(cc) by nc nd October 2011
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