Space Is Only Noise

by Nicolas Jaar

Overview

Space Is Only Noise is the first full-length effort by Nicolas Jaar, a Chilean-American producer whose work is deeply influenced by Ricardo Villalobos, jazz pianists like Dave Brubeck and Keith Jarrett, and Leonard Cohen. Early singles "Russian Dolls" and "Time for Us" were more dancefloor-friendly than the album, which layers multiple acoustic instruments, most notably Jaar's own jazz-inflected piano, sampled vocals, and even a drum solo (the 23-second "Trace") into a melancholy, pensive 45-minute journey. Jaar assembled the disc from several years' worth of recordings -- he's relentlessly productive -- but it has a conceptual unity that makes it feel like the product of a single burst of inspiration. This music is spiritual, psychedelic at times, and always rooted in a strong core concept that goes beyond "intelligent dance music" toward the idea that electronics are merely a tool, and do not themselves demand loyalty to any particular aesthetic. In some ways, the music on Space Is Only Noise is reminiscent of pianist Matthew Shipp's early-2000s albums like Equilibrium and Harmony and Abyss, with sampled vocals and occasional singing to bring it closer to pop. Indeed, had he not chosen to release it on his own label, Jaar could well have found a home as part of Thirsty Ear's Blue Series. ~ Phil Freeman

Product Details

Release Date:	11/08/2011
Label:	Circus Company
UPC:	0827170120822
Rank:	193646

Tracks

1. ¿¿tre
2. Colomb
3. Sunflower
4. Too Many Kids Finding Rain In the Dust
5. Keep Me There
6. I Got a Woman
7. Problems With the Sun
8. Space is Only Noise If You Can See
9. Almost Fell
10. Balance Her In Between Your Eyes
11. Specters of the Future
12. Trace
13. Variations
14. ^tre

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Nicolas Jaar   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Nicolas Jaar   Composer,Producer
Alfredo Jaar   Photography