The accordion isn’t often connected to modern music, while female avant-garde composers are unfortunately scarce. Luckily, then, we have in Pauline Oliveros an astonishing female avant-garde accordionist.
As one of the original members of the legendary San Francisco Tape Music Centre, Oliveros has become something of a godmother of electronic music. Of Important Records’ reissues (if ever there was an appropriate name for a label, then this is it), Accordion & Voice is a title that covers the contents completely. The two long tracks, Horse Sings From Cloud (her most famous composition, dating back to 1975) and Rattlesnake Mountain, are reminiscent of the mantra-like work of La Monte Young. Long, sustaining tones on the accordion are supplemented by Oliveros’ voice, and electronic music lovers will lap this up.
The Wanderer features a live, more experimental, version of Horse Sings From Cloud, performed by an accordion quartet. Duo For Accordion & Bandoneon is just that, whereas the title track was recorded with The Springfield Accordion Orchestra (22 accordions and five percussionists). This album’s more experimental nature makes it the more varied listen of the two. Both recorded in 1983, this is the first time either have been made available on CD. Adventurous music for an unusual instrument.
