Eyden Zhao is a Montreal-based composer and electroacoustic artist who works in the avant-garde and noise experimentation. Her sonic actions, recorded live at L’Hémisphère Gauche on March 6th, represent the expression of total spontaneity, captured in the moment. Spontaneity, certainly, but a bit worked on and prepared given the variety of sounds created by the artist on his consoles and control pedals. We find ourselves immersed in a sound space that is immersive, dark, fragmented, yet held together by a certain fluidity of thought and auditory scenography. Zhao paints quite vast tableaux, like substantial aquatic sheets traversed and disturbed by a multitude of creatures that move through them more or less elegantly. The title Warhead suggests a militaristic concept (or rather, and probably, anti-militaristic), especially in the case of the second track, Initiate! One can sense a missile launch, with plenty of white noise, drones, glitches, etc. It calms down afterwards, but it remains dark. For the first track, Shift!, I’m not sure I understand the meaning, especially since, apart from the mentioned auditory explosion, we’re essentially in the same unsettling, even nightmarish waters.
An album that will sustain the interest of the most endearing ears.
