Rockbites: Rothko release LP as part of Bella Union’s Series 7

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April 2001 • Rockbites Alternative Daily

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Rothko release LP as part of Bella Union’s Series 7
24 April 2001

Guitarist & programmer Robin Guthrie and bassist Simon Raymonde of ’80s Scottish ethereal punk icons Cocteau Twins are busy these days making records, pursuing a variety of collaborations, and running their London based Bella Union label. This past September they launched Series 7, a periodic release of all-instrumental albums each consisting of seven tracks, which over the course of this year and into next will see seven releases plus a limited edition CD containing one exclusive track from each of the series’ artists.
    The second disc in Series 7 (but, curiously, the third chronologically for North America) is experimental UK trio Rothko’s In The Pulse Of An Artery, released today for the US on Instinct Records. It came out last month on Bella Union for the UK and Europe.
    Rothko (named after abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko) are three bassists: Mark Beazley, Crawford Blair, and Jon Meade. They came together in early 1997 through an ad placed by Beazley in UK music mag Melody Maker that read 'Bassists Wanted. For multiple bass project.'
    Rothko’s instrumental palette is not just bass, however. They include guitars, synths, samples, strings, and processed voices. And the new album, recorded and mixed in just four days last year with Simon Raymonde, is the first Rothko album to feature percussion.
    The most striking aspect of Rothko’s music, apart from its iconoclastic tonal colors, is a nearly complete lack of discernable structure beyond the hypnotic measures. A Rothko 'song' is best described as a minimalist sound painting. Like much of the music appearing on the Bella Union label, it is challenging in its delicacy and gentleness, and stunningly beautiful in a wholly alien way.
    Rothko are playing a few upcoming dates in London: 11 May at the Shepherds Bush Empire supporting Porcupine Tree, and 4 June at The Spitz. Wire’s Bruce Gilibert will do a DJ set at the Spitz show.
    Other albums now available as part of Series 7 include Gwei-Lo (self titled) and Pellican by Bonnevill. Upcoming discs, all to be confirmed, may include albums by Simon Raymonde with Robin Guthrie, Departure Lounge, Jah Wobble, and Harold Budd.
    We recommend Rothko’s In The Pulse Of An Artery as the soundtrack for your next waking dream, and give it three bites out of five.

Rockbites ratings  5: life changing, 4: stunning, 3: captivating, 2: amusing, 1: annoying.

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