THE DOT by Moreau
THE DOT is the first of three albums dedicated, in different manners, to the theme of the environment and nature (both physical and metaphysical, both intact and violated, with which we have more or less lost contact, with which we must more or less come to terms).
THE INSUBTRACTABLE ("l'insottraibile"), this is its overall title, is a multiform, multimedia and multidisciplinary project, which will see the interweaving of music, poetry, virtual reality, video art and even the publication of a manifesto.
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Raîne Tolonen: A Phantom of Avant-Garde Music
Little is known about the enigmatic figure of Raîne Tolonen, an experimental composer active during the 1970s, whose groundbreaking work with an instrument known as the "Metapiano" remains a mystery to this day. Tolonen's legacy is rooted in a series of unconventional compositions titled 'Diagrams For Metapiano', a collection that defied traditional notions of music and sound art.
The Metapiano: An Obscure Instrument
The Metapiano, described in fragmented notes and vague descriptions, appears to be a hybrid of an electronic theremin and a tactile synthesizer. Its design remains unknown, but it is speculated to have been hand-built by Tolonen, merging experimental circuitry with intuitive interfaces. The instrument could produce eerie glissandos, harmonic overtones, and dynamic soundscapes that reacted to the performer's proximity and touch, creating a sound palette unlike anything before or since.
The Artistic Scores
Tolonen's scores for the 'Diagrams For Metapiano' are as cryptic as the composer. Found among scattered polaroid photos of abstract shapes, decayed landscapes, and blurry self-portraits, the scores are more like works of visual art than traditional sheet music. They consist of geometric patterns, splashes of ink, and lines resembling electrical schematics. Some interpret them as direct performance instructions for the Metapiano, while others suggest they are metaphorical—meant to inspire improvisation or meditative thought.
Rediscovery and 'The Dot'
Tolonen disappeared from the public eye in the early 1980s, leaving behind no biography, interviews, or documented performances. It wasn't until the late 2000s that a collection of their belongings was unearthed in an abandoned storage facility in Helsinki. Among the items were the original 'Diagrams For Metapiano', several faded polaroids, and fragments of the mysterious instrument itself.
The material came into the hands of the experimental musician Lucien Moreau, who saw the potential to resurrect Tolonen's vision. Moreau painstakingly reconstructed the scores, interpreting them as abstract blueprints for sound design, and adapted the integral works featuring them into his modern electronic album titled 'The Dot'. Available now on streaming and download, the album is a haunting tribute to Tolonen's avant-garde genius, blending digital synths with field recordings and improvised electronic textures.
The Myth of Raîne Tolonen
To this day, Raîne Tolonen remains a phantom in the annals of experimental music. Was Tolonen a recluse, an eccentric visionary, or a deliberate enigma? The surviving polaroids—capturing half-lit rooms, shadowy figures, and urban decay—only add to the mystery. Some speculate Tolonen might have intended their anonymity, believing the music and scores should speak for themselves.
'Diagrams For Metapiano' and Moreau's 'The Dot' serve as haunting reminders of an artist who pushed the boundaries of sound, only to vanish into obscurity. Whether Tolonen was a singular genius or a myth waiting to be unraveled, his work continues to inspire those who dare to listen beyond the conventional.
Tracklist
Credits
Music composed and performed by Lucien Moreau.
"Six Diagrams For Metapiano"
Music adaptation by Lucien Moreau.
Originally composed by Raîne Tolonen.
Recovered and restored from the source material.
Recorded and mixed at ESMA Creative Studio.
Commonville Institute for Experimental Arts.
© Eugenio Squarcia | ESMA Creative Studio | MODSCAPES™
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Multimedia Artist. Modular Sound Explorer. I work for films, games, fashion, contemporary dance + theatre and digital art installations, performing live with a set of digital / analogue instruments, such as piano, keyboards, synthesisers and generative touch devices, mixing up experimental electronic, contemporary classical, ambient, EDM and psytrance, with a strong cinematic outcome.