Tai Chu by Liquid Terrain

Liquid Terrain is Tim Wolf, and this set of music reflects back on his college years (1977–1981) at CalArts. In that formative time, while exploring the practice of improvisation and absorbing the influences of Indian classical and other world music traditions, he adopted a minimalist approach to creating music involving phasing and interlocking melodic lines and rhythmic cycles. These pieces either expand on that approach or grow out of pieces composed at that time.

“Tai Chu (The Great Accumulation)” was written in 1981 and finds a robust re-rendering here, invoking the Spiritual Jazz tradition atop a bed of world minimalism. “Tarana Memories” is a reflection on Wolf’s friendship with his teacher Amiya Dasgupta, a North Indian classical sitarist, vocalist, and composer, and incorporates an intimate recording of the two of them singing one of Dasgupta’s compositions. The third piece, “Clean Sheets”, exploits the random and syncopated rhythms emanating from a clothes dryer to create a subterranean soundscape. Finally, “Swimming With Tanpuras” is another, albeit more abstract, homage to Dasgupta and percussion master Pandit Taranth Rao.

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“...Tim Wolf returns solo with an absolutely charming record. What he offers us is spiritual jazz influenced, among other things, by Indian music and it is devilishly effective. This hypnotic fusion of influences is sure to appeal to those looking for something new in their playlist.” -- Mes enceintes font défaut

Tim Wolf, a musician and photographer, describes his work as liquid terrains: fluid landscapes. He has studied Indian classical music, practiced disciplines of improvisation, and worked as an audio engineer and music/performance producer. Formerly a saxophonist and vocalist, he now performs on several traditional African and digital instruments, and is a member of the New London Drone Orchestra.

liquidterrain.com