Press Notes:
"Singing in Unison is the latest in a series of recordings from acclaimed sound artist, composer, and performer Yoshi Wada. Recorded live over two nights in 1978, on March 14th and 15th at New York City's legendary performance space The Kitchen, Singing in Unison
is a dramatic yet meditative work: modal improvisations for three male
voices, singing, with great gravitas, in purposeful unison. These
previously-unreleased recordings, featuring vocalists Richard Hayman, Imani Smith,
and Wada himself are extremely powerful, with a glacial majesty and a
sense of timeless wonder. Wada's earliest musical memories are of
hearing Zen Buddhist ritual chants in his native Japan, and those
memories are reflected in the deep vocalizations here; also evident is
Wada's period of intense study with Indian master singer Pandit Pran Nath. Thus there is a definite "eastern" feeling to Singing in Unison,
with further elements added by Imani Smith's Sufi background and Wada's
interest in eastern European vocal styles, but the music is also
informed by Wada's experiences in the Fluxus movement and as a member of
the New York avant-garde community. The edgy atmosphere of 1970s New
York City pervades these recordings, adding a hint of menace. Despite
the fact that this is purely vocal music, fans of the slow-moving
heaviosity of Sunn 0))) will appreciate Singing in Unison. Yoshi Wada has four previous releases on EM Records: Lament for the Rise and Fall of Elephantine Crocodile (EM 1074CD); The Appointed Cloud (EM 1076D); Off the Wall (EM 1078CD); and Earth Horns with Electronic Drone
(EM 1081CD). This triple LP set features a complete version of both
performances, March 14 and 15 (two and a half hours in total). Singing in Unison
is a massive, monumental, monolith of vocal sound. 96khz/24bit
digitally remastered. Liner notes written by Yoshi Wada, with
English/Japanese text. Cover art by Yoshi Wada."
){kind=link}