1972 unites for the first time two experimental, prolific and restless sonic visionaries – Argentinian Anla Courtis, best known for his surrealist, anti-structural approach to sound and his work with the genre-defying, cult band Reynols, and Finnish sonic architect Jussi Ja Lehtisalo, known from such avant-rock bands as Circle and Pharaoh Overlord, and the head of Ektro Records. Their album was recorded in Pori, Buenos Aires, and Washington DC.
The album’s title refers to a time when sound was an experiment, an adventurous sonic territory to explore rather than define. The eight pieces suggest an uncompromising yet organic, non-linear but free-flowing, looped and layered, noisy collision, comprised of fragments of sounds of prepared electric guitars, synths, tape manipulations, field recordings, samples, electronic glitches, and processed vocals and percussive objects.
These dense, experimental pieces blossom patiently and trigger surreal, hypnotic cinematic images or mysterious, and suggest tribal chants and rhythmic patterns, that mix elements of drone, free improvisation, kosmische musik, and obscure prog-rock. But, unlike its title, 1972 is free of nostalgia and sounds timeless, offering a fragile sonic bridge between a magical, enigmatic past and a promising, unknown future. The pieces enjoy a chaotic, subversive, and sometimes even cacophonic spirit that never gravitates into a clear or logical narrative or structure, but still create a rare and rich sonic alchemy.
Eyal Harauveni
Anla Courtis (electric Guitar, lap steel guitar, tapes, piano, percussion, synthesizer, organ, amplified objects, field recording, vocals), Jussi Lehtisalo (electric guitar, tapes, piano, percussion, synthesizer, sampler, vocals)
