But remember what you have had features a 33-minute ambitious, multiphonic electroacoustic composition by American, Paris-based, prolific guitarist-composer-visual artist-producer-label owner Stephen O’Malley (of SUNN O))), Southern Lord, and the KTL duo, and the head of the Ideologic Organ label), commissioned by Groupe de Recherches Musicales (GRM) in Paris. This composition deepens O’Malley’s research into the deep intricacies between polyphony, intonation, and timbrality, enhanced by melodic motifs.

O’Malley plays on effects and feedback-laden electric guitars and is joined by Seattle-based wind player Hans Teuber and trombonist Stephen Moore, a frequent collaborator of  SUNN O))). American, Stockholm-based composer Kali Malone (who has collaborated with O’Malley on her Does Spring Hides Its Joy, Ideologic Organ, 2023) assisted in arranging and conducting this composition, recorded in Woodstock (O’malley) and Seattle (Teuber and Moore) in September 2022.

This dramatic composition deepens O’Malley’s minimalist and slow-shifting, distortion and feedback-heavy sustained tones of drone-metal with subtle, deep-toned layers of wind and brass instruments, especially the bass flute. It offers a richer, more nuanced sound palette than O’Malley’s raw energy work with SUNN O))), with a clearer, distilled sonic vision. It has the irresistible power of O’Malley’s previous drone-metal works, and it still transmits heavy vibrations, but with a chamber-like, highly immersive, and surprisingly harmonious wall – or high waves – of sounds, intensifying as it gravitates towards its coda..

Eyal Hareuveni

Stephen O’Malley (electric guitars), Hans Teuber (bass flute, flute, bass clarinet, clarinet, trumpet), Stephen Moore (trombone)