I came across this: an interesting review. anyone elaborate on this? (I'm not interested in this recording, but just curious after reading this) http://www.omnology.com/zorn06.html#mlm Andrew n.p: Death Cube K - "Dark Hood" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- Songs from the Hermetic Theater recorded March 2001 released June 2001 ONE DISC: four tracks, 51 minutes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- This is the worst Zorn album I've ever heard. That title was once held by Lacrosse, but Lacrosse has an edge  it has a certain kind of depth to it, a complexity that makes you want to understand it. Songs from the Hermetic Theater is different. It's all on the surface. It's an album of failed experiments and bad gimmicks. The first and third tracks are nothing but static. The first, American Magus, is listed as "electronic music." The other, The Nerve Key, is called "computer music." Both are a waste of time. I've heard plenty of abstract, this-isn't-going-anywhere music from Zorn before  and plenty of noise labeled as music, too  but this time it doesn't work. It isn't creative, unique, or interesting. The second song, In the Very Eye of Night, begins with filmmaker Maya Deren talking about her work. That lasts for about a minute. When she stops, a low, windy drone comes up. It continues for 10 minutes, shifting a little bit as the sounds of water and a glass bowl are added. In this case, you can say that something is happening, but the song is too simple. Maya Deren's monologue gets old after the second or third time. And the droning sound is too flat. Zorn has composed songs out of wind before (on Filmworks VI and Music for Children) but this time it's just filler. The final track is described as "a bizarre meditation on the work of artist/shaman Joseph Beuys, scored for string orchestra and an incredible array of homemade sound devices." In other words, while violins play, Zorn makes sounds with metal pipes, an electric fan, bricks, a mason jar, vacuum tubes, a rubber ball, a power saw, etc. Zorn already did this on Duras Duchamp. In the song Etant Donnes, Zorn made noises with household objects for 13 minutes while minimalist music played in the background. This time he's done the same thing for 16 minutes with a different set of objects. Both songs are sort of silly and pointless, but at least the first one was unique. Fortunately, you can hear this album without buying it. You can create your own version in the privacy of your own home! To create the same effect as American Magus and The Nerve Key, just tune your radio to static. Then turn the volume up to 11. Record this sound for 14 minutes, then record it again for 9 minutes. Congratulations! You are already halfway done. Now place an electric fan close to running water. (Not TOO CLOSE. Be careful!) Record this for 11 minutes. During the first minute, talk about yourself. When you're finished, you'll have your own version of In the Very Eye of Night. Now for the finale. Go into the garage. Bring your CD player so you can play your favorite classical album. (Use something haunting and beautiful, with a lot of strings.) While that plays in the background, record yourself making noise with every object you can find. Hammer a nail into a board. Drag a brick across the floor. Smack two lawn chairs together. Pour paint into a plastic bowl. Bounce a rubber ball against the wall. Throw your car keys at a two-by-four. Keep it going for 16 minutes. Now you've got your own version of BeuysBlock. Take the recording and burn it on to a CD. Done! You just saved yourself 15 bucks. DIY, dude.