demos 1999-2000
| Format | MP3/CD-R |
| Country | UK/USA |
| Recorded | 1999-2000 |
| Issued | 2000 |
| Label | Systems Theory |
| Cat no. | STD001 |
| Playing time | 42:58 |
| Reviewer | Simen Viig Østensen |
| SYSTEMS THEORY demos 1999-2000 |
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Steven Davies-Morris is from England, but he has lived in California for the last 25 years, and this is where he, together with Gregory Amov and Mike Dickson, has put together Demos 1999-2000, although Mike lives in Scotland and sends his contributions per Mini-Disc to USA.
This is some of the most exciting music I have heard throughout the existence of this magazine. If you like lars Pedersen’s When-project, you will guaranteed enjoy Systems Theory. The soundscape is not very different, but to say the music is similar is very incorrect. First of all, this collaboration is without vocals, and the end result is genuine Systems Theory. It is cunning, a little mystical and weird. It can be oriental-ish like in "Under Oriental Skies", and it can be made up of anything from eccentric expressions, rock elements and synthetic choirs to the absurdly beautiful as in Breakdance In Hell.
Or what about a song inspired by the Davies-Morris’ family’s visit to Rosario Beach in Mexico, where every one lay gazing with wonder at the stars, philosophizing on whether or not it is life out there. The title of this outerworldly excursion is The Boy Who Gazed At Stars (For Trevor). Trevor, by the way, is the son of the house.
Another similarity to When can be mentioned, that is the combination of samples and instruments like flute and violin, not to forget a Mellotron M400 which Mike plays. Mike called Steven and wondered if he would consider a real Mellotron in addition to the sampled.
Moreover, it is worth mentioning that Ian McDonald recently played his flute into the strange world of the samples, and the "Ian MacDonald Flute" is used in due form by the boys in Systems Theory. Greg’s wife, Diane, plays a real flute on these demos.
If you are interested in listening to, and not only reading about, this project, you can enter http://systemstheory.net and download everything in MP3 format, or you can mail Steven on sdavmor@systemstheory.net and ask for the CD-R which this review is based on.
There is so much more I’d like to write about this project, but it will have to wait until the next issue of Tarkus, because after one listen to the album, I called California and interviewed Steven.
© 2001 Tarkus Magazine