Rothko - Continual Search For Orgins
by Olga Sladeckova
published: 21 / 6 / 2002

Label:
Too Pure
Format: CD
intro
Evocative and rewarding sixth album and first release on the Too Pure label from London-based band, Rothko, which takes its inspiration from a trip its leader, Mark Beazley, made to Switzerland last year
‘Continual Search For Origins’ is Rothko, the London based band's 6th album, and the first one to be released by the group on Too Pure records. The band features Mark Beazley (bass guitar and other instruments) as its core musician, who has on this album collaborated with musicians from the avant-garde group Delicate AWOL. For the main theme of 'Continual Search for Origins', Mark has used the memories of his holidays in the small village of Origlio in Switzerland, and capturing some of the original sounds that he recorded there including rain, crickets, and church bells, has built music around them. The whole of this Swiss memories trip is started with ‘On The Day We Said Goodbye’ upon which guest vocalist Caroline Ross's voice is backed by cautious but passionate strums of Mark's bass guitar. In the background of the song you can also hear voices of some of the Origlio villagers that Mark had the chance to record. ‘St. Georgio’, named after the church in Origlio village, features the ringing of bells. The following ‘Memories Of Zurich’ is darker in tone and combines the mysterious sound of Mark's bass with a piano. It feels like night time by the time you get to the next track ‘I Sense You Fading Away’ upon which a trumpet spreading across the darkness is broken up by the noise of a helicopter. Rothko’s music is full of various sounds and noises laid one over another to create a music collage. Every single one is then exposed to your attention and gives the sound its own characteristic intensity before the following one crosses it. The last song titled ‘Words Melt Away’ closes the album , as it was opened, with Ross's vocals. The music, however, already does the talking more then well enough across the whole album. I taped the CD very shortly after I got hold of it and played it on a walkman. Walking down a busy road in the rain and listening to it, I became lost in it. I was amazed at how convincing the music was and how it took me away from that road and out of my surroundings. I believe that it can help you to find an escape as well.
Track Listing:-
1 On The Day We Said Goodbye2 This Lake Of Hope
3 Fragile Strands Of Time
4 Bloodtied
5 St Giorgio
6 Memories Of Zurich
7 I Sense You Fading Away
8 Crossing To Gandria
9 To Other Horizons
10 Deepest Shadows Have Light
11 Words Melt Away
Band Links:-
http://www.deathrattlepress.com/rothhko.htmlhttp://www.tracerecordings.com/artists.html#4
http://cargocollective.com/rothko
Label Links:-
http://www.toopure.com/https://www.facebook.com/too-pure-9333833636/
https://twitter.com/toopuresingles
interviews |
Interview (2017) |
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Mark Beazley talks to John Clarkson about the return of his bass/ambient project Rothko and thir second album of this year, ‘A Young Fist Curled around a Cinder for a Wager’, which features Band of Holy Joy singer Johny Brown |
Interview with Mark Beazley (2005) |
Interview with Mark Beazley (2003) |
Interview (2002) |
live reviews |
Arts Cafe, London, 28/10/2003 |
![]() |
Olga Sladeckova watches strongs sets by three of London's best bands, Rothko, Kelman and Moly, in the small, but intimate setting of the London Arts Cafe |
soundcloud
reviews |
Blood Demands More Blood (2018) |
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Adventurous and progressive latest album from Rothko that pushes back the boundaries of the post rock genre |
discover the lost (2016) |
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