Midori Hirano - Magnetic Visionaries

Out last week was this excellent four track EP from Berlin based sound artist Midori Hirano. Magnetic Visionairies is Hirano's first for Christopher Willits' Overlap imprint, an experimental music and art collective in San Francisco, perfect home for this work. Hirano is also known under her MimiCof guise, through which she channels her more beat-led electronic sounds, her last release being the full length 'Rundskipper' on Japan's ProgressiveForm last month.

In the four tracks of 'Magnetic Visionaries' Hirano etches out pulsing glitches, rising and falling melodies, meditative repeating loops - all seemingly constructed from both electronic and organic sources.  Over the course of its 5 minutes 'Aros' shifts form and pace numerous times, yet remains consistently strong throughout - introducing us to Hirano's clever layering of sounds, rhythm and melody. FFFound starts with simple piano chords striking like a clock, noise, static and atmospherics accompanying it. What follows is a chorus of treated voices, or what sounds like voices, making for an intriguing effect.

Longest track Flux develops into a real treat of a track, certainly the EP's highlight. Saiboh again sees repeating piano phrases counterpointing other rhythms, similarly to Susumu Yokota's contrasting natural, and electronic sounds on say 'Grinning Cat'. What is also noticeable is the lightness of touch, echoing Christopher Willits' same sky gazing wonderment particularly on his last full length 'Tiger Flower Circle Sun'.

Overall Hirano achieves a near perfect balance between composed programmed elements and allowing the sounds to unravel and map themselves. A real gem of a work, definitely worth picking up and investigating the artist's work further (if you haven't already).

http://midorihirano.com/
www.overlap.org