In the Shadow of the Phoenix

Album Description

Pauline Oliveros' 'In the Shadow of the Phoenix' is a mesmerising 47-minute soundscape that invites listeners to immerse themselves in a world of drone, avant-garde, and minimalist textures. Released on 1 January 1997 via Big Cat (UK) Records, this album is a masterclass in experimental music, weaving together ambient tones and introspective silences.

The tracklist, comprising 'A Thousand Quiet Mountains', 'The Shadow of the Phoenix', 'Silence Echoes', and 'Whispers in the Ears of Night', showcases Pauline Oliveros' unique ability to craft an atmosphere that is both haunting and serene. With each piece, she expertly manipulates sound to evoke a sense of stillness, drawing the listener into a realm of quiet contemplation.

Throughout 'In the Shadow of the Phoenix', Pauline Oliveros demonstrates her innovative approach to music, pushing the boundaries of conventional composition and embracing the unknown. The result is an album that is as thought-provoking as it is sonically stunning, a true testament to her pioneering spirit in the world of experimental music. As the sounds unfold, Pauline Oliveros guides the listener on a deeply personal and introspective journey, one that lingers long after the music has faded into silence.

January 1, 1997

(P) 1997 Big Cat Records

About Pauline Oliveros

Pauline Oliveros, a pioneering American composer and accordionist, stands as a titan in the realms of experimental and electronic music. Born in Houston, Texas, in 1932, Oliveros was a proud lesbian and feminist whose innovative spirit blazed trails through the avant-garde, drone, minimalism, and ambient genres. She was renowned for her groundbreaking mixed-media compositions in the 1960s, seamlessly blending diverse musical elements and technologies. Oliveros was not just a composer but also a lecturer, theorist, and writer, leaving an indelible mark with her influential 1984 text "Software for People." Her deep listening practice, designed to enhance performers' responsiveness to their environment, further cemented her legacy as a visionary in the music world. Oliveros's journey was one of continuous evolution, making her a true icon in the development of post-war experimental and electronic art music.