Last year, K. Leimer‘s A Period of Review (Original Recordings: 1975-1983), out now on RVNG Intl, was an absolute revelation, bringing back to light the under recognized work of this prolific and exploratory musician. In many ways Leimer’s efforts can be seen as an American corollary to Brian Eno‘s, or the kosmische musings of Cluster, Popol Vuh, etc.; and while much of it leans towards the ambient, it is also full of restless experimentation with method and means.
Savant is one more example of this. A studio project, it drew together Seattle-based musicians that ran in Leimer’s Palace of Lights circle, a label he ran with his wife starting in 1980. However, like much of the artist’s own work, the musical approach for Savant sought a way around normal compositional methods as means for getting beyond each player’s individual ego. Inviting musicians into his home studio, Leimer would record them playing instruments they were unfamiliar with, later splicing and looping these elements to create his tracks. “Stationary Dance” first came out in 1981 as a Palace of Lights’ 12″, and it’s dark-tinged, sample driven funk finds Leimer on the cutting edge of music–anticipating many trends that would become second nature for the next emerging generation of electronic-based artists.
Look for RVNG Intl. to release Artificial Dance on September 4th, a 2xLP that collects together the project’s 1983 LP The Neo-Realist (At Risk), with the 12″ Stationary Dance / Sensible Music, and a handful of other tracks.
