Three works in excess of 20 minutes each give a nice immersion in Goeyvaerts' sound in the 1970s, starting with Pour que les fruits mûrissent cet été (1975-6). Written for an ensemble of Renaissance instruments in an "evolving repetitive technique", it's a really enjoyable, mellow listen that brings to mind Julius Eastman if he'd decided to go pre-baroque.
Ach Golgotha (1975) is next, and was originally paired with Pour que... on LP in 1977. Named after a part of Bach's St Matthew Passion that it very loosely morphs around, it's a slow, minimal percussion piece with organ and harp that again isn't far off Eastman's DIY-minimalism, or even the track at the end of that Jon Gibson album. Lastly, we get to hear Goeyvaerts' electronic/tape music in Op Acht Paarden Wedden, from a 1973 split LP with fellow Belgian Lucien Goethals. Lots of great queasy drones, electronic whines and tape manipulation of instruments make for an engrossing end to a highly recommended collection.
pw: sgtg
