Anna Homler
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Experimental vocal
Status:
Most recent release, The Many Moods of Bread and Shed (with Sylvia Hallett, 2012)
See also:
Anna Homler's siteThe Ectophiles' Guide's page for her work with Geert Waegeman and Pavel Fajt
Comparisons:
Meredith Monk, Laurie Anderson, Iva Bittová
Covers/own material:
Co-writes songs
General comments:
"A sonic geography" describes this music well—it seems to be clearly describing its own world in its own language. Mostly lyrical and harmonic, there are few discordant moments. Perhaps this is postmodern vocal music—whatever it is, it is compelling and beautiful and strange. (Neile)
Recommended first album:
Do Ya Sa Di Do: A Sonic Geography
Recordings:
- Do Ya Sa Di Do: A Sonic Geography (1992)
- House of Hands (2001)
- The Many Moods of Bread and Shed (with Sylvia Hallett, 2012)
- See her discography for her collaborative projects
Do Ya Si' Di Do: A Sonic Geography
Release info:
1992—amf-music (Germany)—amf 1031
Availability:
See Anna Homler's site
Ecto priority:
A must-have for lovers of vocal-focused experimental music.
Group members:
Anna Homler—vocals
Guest artists:
Steve Moshier—keyboards, tape manipulations
David Moss—vocals
Ethan James—keyboards, guitar, drum machine
Bernard Sauser-Hall—keyboards & samples
Produced by:
Anna Homler with David Moss, Bernard Sauser-Hall; co-produced by Philipp Beck
Comments:
Perhaps this is an album of speaking in tongues. Experimental without seeming pretentious. Seems more centered than most experimental music—each piece is more of a piece, and the idea seems more to enchant listeners than scare or shock them. This definitely enchants me. (Neile)
House of Hands
Release info:
2001—ND—NDCD012
Availability:
See Anna Homler's site
Ecto priority:
A must-have for lovers of vocal-focused experimental music.
Group members:
Anna Homler—voice, text, voice changer, effects, sound gun, plastic tape, metal pipe
Guest artists:
Viola Kramer—keyboards, samples, voice, translation of text, effects, brass dish (1-4, 8, 9, 11)
Lyn Matsuda Norton—keyboards (5)
Bob Gannon—coctail drums (5) Nadine Bal—vocals (6)
Steve Roden—loops, voice, toy bagpipes, banjo, clicks (7, 10, 12),BR> Kevin McHugh—metal chimes (7)
Comments:
I like this nearly as much as I love Do Ya Sa Di Do. It's experimental but not over the top and is highly listenable. I love the things they do with sound here: it's playful but also serious and carefully rather than casually constructed so while it's edgy and challenging listening it doesn't feel arbitrary or break my brain. And it's always intriguing. (Neile)
