TESSERACT
Released: June 2, 2023
Label: Phonometrograph
“Tesseract picks up where If Not Now left off, and follows that album’s psychedelic, quasi-orchestral landscapes all the way out to their dark horizons. Like its predecessor, Tesseract occupies a monumental scale, swelling over two CDs. Her shimmering cascades of treated strings remain a crucial element, yet there’s newfound volatility and a steadfast commitment to investigating texture here. Bates’ vocabulary within the noise sphere is impressive and evocative; in her hands it proves to be just as malleable and expressive as any other technique in her repertoire. There are certainly moments of bluster and friction, but Bates makes use of the full spectrum available within the domain of pure sound. Her distant creaks and dim crackling pull the listener deeper into her gradually blooming structures, as other textural passages engender a sense of intrigue or suspension. It’s a welcome and disquieting contrast to the threads of bowed lyricism that link these six pieces”. – Nick Storring / Riparian Media
IF NOT NOW
Released: December 18, 2020
Label: Phonometrograph
With two long form compositions inspired by our relationship to one another and our natural surroundings, this double album is an epic ambient and electroacoustic debut recording. If Not Now is a dedication to the people and places that challenge us. It references elements of our acoustic environment that shape us and are shaped by us: the breeze through the leaves, the birds of the west coast, the low hum of our city soundscape.
“Completely enthralling from start to finish.”
“A marvellous marathon of compositional and freely attacked sonic invention married to clear technical mastery of the instrument.”
“Bates sends her violin and viola through a range of processing yielding echoes and textures, layers and atmospheres, stutters and breakage. It somehow manages to be both intimate and orchestral at the same time.”
“This is music rich in imagery.”
“…haunting and completely addictive.”
“Tesseract is magnificent and magical, offering so many spaces to explore. Incredible.”
