This site too slow? Try a mirror  --  Subscribe to the Guide  --  Find artist:
the Ectophiles' Guide: * Guide Home* What's new* * Alphabetical* Genre* Commentator* Location* Random artist* Search* Contact the editors* Credits

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 site

The 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 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)

Why the ads?
the Ectophiles' Guide: * Guide Home* What's new* * Alphabetical* Genre* Commentator* Location* Random artist* Search* Contact the editors* Credits

DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2013-12-15 20:01:32.
Please request permission if you wish to
reproduce any of the comments in the
Ectophiles' Guide in any context.

The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music is copyright © 1996-2004 by the editors.
Individual comments are copyright © by their authors.
Web site design and programming copyright © 1998-2004 usrbin design + programming.
All rights reserved.