EIC's 10Q's w/ Christina Vantzou

"..minimal/basic beauty.."

(Photo Credit: Julie Calbert)

Christina Vantzou

Quiescent Grace

Christina Vantzou Bio:

Christina Vantzou is an artist, musician, and composer. Born in Kansas City, she attended the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore (1997-2001) and moved to Brussels in 2003 where she currently resides. Over the past decade Christina has made drawings, prints, animations, videos, and video installations. In recent years sound has become a key aspect of her artistic identity. In 2003, Christina met Stars of the Lid's Adam Wiltzie and together they formed The Dead Texan (Kranky). After several years of touring with The Dead Texan becoming a touring member of Sparklehorse (summer 2007) Christina started making music of her own. Over a three-year period, using synthesizers, samples, her own voice, and working by ear, with Reason, and a homemade library of orchestral samples, Christina meticulously pieced together a 45-minute music composition. In 2010 she began working with Minna Choi (director of Magik*Magik orchestra), who translated the digital score to sheet music for a seven-piece ensemble. This collaboration culminated in recording sessions with Magik*Magik at Tiny Telephone in San Francisco. The album was mixed and mastered in Brussels and was released on Kranky on October 24, 2011. Titled Nº1, it is the first installment of a planned series of recordings by Christina with an orchestra component. As a whole, Nº1 includes the release of a CD, a film, and a selection of remixes by various artists.

Hello, how are you?
I'm very fine thank you.

What are you currently listening to?
In the last 24 hours I've listened to Debussy, Fuck Buttons, Laurie Spiegel and Danzig.

Why the length of time between The Dead Texan and now, what prompted your "return"?
I didn't really seem like a timeout to me....I've been working steadily, nose to the grindstone, it just wasn't publicly visible until the release of Nº1.

Speaking of The Dead Texan.. I gotta ask, will that project ever see the light of day again?
Dream on Dead Texan fans....

I love the remix companion you just put out, how did you go about choosing the artists to contribute?
I first asked White Rainbow to do a remix because I'm a fan of his music and we had recently met and i intuitively thought it would be an interesting experiment. When he said he would do it I pondered who else might be into it. I started emailing friends and acquaintances with remix requests....sometimes I got a yes and sometimes a no. I just kept writing people until I had 10 who were in.

Is there another solo LP in the makes?
Yes!!! Nº2 is in the works.

Who is your favorite Kranky artist of all time?
There are many, too many over the years to pick a favorite. I've clocked in hours and hours of Low, Godspeed.., Labradford, Pan American, Loscil, Atlas Sound, White Rainbow, Stars Of The Lid...Ken Camden is a newly discovered favorite.

Got any other projects we should know about?
Well....I'm working on an album made of synth samples only. I've spoken about making a dance record but I keep churning out the slow jams. Can't help it.

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
Big Boi's 'Sir Luscious Left Foot The Son of Chico Dusty'. And I'd sneak in the B side of Laurie Spiegel's 'The Expanding Universe' for contrast.

Are you living your dream?
My dream changes every minute.

Thanx Christina!

Christina V. is currently on tour in Europe, make sure to check out a live show if you're in the area..

REVIEW: Christina Vantzou - Nº1 Remixes

7.5 out of 10

Find it here.

Christina Vantzou first came across my radar (and probably yours too) with the 2004 Kranky release 'The Dead Texan', which was a project with her and Adam Wiltzie (Stars Of The Lid/A Winged Victory For The Sullen). To this day I still think "Glen's Goo" is one of the best Kranky songs of all time. Needless to say I will be in this/these artists debt(s) for as long as they record/I live. After Dead Texan Christina went on tour (as a traveling member) with Sparkling Horse (whom I miss:() and began writing material for her debut release 'Nº1'.

This is the remix companion to 'Nº1', Christina asked some artists (Loscil, Dustin O'Halloran, White Rainbow ..to name a few) if they were interested in remixing her work. Some said yes, some said no. The first 10 (and best probable) choices were picked. Judging by the artists on here, I'd say Christina hangs out with a pretty interesting/awesome crew. The original intention of Ms. Vantzou's work was minimal/basic beauty generated from a synthesizer (or something close to it in nature). That same "theme"/overall tone is still present on 'Nº1 Remixes', only as seen or heard rather through other perspectives. I will say that the original songs felt "almost darker" than this release, the remixes are a little more "light and airy" I suppose. But I think that the choices for the remixes were chosen well, they all "pay homage" to Christina's sound quite perfectly. Slow moving synths, drones, white noises, etc. meets Neo Classical Ambiance mixed with a few vocals (which I found surprising and inviting) + a few minimal structures built on top (I don't want to say "beats"), and just that "nice-niceness" that you'd come to expect from anyone related to the Kranky family. You know how it goes, new Kranky = happier EIC.

Nuthin' here but gorgeous stuff, hear to lull you. Recommended.

Standout Tracks: And Instantly Take Affect (Loscil Remix), Prelude For Juan (Montgomery Knott Remix), Small Choir (Ben Vida Remix), 1111 (Dustin O'Halloran Remix), Steady Beamin (White Rainbow Remix) <-LOVE THIS SONG., Homemade Mountains (ISAN Remix), The Adversary Of Evil Budd (Bonus Track From The Dead Texan) <-!

REVIEW: A Winged Victory For The Sullen - S/T

8.5 out of 10

Find it here.

A few things my "winter ears" require; 1. Tonal Warmth 2. Post Bliss 3. Lack of gravity. These are also, coincidentally, three things A Winged Victory For The Sullen's debut has to offer. Let it snow, I'm ready now.

AWVFTS is Adam Wiltzie (Stars Of The Lid/Dead Texan) and Dustin O'Halloran (Dustin O'Halloran). The two of these guys joining forces isn't really that peculiar of a concept, in-fact it makes a lot of sense. Adam and Dustin both seem to have an ear for clear and ideal Classical Ambiance so it only seemed inevitable that their paths would eventually cross. AWVFTS's debut/self titled release is a nice companion piece for both artists involved. Slow murmurations of gorgeous synths swimming in a pool of strings and an accompanied piano that is no doubt one of the most gorgeous things I've ever heard. Track 1 is a bit of downer, a gorgeous effervescent disaster slowly unfolding into itself to reform the polar opposite. Track 2 is just as slow moving, maybe more so since the shift of the piano has been more focused towards the swirling synthetic strings, I really like this track (a lot) a lot. Track 3, ohhh track 3..soooo warm. Every track just gets better and better the further you listen. Music like this only comes along so often, its even better when it comes out during the proper season. What you would expect from these two artists has indeed unfolded in a grand manor that will hopefully be replicated on a new album sometime in the near future. If this (see track 5. 'Steep Hills..') is only the beginning of this bands career ..I don't know how much more emotion my ears can handle, but I'm willing to risk it. More please?

Said it before, say it again (always and forever) it's Kranky so you know the "gold standard" is there. Recommended for fans of slow motion.

Standout Tracks: All. (but mainly) Requiem For Static King Part 2, Minuet For A Cheap Piano, Steep Hills Of Vicodin Tears (yum), A Symphony Pathetique (imagine (happily) dying in the snow to this song)