"The first Rephlex release to be completely devoid of electronics, Victor Gama's "Pangeia Instrumentos" is a beguiling collection of compositions specifically written for his own handcrafted instruments. Angolan by birth but of Portuguese origins, Gama has been steadily building an impressive array of instruments since the early-'90s.
Slightly visually reminiscent of the Swiss-Brazilian instrument builder Walter Smetak's creations in the '40s, '50s, and '60s, and sonically somewhat related to Harry Partch's more widely celebrated constructions and compositions, Gama's instruments are often built for two to four simultaneous performers.
Like Partch, Gama's Pangeia instrumentos were arrived at through a fine craftsman-like approach to both wood and cast off materials. Where Partch drew on the forms of ancient Greece for the basis of his compositions, Gama has drawn inspiration from his own native Angolan folk music traditions, as well as those from throughout the African diaspora.
Often, with handcrafted or homemade instruments, the compositional framework lacks the brilliance of the instruments themselves. Gama has admirably avoided that pratfall through the subtle invocation of everything from Bebey-esque mbira lines to Afro-Brazilian berimbau sonorities.
Gama and his performers are virtuosos on these outstanding compositions; each piece has a distinctive range and character. This is mainly pattern music in its most beautiful, lulling sense, with only the occasional violin to provide dramatic counterpoint. Highly recommended, and a composer to watch." [MK] in Other Music NYC
Find more on Victor Gama'a works www.victorgama.org
some reviews:
Milk Factory:
http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/interviews/vgamaiw.htm
BBC - Experimental Review
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/43vr/
Liability Webzine
http://www.liabilitywebzine.com/?ac=non&contenu=viewchr&id=643
Jazz news em All About that Jazz, Nova Iorque
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=6746
Spannered
http://www.spannered.org/music/142/
