David Toop - Sound Body

Taking the stripped-back sound a little too far

If you want a tune, look elsewhere. There is a faint beat to Falling Light and Slow Pulse, but the bulk of this comes under the ‘sound research’ banner of Toop and Eno’s New & Discovered Musical Instruments. It is, in effect, Toop’s 11th solo album. For a reference point, look to his early research into the shamanistic ceremonies of the Amazonas, as the bulk of Sound Body reminds one of a long boat float down that same river.

Toop calls this is a mixture of improvisation and digital composition, with traditional music from around the globe forming a backcloth. Clive Bell features on saw flute, Rhodri Davies on harp, G�nter M�ller is on stones and various others provide voice, flute and rubber bands. Toop is credited with playing the electric bass, steel guitar, percussion, stones, dog whistles, bird calls, electronics and computer.

He has described starting with “external sounds, structural movement, our dog’s breathing” before editing repeatedly, until reaching his “intention of a silent recording”. But the absence of any melody makes this a rather empty exercise in sound research. It’s light years away from 1979 and a Top Of The Pops appearance with The Flying Lizards, doing a belting version of Money, and more’s the pity.

Samadhisound | CD SS 009

Reviewed by Mark Prendergast
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