A HANDFUL OF DUST - For Patti Smith

A Handful of Dust are a duo [and occasionally a trio] of New Zealand improvising noise artists. In 1993 they fired an early blast in the so-called free noise barrage heard round the world, with the recording of the no-fingers-on-the-strings opus Concord. 24 October 1999 found them playing live at the Puntersö Club, Melbourne, Australia, recorded by Marco Fusinato and mixed live by Greg Wadley. The resulting two long tracks of beautiful sonic violence were dedicated to the Queen of post-jazz rock improv Rimbaudian sense-derangement herself, and titled I Am Gods Finger and [From a Soundtrack to] Babelfield. They feature Bruce Russell and Alastair Galbraith performing a mix of guitar, violin, long wires and electronics. No stone is left unrotated, no rock left un-detourned in this top-of-their-game sizzling sound-smash. This tag-team of post-everything sound improvisers cant be easily beaten at the spontaneous improvisation of soundworlds which leave the senses literally grasping at straws. - Freewaysound.