Listen:
Gestures Of Perception
14 WAV Files
2xLP
Artbook
Track listing:
1.Golden Femur
2.Flux and Hieroglyph
3.Rigpa
4.Hermetic Salt
5.Ligature Of Mineral
6.Chöd
7.In Petrified Light
8.Pneumatic Magic
9.Zep Tepi
10.Sign Of Origin
11.Echemythia
12.Liberation Through Hearing
13.The Empty Room
14.Axis Mundi
Reviews:
"Epic stuff here from Marionette...an extended weave of home-made drum machines, acoustic instruments and modular systems to connect archaic folk sounds with serpentine, polyrhythmic techno and cosmick electronix...Quietly influential in the Toronto scene, Matthew Ramolo (aka Khôra) has been defining his signature sound for over a decade, using his arsenal of electronic and acoustic instruments to devise a spiritually incisive form that pulls as liberally from ancient music as it does from the modern avant-garde. 'Gestures of Perception' is his first double album, and is built around jerky, Muslimgauze-esque rhythms he generated using a DIY solenoid drum machine. The pulses are deviously hypnotic, sounding both electronic and uncannily acoustic at once, and form a ritualistic base for his wormy synth melodies and oddly-tuned drones...It's smart, intentional music that connects the eras and continents with open-hearted warmth, wondering about the possibilities of technology rather than feeling shackled to it...His percussion is breathtaking throughout the album, but the synthesis is just as well handled, nestling into the gusty polyrhythms like memories from another life...It's a bold, confident set that infuses its latent psychedelia with rigorous research and keen-eared listening - the kind of record people are prob gonna dig out in a decade or two and wonder how it slipped under the radar for so long."
Reviewed by Boomkat
"Ambitious in scope and influence, Matthew Ramolo’s Plato-coined Khôra vessel overlaps the afflatus with the mythological, hermetic and philosophical across a double-album spread of peregrinations, processions and transcendental mysticism. References abound from opened seals, with nods to branches of Buddhism, astronomy, the Hellenic, Tibetan, Heliopolis and atavistic: all the way back to the creation myth. Literally from the ground up (the Dzogchen concept of “rigpa”, which subscribes the qualities of purity, spontaneity and compassion to the primordial ground), Ramolo, using an apparatus of international instrumentation, drums-up simultaneous visions of the new age and alien. Name checking the Latinized, the Orient and spiritual Asia in its many forms, but also cosmic projecting, the alchemy at play on this opus vibrates with evocations of kosmische, Jon Hassell’s “fourth world musics” explorations, trance, magnetic electronics, courtly and ceremonial.The central sounds are percussive in nature; from those Tibetan stirrings of bowls, tubular bells, wind chimes and movements that sound like the turning of a mani wheel, to claves, what sounds like stones, a scaffold of pans and tubes, and frame, hand and other more rhythmic drums. Other elements include electronic vapours and waves, the springy and plucked, divine radio and satellite transmissions, occasional bellowed wafts and bulb shaped notes of light. Yogi talks to, well…the world, as nirvana is opened to all on this trip of dial up meditations, explorations and mysterious off-world atmospherics. The echoes of Syrinx, Kalacakra, Bhajan Bhoy, Ariel Kalma, A.R. & Machines, Sergius Golowin and Iasos wrap themselves around an epic suite of spiritual and mystical excursions in the pursuit of navigating a formless, third way through new envisaged worlds: or something like that. Eastern spiritual music is often abstracted in this world, merged with hidden sources to produce something familiar yet a bit different."
Reviewed by Monolith Cocktail
Toronto's Khỏra (Matthew Ramolo) is a master of the organic and digital planes. His rare skill runs through this thrumming double album, which is a monument to the blurring of boundaries. There are antecedents to this - Four Tet's 'Rounds', Rival Consoles and even Nils Frahm - but the way that natural and electronic elements combine makes this new territory. From the treated bells and birdsong of 'Flux and Hieroglyph' to the looped beats and ringing metallics of 'Ligature of Mineral', Khôra's creations transcend mere drone-age evocations to achieve something of rare beauty.
Reviewed by Electronic Sound - reviewed in UK print magazine
It is a large-scale and extremely rich record, which is partly due to its restraint. Toronto's Matthew Ramolo uses a variety of ethnic percussion and instruments (such as the Chinese two-string erhu), modular synth, found objects and a self-built drum machine for his collage-like tracks. These include various traditional musics (gamelan, tribal rhythms, oriental melodies); a tribute to the heroic age of repetitive, experimental electronics; romantic melodies and the ambient hovering of the drone. All of this is surrounded by a subtly fluttering psychedelic aura, thanks to which the record seems like a series of pleasantly buzzing, jingling, clicking etudes for the not-so-thorough listener. However, if we listen, it becomes clear how densely woven the music is; the sounds and harmonies, rhythms and polyrhythms reveal an amazing musical imagination. Perhaps this is what the title means: the real perception begins with the gesture of turning over – to which the references to ritual music and the not-quite-worldly nature of the record give extra meaning. 9/10 - translated from Hungarian
Reviewed by Recorder Magazine
"In Toronto, very strange and unique modular plants thrive, as can be clearly heard in the work of Matthew Ramolo. He listened just as closely to the cosmically irradiated kraut-synthesizers of the German provinces of the 1970s as he did to the pill-irradiated chillout sessions of the Second Summer of Love in northern England. How this can create something as contemporary, sober, and timelessly modern as the album Gestures Of Perception remains the psychedelic secret of Ramolo's project alias Khôra. Swirled and twisted in a pleasant way, the actually well-known warm analog synthesizer sounds always retain a trace of otherworldly strangeness...It is precisely this inexplicable residue in the apparent sound as a whole that makes Khôra's pieces so fascinating and special." - translated from German
Reviewed by Groove.de
A massive and estimable work into a world that conjoins all manner of culturesounds with electronic and rhythmic embellishment, densely layered and centered sounds of a deeper zone. It’s the product of Toronto musician/producer Matthew Ramolo, who has made it difficult to tell what he added and what was sampled/field recorded, but he’s got an ear for the traditions of Eastern and Global South and what can be applied to them in the context of presentation for meditation, movement, and immersive listening. One imagines if This Heat kept going, with scope wider than Flaming Tunes or Lifetones, as a band that could have potentially landed in a space like this, where the technology has caught up to the imagination. Everything is embellished a little beyond the intent, everything looped to levels of intrigue, everything speaking to a melodic imperative beyond either formal electronic music or the world sounds dancing around it. “Boards of Canada with a gamelan” sounds so cheap, and this is in a different league anyway. At 72 minutes this has the runway to accomplish everything it sets out to, and only at the beginnings and ends of this set do we feel the tentative steps into and out of this world and the real.
Reviewed by Doug Mosurock @Heathen Disco
"Khôra embarks on an auditory exploration with "Golden Femur," the lead single from the upcoming album "Gestures Of Perception." This track is a masterful demonstration of Khôra's innovative approach to music, blending techno-archaic sounds with atmospheric layers that evoke a sense of ritualistic meditation. "Golden Femur" acts as a gateway to an otherworldly experience, where ancient and organic influences meet contemporary electronic elements to create a sound that is both alien and intimately familiar. Khôra's music transcends mere listening, inviting participants to immerse themselves in a journey that is as emotionally resonant as it is intellectually stimulating...The thematic coherence between the soundscapes and the visual elements exemplifies Khôra’s dedication to creating a holistic art form that engages both the mind and the senses.'Gestures of Perception' stands out as a testament to Khôra's ability to harness and articulate the chaotic potential of sound into deeply resonant and emotive music. Each track is a careful orchestration of rhythms and melodies that feel simultaneously ancient and futuristic, providing a sound that is not only unique but profoundly moving. This album is especially recommended for those who appreciate music that not only entertains but also provokes thought and evokes deep emotional responses.'Gestures of Perception' is a must-listen for aficionados of avant-garde and experimental music."
Reviewed by ADSR Collective
Canadian experimenter Matthew Ramolo released an album under the stage name Khôra, which deserves a prominent place in the abundance of music whose creators aim to attract adventurous listeners. "Gestures of Perception", released for the "Marionette" publishing house, characterized by a catalog of a wide spectrum of experimental music and a carefully nurtured visual identity of its releases, is an unusual collage work of a tribal character that sounds as if it came from the inaccessible homeland of some forgotten tribe to which sound design technology somehow reached, with the purpose of deepening the mystical rituals nurtured in their community generations ago. Thanks to the dominant rhythms of homemade drums and various percussive tools, and with the use of many acoustic and electronic instruments and aids of known and unknown origin, the bold psychedelic music of Matthew Ramolo offers us many reasons to enjoy and material for exploring hidden sonic corners, available through devoted and repeatedly repeated careful listening. Huge recommendation!!! - translated from Russian
Reviewed by Pedja
"An alluring, meditative, psychedelic brew of shamanic and alchemical rhythms and harmonies, ranging across a wide array of instruments and influences. Modular synths, a two-stringed erhu fiddle, flute, feedback, electronics, guitar, field recordings, and various percussion objects, in ritualistic studio sessions which are augmented and sampled over and over… with the controls set for other planes of there."
Reviewed by Honest Jon's
"Embark on a tranquil journey along the banks of electronica and industrial fusion with Khôra. The track, “Pneumatic Magic,” from the album “Gestures of Perception” invites listeners to immerse themselves in a hypnotic sonic landscape that evokes introspection and contemplation. This track exudes a sense of monotony and hypnotism, drawing listeners into a trance-like state with its repetitive yet evolving soundscapes. The pulsating rhythms and textured layers create a sonic tapestry that is both haunting and mesmerizing, reminiscent of atmospheric soundscapes. As the music unfolds, it invites introspection and contemplation, encouraging listeners to explore the depths of their own consciousness...Pneumatic Magic blends elements of electronica, industrial, and techno into a cohesive sonic landscape. The result is a composition that transcends traditional genre boundaries, offering listeners a truly immersive and transformative experience. With its hypnotic rhythms and evocative melodies, this track is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who encounter it."
Reviewed by Faeton Music
Matthew Ramolo, the mastermind behind Khôra, is no novice at building sonic worlds. Khôra is the canvas where he mixes sound, image, and poetry to create “art myths” that move you to the soul. Imagine a sound collage with ritual instruments, guest voices that disconcert you and take you to unexplored planes of consciousness.'Gestures of Perception' is a multimedia experience that completely envelops you. Modular synthesizers intertwine with erhu (Chinese violin) sounds, exotic percussion, and field recordings to create atmospheres that guide you on an introspective journey.Now, let's talk about what concerns us: “Pneumatic Magic”, the second single from the album. Prepare for a psychedelic concoction of shamanic rhythms and sonic alchemy. The song puts you in a minimalist echo chamber, like a stripped-down “brain dance” that swings you between wakefulness and sleep. Its hypnotic rhythm catches you, it is a key point on the album, like a viewpoint on a challenging but beautiful path. It is a pause to absorb everything before entering the unknown again. If you are looking for something that will expand your mind and take you on an unparalleled sonic journey, “Pneumatic Magic” by Khôra is your ticket. translated from Spanish
Reviewed by Expansión Radial
Sifting through Matthew Ramolo's words is an almost Sisyphean task, such is the density of his description of his work. On Gestures of Perception, his latest double LP and complementary book release as Khora, his musical incarnation for the last 15+ years, he has this to say: 'This album, comprising a double record and attendant book, presented itself to my consciousness as a cascade of contents and peregrinations around magical and alchemical processes which could instigate or excite processes of deep and unexpected transformation in the listener and thereby serve as a true initiatory program. The music uses evocation of various traditions of the archaic and sacred to produce an environment in which the witness can access or imaginally project primal dimensions of their awareness and thereby induce a consciousness of time which breaches the transcendent. The book serves as a philosophical guide or scaffolding through the inner worlds and processes the music evokes, wrapping alchemical, archaeological, and spiritual history and speculation with various theories of language, creation, shamanic musicking, magic, healing, and geometry.' Thankfully, the music on Gestures... is a whole lot more accessible...and satisfying. Like much of Khora's earlier output, which stretches all the way back to the self-released debut, Silent Your Body is Endless, Gestures... melds traditional instruments like keyboards, flute and guitar with field sounds, feedback, contact electronics and loads of percussion. A couple of tracks - the opener, 'Golden Femur', with its woozy electronics and its equally dizzying sibling, 'Ligature of Mineral' - hint at the 1980 Jon Hassel/Brian Eno collab Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics. But that comparison only goes so far. The real story is the extensive use of treated percussion, more obvious here than on any of his previous efforts. Ramolo anchors things with an array of instruments - rattle and frame drums, seed pod sticks, random metal objects, meditation bowls, kalimbas, bells - and the results are riveting. Whereas Hassle and Eno created a liminal approximation of the natural world, Ramolo takes us on a similar journey across imagined cultures, at times seemingly African, at others Asian or Southeast Asian. This works best on tracks like 'Rigpa', where the exotic elements are tempered with more familiar electronic sounds. But even better are the less overtly cultural pieces, like the otherworldly 'Pneumatic Magic' or the hypnotic 'Hermetic Salt', the latter especially a deeply enthralling listening experience. Gestures of Perception is one of Ramolo's best works so far and is most definitely worth tracking down.
Reviewed by Michael Panontin @Canuckistan
Using a variety of ethnic percussion instruments, modular synthesizers, and a homemade drum machine. A masterpiece of rhythm science that explores the boundaries between tribalism and trance! A new album by Khôra, a project by avant-garde musician Matthew Ramolo, who has been active in the Toronto underground scene for over 10 years. Marionette, which has been dealing in attributeless electro-acoustic music, has released a new work by Ramolo, a master of the local underground! This is a meditative polyrhythmic production that combines a wide variety of instruments, such as wooden handle sticks, kalimbas, gongs, and other percussion instruments, as well as erhu and guitar feedback, centered around skillful modular synthesis. In addition to the hypnotic trance effect of minimal loops of sound, there is a psychedelic intertwining of tones that are not evenly tempered. Recommended. - Translated from Japanese
Reviewed by Akie @ Newton Records Japan
The author's previous digital-only album "Holographic Dreamtime ('20)" was so good that we were dying to get our hands on this latest vinyl release...An uplifting feeling reminiscent of indigenous ritual music. Shamanistic psychedelia. While these elements are scattered throughout, the modern, avant-garde feel of the modular synth gives this album a fresh sound. - Translated from Japanese
Reviewed by Harunoame Records Japan
Crediting:
Mastered by Noel Summerville
Co-mix by Matt Smith
Artwork by Jon Joanis
Words, images, sounds, recording, and co-mix by Khôra