A Soundtrack to the DSM-IV is the latest release by New York experimental improv label Output: NOISE. The label prides itself on pushing creative boundaries by investigating interesting concepts within each of its releases and their latest offering exemplifies this ethos.
In total there are 10 improvisations on the disc, each improvisation is performed by a randomly drawn group (from a pool of hand-selected musicians), who were assigned a disorder from the DSM-IV (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). The liner notes state that the objective is to have each group produce a convincing interpretation of the assigned disorder while working harmoniously as an ensemble.
For the most part, the improvisations on this disc are well executed, thoughtful and intuitive, from the bleak ambient dronescapes of ‘Depression’ and ‘Catatonic Schizophrenia’ to the bubbling and sporadic jabs and stabs of ‘Delirium’ and ‘Tourette Syndrome’. Elsewhere, ‘Cymophobia’ moves into post-rock territory with its tight drum groove, relentless violin solo and intermittent white noise hisses.
As someone who has not read the DSM-IV, I still find it hard to join the dots between the concept and the final sonic outcomes. In saying this though, the improvisations on this disc still work void of their overarching concept.
Luke Bozzetto
