SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: LIA KOHL – VARIOUS SMALL WHISTLES AND A SONG

LIA KOHL
VARIOUS SMALL WHISTLES AND A SONG
DAUW

What is the current place of conceptual art within experimental music? Not an easy question to answer as there is an ongoing debate as to whether such conceptual art is worth anybody’s time. So, it is a brave step for any artist to step within the realm of conceptual music, as Chicago-based sound artist Lia Kohl does on her latest album, Various Small Whistles and a Song.

For those more in the know of conceptual art, the album takes inspiration from Ed Ruscha’s 1964 artist book Various Small Fires and Milk. Mirroring the book’s structure of 15 photographs of fire and one of a glass of milk. Kohl follows that visual concept by assembling 15 one-minute-long field recordings of, as the title says whistles and a song.

Yet, instead of turning the whole thing into a highbrow, hermetic mess, Kohl actually creates something quite tangible, and well, conceptually quite listenable. Whether her project will appeal to conceptual art lovers doesn’t really matter, because a wider listening audience can accept and enjoy this album.

Artist Links