[imprensa] Inés Terra ‘regougar’, por Soundologia (EUA)
Soundologia Harmonious Highlights: Top Albums of 2024 – Q2 By Pedja Kovačević, August 20, 2024
Inés Terra – regougar
Have you ever experimented with creating small sculptures using plasticine, sand, or water? Or perhaps you’ve tried shaping figures out of dough? Have you playfully imitated the sound of bubbling or gurgling with your mouth? If so, then you might want to engage in the art of sculpting sound with your voice – and that’s precisely the creative process behind Inés Terra’s album, “Regougar,” published on scatterArchive. Terra skillfully mimics the sounds of water, animals (birds, frogs, foxes), and industrial objects and cars. She also dissects phrases, words, syllables, and morae/moras to create a unique auditory experience. The album blends various stylistic elements and genres, evoking echoes of folk and world music through enchanting melodies and vocals. The technique involves dubbing and recording new tracks on top of the voice-sculpting foundation, as well as skillfully combining different loops and chops.
This album serves as a fascinating exploration of Phonology studies, showcasing the intriguing outcomes of speech sounds’ organization, articulatory features, and acoustic properties. In some tracks, such as “Terra” and “Grude,” the voice is skillfully sculpted through a mesmerizing interplay of voices. One voice establishes a rhythmic layer or creates effects, while another takes on the soloist role, delivering melodic fragments with a short chanting style. Meanwhile, additional voices contribute to the composition by providing a counterpoint.
“Fio” and “Pulso” utilize the voice and body as instruments, allowing for a diverse range of sound articulations. Through the manipulation of lip firmness, air speed and direction, breathing, teeth openness, tongue position, and more, these compositions imitate wind instruments and produce percussive sounds. On the other hand, “Peles” showcases remnants of early heterophony and polyphony development. Multiple voices layer together, creating a rich texture, while an occasional supporting bass line adds depth akin to a quasi-bourdon.
