专辑简介

by François CoutureA Doughnut in Both Hands was Phil Minton's first solo album. It was originally released on the U.S. label Rift in 1981, 17 years before its follow-up A Doughnut in One Hand (FMP, 1998). A CD reissue appeared on the U.K. label Emanem in 1998, adding about 18 minutes of extra material from the same sessions. A Doughnut in Both Hands was recorded on different occasions. First, the eight tracks released as side two of the LP (plus one "Extra") come from an August 1975 session. Here Minton tends to sing lyrically, playing with his volume capacity and expressive range, but staying confined to rather "standard" vocal techniques, especially in the "Wood Song" series. All other tracks were recorded between 1980 and 1982. Now Minton explores extended techniques: strange multiphonics; tongue, cheek, and throat sounds; quacking; etc. Each one of these short pieces (from 45 seconds to five minutes) concentrates on one aspect of his singing. Put together, they form an impressive tapestry of vocal possibilities. The last two tracks on the reissue, "Psalm of Evolution 1" and "Psalm of Evolution 2," are improvised following a poem by Lou Glandfield. Discarded from the original LP in favor of the "wordless" concept, they are essential additions, as they point to the vocalist's future works involving literature, such as his Ho Chi Minh (Songs From a Prison Diary) and James Joyce (Mouthfull of Ecstasy) song cycles. And this album was one of the most influential contributions to free singing or, as Paul Dutton calls it, sound singing.