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Not Without Risk
by Byron Metcalf
“Dr. Bam’s Music,” 2001
http://www.byronmetcalf.com
Fans of Steve Roach will recognize the name of Byron Metcalf from last
year’s collaboration album, The Serpent’s Lair. Metcalf, who like Roach
lives in Arizona, is a specialist in shamanism, shamanic percussion and
trance drumming. He’s both a musician and a psychologist, who explores
“transpersonal and shamanic methodologies.” Here on Not Without Risk,
Metcalf and friends (many of whom also worked on The Serpent’s Lair)
send forth a set of eight percussion-filled pieces into the electronic
aether. That wily coyote Steve Roach also shows up here and there on this
album, contributing his characteristic desert drones and “serpent groove
alchemy.”
Before I talk about the music, I feel the need to comment on shamanism on
CD. Shamanism depends on live performance, the drum ceremony, the words and
atmosphere and culture where it belongs. Here on metallic plastic, Metcalf’s
rhythms are, by the nature of the medium, removed from the context and
placed in the rather non-shamanic atmosphere of someone’s dull urban
apartment. Sometimes, with other albums, shamanism is “packaged” as
entertainment. So I ask myself, how should I listen to this? Is it right, or
respectful, to listen to ritual sounds outside a ritual context, even as
background music while I’m at work? I have no personal connection to
shamanism and I know only a little about shamanic practice, so am I treating
Metcalf’s music right if I don’t dance or enter into another state of
consciousness? Am I permitted to enjoy it just as pure music? These are some
of the questions which Not Without Risk inspires in me, the listener.
For now I’ll just talk about the sounds. Irrespective of ritual
considerations, this album is good stuff. It begins with a powerful drum
session, the first and title track “Not Without Risk.” It continues loudly
for a couple more tracks before settling into mysterious nocturnal rattling,
tooting, whispering, and slow beats (track 4, “Medicine Story” and track 5,
“Spirit Gathering.”). The pace picks up again with track 6, “Dark Brew,” and
track 7, “Clan Travelers,” which chugs along with a steady rhythm for about
10 minutes.
Then for the last track there’s a major change of pace. This piece is
credited to Ron Oates, rather than Byron Metcalf. Throughout the album up to
this track, the drums have ruled, and melody and tone have been minimal. But
here, in “Light from a Burning Bridge,” the drums fall to a soft tapping,
and floating, melancholy, wistful minor chords take over. The title is
poignant, and made even sadder by events that Metcalf and Oates, when they
made this music, could not foresee (light from burning skyscrapers). It’s a
moving finale to a 74-minute shamanic sound journey.
(Graphic design note: I found the lettering on this album just about
unreadable, tiny dim type against a busy red background. I had to squint
closely just to find out the track titles.)
HMGS rating: 9 out of 10
Hannah M.G. Shapero 10/20/01
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