Stokes' latest creation "Metacollage" forges an original path of new era electronic composition. Fluttering organic forms of electronics create the backdrop to carefully composed, beautifully arranged music. Darren Bergstein of E/I online magazine writes "...he more or less provides the reasons why electronic music probably fascinates most of us: unheard-of sounds rendered flesh and set within new contexts that refuse to simply tow 'idm/ambient/what-have-you' lines..."

Metacollage is packaged in a collector's edition wood case designed by Stokes. The Metacollage logo is stamped using a special Japanese archival ink. Each CD comes with a signed satin finished interior info card. The interior of the CD case is felt lined and protects the cd from scratches. See below for cd case photos. For listeners who prefer digital downloads, Metacollage is available as digital download from Itunes, Emusic(May 10th), and Amazon.

reviews

Saul Stokes remains a singular voice in electronic music, and Metacollage adds to his mystique. A slow, steady, thumping beat and edgy, warbling white noise open the album as “Slowing into Shimmering Steel” starts. The title paints a great word picture for the sounds emanating from the speakers. Synths gently bubble up to start “Out of True” in a cool way, followed by a quirky electronic warble that typifies the Stokes sound. At times the music fades briefly to silence before returning, a technique also employed effectively on “Drop By Drop.” Midway through the album I’m struck by how purely electronic it is. Although I liked Vast and Villa Galaxia, at times they seemed awfully, well, normal for Stokes. In that sense, Metacollage is a return to form, true experimentation by pushing the sonic boundaries of electronic music. The sounds are not readily definable, the melodies are indistinct, and each piece is more than the sum of its parts in the creative way it is fused together. Even the subtlest pieces, like “Inescapable”, are gems of intricacy. Each element of each track seems perfectly placed, with nothing missing and no excess; not a sound is wasted. This is minimalism at its best, and quite possibly Saul’s best work to date.

© 2009 Phil Derby / Electroambient Space

Packaged in a wood case: the limited edition of Saul Stokes ‘Metacollage’. A true soundscape album, electronic and experimental trips combined with beautiful melodies, well balanced over the whole frequency line sort of speak. We love the music by Saul because it sounds so pure, it’s simple and yet so very complex when one analyses the music minute by minute. A very talented artist who surprises us every time again with an outstanding production.

Spacemusic hosted by *TC* (SEASON 4)

Most music is all about pairing notes. Electronic Music is all about pairing sounds. Saul Stokes is an artist who lives in sound. His album Metacollage (49'40") resides among his more Ambient and textural works. Made up of eight quietly complex brain churners, the music on this CD sounds as if electricity were expressing itself as music. Unique tones, ranging from the experimental to the pastoral, are arranged and combined into a most original music. Chimes ring under a digital cloud while raw waveforms are gently twisted, filtered and subdued into fascinating and ever-changing timbres. Jittery beeps slow into lovely melody as a cyber-lullaby forms amidst dulcet synth tones and echo feedback. The overall effect remains in the listening background, yet every now and then a piece does call attention to itself. There is something wondrous about the way this music is produced. While experimenting with his imagination Saul Stokes reveals himself in his work.

Chuck van Zyl (Star's End)

Stokesmusic copyright 2009

Videos

Mash-up style videos featuring music from Metacollage have surfaced on Youtube.

Features the song "Inescapable"

Features the song "Poleroids"