Charles Lareau

January 14, 2023

Charles Lareau - Stasis

Flipped over countless times, turned around just as many, senses and balance are now asunder. The sounds within Stasis have this effect. A source of continual energy flooding every pour within the mind and body. Caught in a diving suit under pressures equal to lengthy fathoms, a burst of turbulence causes the diver to spin and tumble. As the current subsides, vertical and horizontal bearings have been washed away. Floating in a Stasis of sonic saturation, the world around fades into the blur it always is. We listen and are back within the womb of life's beginnings.

Charles Lareau has composed Stasis, a tranquilly blistering absolute beauty of sonic essence. As with many compositions in similar construct to Stasis, this is not a sound piece for any moment. This is specific, these sounds can pacify or agitate depending on the framework of the individual listening. Fortunately, Lost in a Sea of Sound is slow. Stasis has been flipped in the cassette player countless times. The nuances of Stasis and creativity of Charles Lareau speak clearly to this conscious. Something so raw and untamed elicits gorgeous depths. A statement difficult to believe and write upon first listen. But now, easily said and almost not enough. Completely in love with these sounds and wish they could be shared with those around me.... You have to get there though. Stasis is something worked towards and then enjoyed.

Charles Lareau has roots with the Bluescreen label form Hangzhou, China and the Foreign Lands label out of Shanghai. These labels gather force with Gertrude Tapes from Omaha, Pittsburgh's Unread Records and Bryan Day's Public Eyesore / eh? label from San Fransisco. Stasis is released on cassette by Public Eyesore / eh? in an unknown edition. Copies are currently available. Have been looking at Charles Lareau's Nature Talks 1-4 on Foreign Lands, a six cassette release foung on discogs. The discog description "Four tape boxset of late night ramblings and observations on existence or the lack thereof with along with situational recordings, film audio snippets, field recordings etc". Seems like this would be pretty darn interesting. Also, Lost in a Sea of Sound had the pleasure to describe Fluxion by Charles Lareau on Gertrude Tapes and an album by Bryan Day, Christopher Fischer, Charles LaReau and L. Eugene Methe titled Naturaliste - Temporary Presence collaborated by the labels mentioned above. Both amazing like Stasis. Happy to be quasi involved by listening and experiencing such stunning sounds.