Giacinto Scelsi, "Uaxuctum"

I was unfamiliar with this Italian composer until the last Paper Hats tour. My friend Thomas owns an antiquarian book shop in Frankfurt and is an avid collector of modern classical music. Big discoveries of late night "plisener schallplatten party" at Thomas's crib were Jurgen Karg and this guy. Massive, massive stuff here, the work "Uaxuctum", from 1966, is based around the legend of a Mayan city which "destroyed itself for religious reasons". In fact, the real city is called Uaxuctun, and its ruins are located in present day Guatemala. Scelsi's work, and its stunning use of choir and percussion, immediately brings Ligeti to mind but damn this stuff is something else. Heavy days indeed with these grooves. I would call this "2012 ready" for sure, put this on when Popol Vuh is making you feel a little too happy.