Empty Space On a Chessboard
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Empty Space On a Chessboard

Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan | Established. Jan 01, 2011 | INDIE

Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2011
Band EDM Instrumental

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彷彿來自【全面啟動】配樂大師Hans Zimmer的篇章,〈After Quarrel〉以壯闊的「BRAAAM」聲效開場,卻突地在五十秒後,化作冷凝鋼琴,襯著電視機無畫面的噪聲,隨後嘎然而止。《innerSpace》的第一首曲子,便是如此抓緊耳際,那麼,「爭吵」之後呢?

台灣傑出IDM電子音樂影像團隊「棋盤上的空格」,首張專輯《Quarrel》曾在金音獎評審席激起大量討論,最終囊括六項提名一項專輯獎,看過他們現場以兩把吉他、貝斯、合成器與層層影像無縫配搭,則更加目瞪口呆。新碟《 innerSpace》以兩個月製作期,擘畫出一條串通人體器官、竄流其中疾病的概念專輯,從肝、肺、心、血、腎、膽一路描繪下去,型塑一場幽微的人體旅程。

在銜接上張專輯《Quarrel》的〈After Quarrel〉爭吵過後,人體開始發生奇妙的變化。〈Liver Busting〉高速的車行,彷彿The Chemical Brothers為電影【少女殺手的奇幻旅程】打造的配樂;接著,微小的電子聲示意著感染一點一滴的產生,〈Infected Lungs〉行進一分半後才出事,從肺部擴及心臟,〈Heart Attack〉緊湊的噗通跳著,再銜接從心室(破音大鼓)推送出的血液,於是,〈Drifting Blood〉不停竄流,最終後段轉回第一首曲子的鋼琴聲,至此故事可稱完整。

下半場部份,〈Dementia with Lewy Bodies〉靈感取自主腦盧律銘(if)過世外婆所罹患的路易氏體型失智症,以細小音色隱喻記憶的消失;而兩首女聲配唱的〈Gallbladder〉(膽囊)、〈Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder〉(胃食道逆流)則有點睛之效。全輯在好比【異形】般冰冷科技感配樂的〈innerSpace〉作結,這一趟,棋盤上的空格依舊讓人嘖嘖稱奇。 - Elvis Wang


Discography

2012 quarrel
2014 innerSpace

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Bio

E.S.O.a.C. (Empty Space On a Chessboard) is a 4-member IDM audiovisual electronic band, formed in 2011, including neo, koko, if, and tom. Their live stage shows are noted for the combination of large visual projection and music. Since 2011, E.S.O.a.C. has performed in numerous live houses, galleries, and music festivals. In addition, they have been invited to perform in Cologne, Germany and Tokyo, Japan. In 2012, E.S.O.a.C. released their first album Quarrel, which has received 6 nominations in The 3rd Golden Indie Music Award for Best Band, Best New Artist, Best Album, Best Instrumental Performer, Best Electronic Music Album, and Best Electronic Music Single. They later on won the award of Best Electronic Album. E.S.O.a.C.s music is elaborated by multiple cold elecsynthetic signals. When integrated with bass and guitar, playing illusively or furiously, the overlapping sounds can echo around. Their new album innerSpace, released in January, 2014, has carried on the concept of the previous album. This time, the story background has shifted from the outside to the inside. The inspiration of each song in this album is from human organs and systems, which aims to explore ones undisguised self when confronting loneliness. From the prelude, after quarrel to the epilogue innerSpace, each song represents an inner system of human bodies. The album has created a peaceful but furious, tranquil but distorted atmosphere, which is familiar in David Finchers movies. This album is devoted to one who has been facing himself alone. innerSpace is a storage place in everyones heart. It is also a corner to put away something imperfect and broken. Additionally, those who are facing loneliness are the keys to open it. The 10 songs in the album describe a journey to the space vis--vis with the broken self in sequence. Apart from the conventional cold elecsynthetic signals, illusive or furious bass and guitar, E.S.O.a.C. also combines the compositions of the piano and the string instruments to infuse some warmth into the cold electronic music.


Band Members