MARK APPLEBAUM
Martian Anthropology (Innova Recordings)
Reviewed by Erick Mertz

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Mark Applebaum's associative audio experiment Martian Anthropology is ostensibly orchestral music; it utilizes the Stanford Symphony Orchestra, making use of beautiful, evocative live recordings in Dinkelspiel Auditorium. However, reducing Applebaum's opus to any definition is an easy temptation best averted as even "orchestral" seems slightly reductive. His movements are playful and energetic, as if the great Kazoo late of the Flintstones found his way onto the farm of Palo Alto and had undetected influence on the musicians as they toiled in their seats.

Applebaum is an assistant professor of composition at Stanford who hatched this album from an exercise given to his students. His quandary to them was, choose three items to be given to Martian anthropologists should earth become obliterated by nuclear holocaust. Of course, the vision of a surreal triangle is easily drawn from such grisly prospect. How about an early Santana album, can of wax beans and a post card of Lake Placid? Any three things laid out as the only three items to represent our world culture create a wildly imaginative story, sad and even hopeful for finding meaning in it all.

The possibilities are by definition endless, and the ability of that infinity to inform Applebaum is apparent as Martian Anthropology is alive like a lost Saturday morning cartoon, tender in places like the break of dawn from which it takes its name. Applebaum's creation isn't limited to its genesis; it is a valuable, powerful piece of music; for those made curious by process, it reaches near necessity.

[Pick this up at www.innovarecordings.com.]

© 2004 - Erick Mertz