The accordion is an instrument not often connected to modern music and female composers in the avant-garde field are unfortunately scarce. Luckily Pauline Oliveros combines these two oddities with astonishing results. As one of the original members of the legendary San Francisco Tape Music Centre, Oliveros has become the godmother, if you like, of electronic music. Important records (if there ever was an appropriate name for a label, then this is it) have taken it upon them to re-release some of Oliveros' work. Accordion And Voice is one of those titles that cover the contents completely. The two long tracks on this album, Horse Sings From Cloud (her most famous composition dating back to 1975) and Rattlesnake Mountain, are reminiscent of the mantra-like work of La Monte Young, with long sustaining tones on the accordion supplemented by Oliveros singing. Perhaps a slightly long listen to the casual buyers, electronic music lovers will lap this up. The Wanderer features a second (live) version of Horse Sings From Cloud, this time performed by an accordion quartet. This version is more experimental than the one on Accordion And Voice. Duo For Accordion And Bandoneon is just that, whereas the title track was recorded with The Springfield Accordion Orchestra (featuring no less than 22 accordions and 5 percussionist). The more experimental and diverse nature of The Wanderer makes this the more varied listen of the two CD's. Both recorded in 1983, this is the first time these pieces have been made available on the CD format. Adventurous music for an unusual instrument. Important music indeed.

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