Stephen O’Malley is, in my head, filed under the husband of Kali Malone. That’s not fair, of course, no matter how much Malone’s music fills me with enthusiasm. O’Malley is probably far better known than his spouse. He is one half of the legendary drone metal outfit Sun O))), a founding member of the label Southern Lord, and a successful solo artist. His history of collaborations reads like a who’s who of experimental music: Merzbow, Nurse With Wound, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Peter Rehberg, and many, many more. Why, then, my categorisation of O’Malley as Malone’s spouse? Probably because he now makes music like his betrothed – and with his betrothed.
Spheres Collapser consists of two drone compositions for organ, that is, the genre with which Malone became famous. Here, O’Malley, Malone and Frederikke Hoffmeier (who has published great noise pieces under the moniker Puce Mary) play drawn-out tones. The musicians sound out the potential and power of their instruments, stemming from the years 1777, 1867 and 1995. No words, no singing, no pulse disturbs the wafting of the organs. It is sublime music that forecloses any imputation of meaning.
Yet for all the similarities with Malone’s oeuvre, Spheres Collapser is far more oppressive than The Sacrificial Code or stricter than Does Spring Hide Its Joy – a record also featuring O’Malley. It is great to witness how this power couple interact and spur each other on, no matter whose name is on the cover.
