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Ottotoon — Quantum Mechanic
((Not on label) Zard-o-Fone cd0034, 2019, CD / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2022-10-27

Quantum Mechanic Cover art

Mark Larson, AKA Ottotoon, is a keyboardist and synthesist who released his debut album, Quantum Mechanic, in 2019. Recorded over several years, the eleven tracks range from thick, synth-driven textures à la Tangerine Dream or jazzy prog of Soft Machine to some impressionistic and introspective pieces. Mark’s love of synths and waveforms reach back to the 60s when he was a teenager and lusted after the huge Moog on Swithched on Bach and Keith Emerson’s keyboard pyrotechnics. The album title refers to Mark using his toolbox of synth hardware to convert moods, emotions, and sound poems into strings of waveforms, thus entering the quantum world of 1s and 0s. Mark uses analog synths, electronic percussion, and drum machines to drive his multi-keyboard prog jazz compositions. Though he does not display the keyboard chops of Keith Emerson, he does include clusters of notes that sound like Emerson, especially on “It’s Medeski’s Fault.” The two highpoints on the album are his homage to The Day the Earth Stood Still, “Klaatu Barata Niktu,” an abstract rumbling synth tone poem, and “Soporific,” which is the antithesis of being soporific with its energetic and fun vibe. All eleven instrumental tracks are different, showcasing Mark’s compositional skill, from solo introspective piano pieces to full on prog jazz.

Filed under: New releases, 2019 releases

Related artist(s): Ottotoon (Mark Larson)

 

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