Wim Mertens
Maximizing The Audience

 A PERFECT CIRCLE  

1984: "Maximizing The Audience", fifth album by Wim Mertens. After the surprising and wonderful melodies of "Struggle For Pleasure" (1983), the Belgian musician has not ceased to amaze.

"Maximizing The Audience" is a masterpiece of perfect minimalism. Structured in a geometrically perfect way: an equation of notes. Despite this mathematical regularity, the album is strongly permeated by a vivid emotional component.

The first track is called "Circles", it is introduced by a few saxophone notes repeated regularly, slowly more notes and winds pick up, making the melody richer, while maintaining the repetitive scheme of the piece unchanged: the result is 18 hypnotic minutes and undoubtedly very heavy, which create a strong sensation of anticipation that is never fulfilled. In this first composition, the minimalist absence of emotions is at its peak.

After this 'intro' follow three tracks, strongly necessary to each other, that reproduce the image of the circle: "Lir", "Maximizing The Audience" and "The Fosse". These pieces are linked by the same musical theme repeated. This is particularly evident in no. 2 "Lir" and no. 4 "The Fosse", two tracks that continue from one to the other, drawing a circumference that has as its center no. 3 "Maximizing The Audience" the title track, not coincidentally placed at the center of the album.

"Maximizing The Audience" is the compositional fulcrum of the album, an unforgettable piece, characterized by a very strong emotional tension, well realized through the 'basso continuo' of the repeated chords at the piano. Indescribably splendid and unsettling the vocal accompaniment.

The piano theme of the melancholic "Lir" is completely revisited, as mentioned, in "The Fosse" where the voice is added, opening a dramatic parenthesis to the composition. The notes of these two tracks can be seen as the infinite points of a circumference, equidistant from the creative center, which guides and supports them: "Maximizing The Audience".

The concluding "Whisper Me" is a long melancholic and delicate musical background. It closes in an appropriate manner a record of great atmosphere.

A 'perfect' work in the most rational and objective sense of the term, but not only. It also represents an enviable and extremely balanced compromise between minimalist rigidity and emotional strength.

Very enjoyable even if not from the first listen. Compositionally different from the previous masterpiece "Struggle For Pleasure", but equally indispensable. Rightfully to be included among the milestones of modern music.