I just checked out the latest episode of Motherboard‘s series, Electric Independence, on synthesist Oneohtrix Point Never. I have no argument against his return to the rich tone of instruments like the Roland Juno-60. Just have a listen to some of his work and check the interview above.
As I’ve mentioned in some previous articles, I have been working on a multi-media dance collaboration, Words to Dead Lips, with Annichia Arts since last December that has finally come to a close. We staged three performances at Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis this weekend to a mostly full house. My part in the collaborative effort was to produce the music, and I was given an open mandate to do so. As is my preference, I opted to perform the work to the dance and projected imagery, rather than submit pre-recorded material. Although I adhered to an agreed framework for the soundscape, the improvisational nature of this approach made every performance unique.
The main tool that I used to generate the sound was my Max for Live patch, Grain Machine that explores granular synthesis via a multi-touch controller. I loaded it with five samples including Snow Melting into Lake Superior, One Hundred Sounds in Eight Seconds, High and Low Frequency Drone, and a couple of others for the piece.
Another component to the sonic environment was the noise shield. This device, that I built into saucer sleds, was used by the dancers to synthesize sounds using body contacts and a light dependent resistor. Here’s a five minute excerpt of audio from the closing night’s performance.
WTDL Closing Night Excerpt
The Somethin’ Else #5, curated by Jon Davis, will take place Friday, October 8, 2010 at the Franklin Art Works, 1021 E Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. The theme this month is synthesizers.
I’ll be playing my restored Sequential Circuits Pro-One as well as my preferred axe, the Rhodes in the group DGK (Davis, Glenn, Keston) featuring Jon Davis on bass and bass clarinet, and Tim Glenn on drums.
The roster of artists playing this event has reached a total of eleven for four hours of synthesized madness. Artists include The Radar Threat, Moonstone Variations, DGK, Slapping Purses, S/M, SMAK 10K, Soaking Rasps, Dreamland Faces, Low-Gain, Spacebar, and John Vance.
Here’s one of my favorite live recordings from the last DKG performance to give you a taste of what’s to come.
DGK Live on August 30, 2010 (Track 1)
Graham O’Brien and I really enjoyed our Ostracon performance at the In / Out Festival recently. Part of what made this festival for us was all of the other incredible performers and speakers at the event, such as Rosa Menkman and Peter Kirn. One prominent example was Jred Smyth who gave an energetic and inspired solo drumming concert featuring triggered sounds that transformed the work into evolving structured compositions. Checkout the video clip above of Jred Smyth with Blair Neal on visuals.
The Spark Festival of Electronic Music and Arts is starting this Wednesday, September 29, and continues through Saturday, October 2, 2010. The festival this year includes yet another impressive array of artists.
I will be performing a solo Ostraka set on Saturday, October 2, prior to Caly McMorrow, and the amazing Fred Frith. Unbelievably, all of the performances and exhibits are free and open to the public. Checkout the Spark Festival website for details.
I’ll be performing at the Love Power Church, 1407 South Washington Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, upstairs at 6:30pm on Saturday, October 2 just before Caly McMorrow.