Archive for the ‘Gear’ Category
Crossover noises: Bang-on-a-Can
Posted on: November 3, 2013
Bryce Dessner, guitar player of US rock band The National is currently the composer-in-residence of the Muziekgebouw in Eindhoven.
As part of the Composer in Residence series of the Muziekgebouw, a concert will be given on Thursday 07/11 by New York all-star band Bang-on-a-Can, who will be joined by special guest Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth fame. Bang-on-a-Can All Stars have included several contemporary composed guitar pieces in their repertoire, such as the Electric Counterpoint classic of Steve Reich:
The pieces played are made by contemporary composing rock guitarists, including Fred Frith, one of my all-time favorite guitar players:
- Bryce Dessner (The National) – Gloucester 27
- Bryce Dessner (The National) – Shut your Eyes against the Wind
- Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) – Stroking Piece #1
- Fred Frith – Snakes & Ladders
- David Longstreth (Dirty Projectors) – Instructional Video, Matt
- Damon, Breakfast at J&M
- Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) – How Deep are Rivers
With this program, this may be a very interesting first crossover concert of Bryce Dessner’s stay as a composer-in-residence IMHO. So I will be there.
Check for more information:
A giant Leap for computer users
Posted on: June 15, 2013
Today I preordered Leap: a new motion control device which is capable of replacing a mouse if you use a Windows OS on your computer.
For those familiar with sound art, motion controllers to trigger computer interactions are nothing new. In fact, I own several Eowave devices, such as the Eobody2 to trigger and control VSTi’s on my computer using MIDI and hand motions:
But the Leap motion controller extends this concept to PC applications in general. The Leap software is not only capable of recognizing movement on 2D surfaces, but also in 3D. This means it enables you to model 3D objects on your computer using your fingers…
This is the stuff of science fiction movies of the past, like Bladerunner or 2001: A Space Odyssee! Leaf will be delivered to buyers in July.
I can’t wait to get my hands on it..
- Harrison Ford in Blade Runner: Voice Command Interface
- LeapMotion website
- Eowave website
Noise toys expo: Sounds Like Art
Posted on: April 14, 2013
- In: Art | Artifacts | Event | Exhibition | Installations | Instruments | Noise boxes | Sound art
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Now in Mu Gallery in Eindhoven, Netherlands: the exhibition Sounds Like Art.
This is an excerpt of the description of the exhibition on the Mu Gallery website:
“In the vanguard of music, sound artists are always exploring new ways of creating music. Often the search will not only lead them to the new sounds they set out to find, but also to some unique instruments. Instruments which, besides being functional, can also be seen as works of visual art in their own right. Especially when they combine the aesthetics of craftsmanship with the possibilities offered by the latest in technology. Usually these works of art perform their humble services exclusively on the stage, where they can hardly be observed from up close. But in the exhibition SOUNDS LIKE ART the spotlight is not on the artists, but on the instruments they create. It has resulted in an exhibition in which we can hear and, most importantly, also see the unique interplay between form, material qualities, and technology of these new instruments.”
The artists participating are the Andy Cavatorta, who created a series of harps especially for Björk, which are played using gravity.
Other artists in the exhibition include Dutch hardware hacker Gijs Gieskes who compiles new synthesisers from existing electronics, and musician/artist Tom Verbruggen, better known as TokTek, who creates some ingenious sound-producing sculptures.
History of guitar noise
Posted on: March 21, 2013
- In: Event | Gear | Guitars | Performance
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Stumbled upon this interesting video by Adrian Belew on the history of guitar noise:
Being a guitarist for over 35 years more focused on experimenting with sounds and sound effects than on creating melodies, this is a very interesting topic to me. And Adrian Belew is of course the nr. 1 noise master on electric guitar in the world (remember “Remain in Light“, King Crimson etc.?). The video is part 2 in a series of 3, check the other 2 on YouTube if you are interested in (the history of) guitar noises, effects pedals and Adrian Belew’s playing.
Noise wizard: Tim Kaiser
Posted on: January 15, 2013
- In: Instruments | Noise boxes | Sound art
- 2 Comments
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