Category Archives: visually sound sunday

December 2, 2012

[Visually Sound Sunday: Michael Pisaro's 'Tombstones']

By upstatesoundscape

Check out this short documentary about Buffalo-born composer Michael Pisaro and and his 2012 album, Tombstones. 

http://www.hemberlin.de/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/tsvinyl-975x1024.jpg

From HEM site:

Watch Michael Pisaro speak in the studio about DJ Screw and the process of composing ‘Tombstones.’ 

A live in-studio recording of “Fool” (based on a DJ-Screw / UGK track) follows the interview. Julia Holter, Janet Kim and Lisa Tolentino contribute vocals.

‘Tombstones’ was designed and hand-silkscreened by Berlin artist Adam Raymont, each ‘Tombstones’ sleeve is printed in white ink on transparent vellum. The delicate image, a cloud of smoke patterns excited by a sound wave, is printed negative and positive on the front and the back, respectively. When the two sides are aligned around the transparent vinyl, a unique, ghostly effect occurs.

Composed by Michael Pisaro

Produced by Jason Grier & Michael Pisaro
Directed by Heidi Petty

Recording: Jason Kick, @ Studio Paradiso, San Francisco
Mastering: Sounds Awful Good, Los Angeles (http://soundsawfulgood.com)
Cover Design: Adam Raymont

Vocals: Julia Holter, Janet Kim, Lisa Tolentino
Violin: Laena Myers-Ionita
Guitars: Jason Grier
Michael Pisaro
Rob Esler: Percussion
Flute: Kelly Coates
Bass: Laura Steenberge
Viola: Cassia Streb
Piano: Tashi Wada
Harmonium: Julia Holter, Tashi Wada

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November 18, 2012

[Visually Sound Sunday: Brendan Hoyt, 'Sound']

By upstatesoundscape

Sound is a short documentary put together by Brendan Hoyt about artist Baird Buchanan aka Claymation. The documentary follows Buchanan around as he collects field recordings in and around Albany. Field recordings play a prominent part in Claymaytion’s ambient soundscapes and he even provided a one for our [Soundmark] series. 

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October 7, 2012

[Visually Sound Sunday: Christian Marclay, 'The Clock']

By upstatesoundscape

Christian Marclay surely needs no introduction here.  As a sound artist, Marclay made a name for himself years ago exploring the possibilities of performing with damaged records and even broken/re-assembled records. Just such a performance took place in Buffalo at Hallwall’s back in 1985. See pic below.

Christian Marclay at Hallwall’s 1985

Marclay’s endeavours are not limited to sound, however. The Swiss-born artist also works in film and even teaches Video Collage at the European Graduate School. His own skills in video collage became apparent with the release of The Clock.

According to Toronto art gallery The Power Plant, The Clock is a 24-hour “ode to time and cinema . . . comprised of thousands of fragments from a vast range of films that create a 24-hour, looped, single-channel video. Marclay compiled thousands of film clips of wristwatches, clock towers, sundials, alarm clocks, and countdowns, each of which illustrate every minute in a 24-hour period.”

Check out this 3-minute excerpt. . .

And luckily The Clock is screening in Toronto at the Power Plant at select times until November 25th. See link for times.

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September 2, 2012

[Visually Sound Sunday: Jon Mueller's Death Blues/Cages]

By upstatesoundscape

Really good show lined up for Labor Day evening at Soundlab. Super talented Buffalo duo Cages is bringing to town some Milwaukee friends including percussionist Jon Mueller (Collections of Colonies of Bees, Volcano Choir). Mueller will be performing with his Death Blues project that Mueller describes as “a multidisciplinary project that addresses the inevitability of death as impetus to become more present in each moment.” See the video below for more on Mueller’s thinking behind the project. Also on the bill is Group of Altos, another act out of Milwaukee.

And if you’re not yet familiar with Cages, check out the 2008 live performance in Bloomington below. Singer Nola Ranallo is easily one of the most intense vocalists you will see on stage. Her delivery has a Bjork-like ferociousness while the timber of her voice is wholly unique. Backed by multi-instrumentalist David Bailey, the duo will perform some new material from their upcoming 12″.  Should be a great show.

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July 15, 2012

[Visually Sound Sunday: Nova Drone Sound and Light Synth]

By upstatesoundscape

Check. This. Out.

A line of homemade synths built by Troy’s Nonhorse (G. Lucas Crane) and Casper Electronics (Pete Edwards) that provides a visual element to the crazy analog drones produced by the synth.

Unfortunately, this model is sold out. Plenty of other toys are available though at Casper Electronic’s website. See description of specs below.

From Impose Magazine’s website: THE NOVA DRONES OFFERS 9 POTENTIOMETERS, 9 SWITCHES, 6 OSCILLATORS, 3 OSCILLATOR SYNC INPUTS AND AN EPIC 15 VOLTAGE OUTPUTS AS WELL AS 3 HIGH CURRENT OUTPUTS FOR CONTROLLING EXTERNAL LEDS. ALL OF THE INS AND OUTS HAVE BEEN ROUTED TO A PROTOTYPING BREADBOARD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE UNIT WHICH ALLOWS FOR LIBERAL EXPERIMENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CUSTOM CIRCUITS. THE PROTOTYPING AREA IS ESPECIALLY USEFUL FOR SYNCING THE OSCILLATORS OF 2 OR MORE NOVA DRONES TOGETHER. THE NOVADRONE HAS THREE SEPARATE CHANNELS WHICH GENERATE SOUND AND CONTROL THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE THREE COLORS IN A TRI COLOR LED. THE SOUND AND LIGHT COME FROM THE SAME ELECTRICAL SIGNAL. YOU ARE LITERALLY SEEING WHAT YOU HEAR.

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June 10, 2012

[Visually Sound Sunday: Being Man Forever]

By upstatesoundscape

Man Forever, the solo project of Oneida drummer John Colpitts aka Kid Million, will stage a performance in Buffalo this Friday at the Polish Library.

This will not be a run-of-the-mill show, but rather a sound experience achieved through a collaborative drum performance.  Check the video of Colpitts explaining the concept and giving a run down of what to expect.

Also performing Friday night are Bone Vapor, Bear Flames and All of them Witches.  

 

From Vimeo site:

Being Man Forever video

Man Forever will feature an ever-changing cast of collaborating musicians on tour. The “Being Man Forever” video is intended to familiarize them with the performance. The video was directed by Matt Marlin, a frequent Man Forever guest player and a member of the band Pterodactyl, and features Kid Millions, James McNew (Yo La Tengo), Shahin Motia (Ex Models, Oneida), Richard Hoffman (Sightings), Sarah Richardson and Valerie Uher (Creeping Nobodies).

Collaborators on tour will include members of Besnard Lakes, DD/MM/YY, Tortoise, Brokeback, Turn to Crime, White Gregg, Pelt, Cave, Terminal Lovers, Scarcity of Tanks, The Apes, and many more TBD. 

Man Forever recently released Pansophical Catarac via Thrill Jockey.

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June 3, 2012

[Visually Sound Sunday: Pedestrian Deposit Live]

By upstatesoundscape

Electro-Acoustic/noise act Pedestrian Deposit will perform tonight at the Vault in Buffalo. Below is a video of  a great performance from the group in their hometown of Los Angeles.

Show starts at 8pm and will also feature Cincinnati’s Pusdrainer and local support from Malarai Control and Air Loom.

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May 6, 2012

[Visually Sound Sunday: Jason Lescalleet, Live at Temple]

By upstatesoundscape

Here is a performance by Jason Lescalleet, an artist who we will be performing Monday (5/6) at the Vault in Buffalo. If this video anything like what we might be in for on Monday night, one this is clear…..bring your earplugs.

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April 29, 2012

[Visually Sound Sunday: Jacob Gotlib's 'Portrait Sequence (Blanching Out)']

By upstatesoundscape

Here is the video from the recent performance of a cool percussion piece written by University at Buffalo composition student Jacob Gotlib. Portrait Sequence (Blanching Out) was performed by the Crossfire Duo (Bob Fullex and Jason Bauers). You can also check out the score and other info for this piece here. 

 

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April 22, 2012

[Visually Sound Sunday: Nue Nue, 'Live at the Cloud Club']

By upstatesoundscape

 Upstate Soundscape favorite Skeleton Zoo, an electronic sample-happy duo out of Albany, has joined forces with Tristan Allen and Faust Ghoul to form Nue Nue, collective of like-minded experimental musicians.

 Nue Nue recently held their debut performance together in Boston at the Cloud Club. Below is a video of that performance.

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