gurdonark: (in vague outline)
[personal profile] gurdonark
On July 20, 2002, producer/guitarist [livejournal.com profile] scottm and I gathered at my home art room (now referred to more properly as "Landsford Studios") to record an improvised six hours of would-be ambient music termed "Vibrating Electric Fields--Experiments in Ambient Improvisational Music". I've described the process in detail in the journal post on the day of recording. After ten months of getting the CD duplicated (i.e., months of sitting around and about a week of actual duplication delay) and the jewel box inserts completed (i.e., about two weeks for Scott to design them and a couple of months of needless delay while I got around to getting them printed out), we finally have finished CDs. I ran out of brother before I ran out of new releases, so Scott's CD will have to be finalized in an upcoming weekend.

I am a more or less a music-reading non-musician (given to plinking my autoharp, tapping a glockenspiel, and humming into a kazoo or didjeridoo), while Scott is a non-music-reading musician capable of playing the guitar, the bass, the ukelele and a number of other things. We set out to make "Vibrating Electric Fields" as an experiment in the creation of recorded product on a wholly improvised basis, aiming for an ambient sound. The title derives from the centerpiece instrument of the affair, two electric football fields, which emit metallic vibrating sounds subject to changes in speed and pitch, depending on the way in which the field is manipulated. In our quest for ambience, we nearly wholly failed, because our improvisatory instincts turned out to be much more song-driven than I would have imagined prior to the beginning of the project. The result of the session, which took some six hours, is 12 songs of decided oddness. Some sound like rather ordinary acoustic melodic songs, but for the whine and grate of the electric football field, while others sound like two norelco razors in a match to the death, or a 60s gladiator movie soundtrack played entirely by kazoo. For a lament about the low quality of the music, made just after a marathon failed mixing section, look here.

This is low-fidelity, instrumental, quirky/weird stuff. But now it's time for its initial world-wide release. Because I don't use white wine, gouda cheese, turquoise jewelry, shoulder-length hair, discussions of fixations on bands like the Romantics or words like "deconstruction", I've elected not to have a live music release party. Accordingly, this post will have to suffice as the initial release party for "Vibrating Electric Fields", now being offered for the first time anywhere. I must thank my brother, who got the jewel case inserts to print out correctly, Hypnos and Ralph Records, whose artists were the initial pathwinders on my winding roads to making this music, the indelible [livejournal.com profile] scottm, who made this project happen, and Harry Partch, Bill Nelson and Brian Eno, who should always be thanked for everything.

But every album release party should have a freebie, shouldn't it? Please fill out the poll below to get yours; as a courtesy, it's easier for me if you can fill it out even if you are one of the ones (and you largely know who you are) to whom I'd send the CD anyway, because it gives me a one--stop address resource.

Here's my thanks to each of you for the inspiration you all provide to me:

[Poll #138704]

Date: 2003-05-26 04:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] burninggirl.livejournal.com
I said yes, but i'm conscious of the cost of international postage. Is there anything I can send you from here in return?

Date: 2003-05-26 04:54 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gurdonark.livejournal.com
that's very kind of you, but not necessary. I think that the postage for just a CD will be modest.

I had thought about getting the paypal for the charity I'm trying to support (a local deaf advocacy group fund-raising to do a play about a deaf sports player in the 19th century), but then thought I'd just post it as a giveaway.

But you're very kind to offer!

Date: 2003-05-26 08:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] chevrefeuilles.livejournal.com
Woo-hoo! Congratulations.

Date: 2003-05-26 08:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gurdonark.livejournal.com
Thanks very much! I've been very into finishing since I read parts of the book The Ambient Century during lunch pizza buffet :). I've got to go tomorrow to get some more CD mailers!
(deleted comment)

Date: 2003-05-26 08:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gurdonark.livejournal.com
I ordered that Ros Bandt album yesterday, so I'm eager to hear her. She sounds quite interesting. I'm happy to mail down south, and I'll get it posted in the next few days!

Date: 2003-05-27 12:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] laruth.livejournal.com
I think I answered a similar poll in your earlier posts? Anyway, if I can help out towards postage cost for the cd, let me know. Either way, I'm trying my hand at some thing, and I'll post that to you once I'm satisfied with my "art". ;)

Date: 2003-05-27 04:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gurdonark.livejournal.com
Sounds wonderful! I'll bet you're one of those people who's truly musical, and not somebody who makes stuff as ridiculous as mine :).

Date: 2003-05-27 01:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mattcallow.livejournal.com
i gave you my hopefully-soon-to-be-in-america address. i already have a mailbox there that so far has had no mail. it will be a priviledge to have your cd christen it... :)

Date: 2003-05-27 04:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gurdonark.livejournal.com
It will be a fitting tribute to a new American mailbox :).

Date: 2003-05-27 05:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asphalteden.livejournal.com
I want a CD! I hope you will save a specially packed one for me until I have a new address for you to send to!

Date: 2003-05-27 05:48 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gurdonark.livejournal.com
I'd addressed one to your old address. I'll save it aside until you move, unless you want me to send it to your work address.

huzzah!

Date: 2003-06-04 12:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daisydumont.livejournal.com
my cd arrived a while ago and promptly went into the cd drive. it vibrates, it's musical, it's unlike anything i ever heard before! thank you -- it's great fun. i'm much obliged. :)

Re: huzzah!

Date: 2003-06-04 08:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gurdonark.livejournal.com
I'm glad you're having fun with it. Thanks for such a kind note.

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