Many of these pieces are what I call "evolving tape loops"...
The sounds/layers were built up and improvised in real time, using an analogue delay system consisting of two Revox reel-to-reel tape recorders situated side-by-side. The two machines are configured so that tape travels from the supply reel of the first machine to the take-up reel of the second, thereby allowing sound recorded by the first machine to be played back some time later on the second. The audio of the second machine is routed back to the first, causing the delayed signal to repeat while new audio is mixed in with it. The amount of delay (usually 4 to 8 seconds) is controlled by increasing or decreasing the distance between the machines.
This technique has been used by many - eg Terry Riley and Mike Ratledge - and was further developed by Brian Eno and Robert Fripp in the 1970s. Indeed, Robert Fripp's "Frippertronics" recordings were a major source of inspiration for my own peculiar little take on said practice.
However, unlike Mr. Fripp, Mr Eno, Terry Riley and Mike Ratledge, I have little musical ability, or any real interest in learning to play, read or write music "by the book", so I find the above technique to be a convenient and satisfying way to create musical structures, for my own amusement (stops me getting up to all sorts of other nefarious practices).
Why use this old technique?
- Because I like the analogue decay and submersion that affects the layers of each repeated loop cycle - spiralling recession and texture - and because I enjoy the buzz and serendipity of improvising live to tape. It's an organic thing, I suppose. Nevertheless, I have more recently upgraded to using a Line6 DL4 Loop Modeller in the same manner but as replacement for my now worn-out and expensive to repair Revoxes.
... Then again, I've also done quite a bit of messing around with various other toys and techniques - ie an old drum sequencer, desktop synths and Basslines, Casio keyboard - some recorded live to tape or minidisc, and others loosely multi-tracked therefore not-so-live... so, I've put several of those up too.
Anyway, here is a selection of tracks and excerpts taken from what are, in the majority of instances, much longer aural meanderings that I put together between 1993 and 2005 (a folder containing full versions plus quite a few other pieces is available here: http://www.esnips.com/web/BackGroundsMusic-extendedclips
... and there's some of my more recent stuff here: http://www.esnips.com/web/BackGroundsNewMusic-2007
... here: http://www.esnips.com/web/BackGroundsMusic2008
... here: http://www.esnips.com/web/BackGroundsCutoffcuts
... here: http://www.esnips.com/web/BackGroundsMusic-2009
and... erm... here: http://www.esnips.com/web/Spirit-Level
Meanwhile, beyond a local Event Horizon: http://www.esnips.com/user/backdogrun
Thank you for stopping by,
B G, April 2008
