These are some of the results of a couple of days work with audio-image conversion, editing, reassembling, and reconverting. Where there is a Soundcloud player the image above is what made the sound, or vice versa. I'm working on a way to make pictures that will make "nicer" sounds than these examples, which are pretty hard going. Still though, I'm now in possession of over 3 hour's worth of new audio which will become the basis for more sound design.
We got the chance to make loads of noise over a couple of World Cup games in The Shed art space in Dublin last week. Here's the second match, where myself, Fionn, Amanda Feery, Niamh de Barra and Gavin Prior were using an assortment of noise making devices. I had made a couple of vuvuzela inspired instruments out of uileann pipe double reeds, plastic pipe and oil funnels, and used 2 box zithers and feedback processes. Niamh was on cello, Amanda on harmonium and clarinet, Gavin on amplified cutlery stands, melodica and feedback, and Fionn used his fancy new mixer, a deck, drum machine, and a load of pedals.
Nobody came the first day except for Niamh and Shane McKenna (whose graphic score we played on Monday), and the next day wasn't much better. It was a lot of fun though, a nice space, plenty of room and with the FYED soundsystem everything was sounding good (and delicious vegan food afterwards). Audio-visuals all the way...
This is my set from last week's Welfare Clinic show hosted by DJ Welfare on Radio Na Life. I used a lot of tunes from the archives, making Frankenstein-like mashes from re-purposed basslines or breaks taken from abandoned or obsolete tunes. I have a lot of live jams and unreleased tangents of tunes from over the last couple of years especially, some of which are put to use here.
Depth Dub (2004) / Noisome remix version (Kontakte 2007) Brain Your Melt (live remix 2010)/ Brain Your Melt (Molten Membrane) Life and Soul (forthcoming Takeover Records) / Winter Party acappella (Niamh de Barra, Cusp EP, forthcoming SSTN) Giant Bassmantics (Squirm EP, Touchin Bass 2006)/ Weeping Chickens (2001)/ Jam with Susana Benavente (2005) From the moment you arrive (vocal: Amanda Feery + Regan O'Brien)/ First Date (Molten Membrane)/ Plinktronics (2002)
JMT vs. ED (John Mary Trilogy recordings / reconditioned breaks from the archive / live ambient jams…possibly forthcoming SSTN) / Madrugando (feat. Susana Benavente, 2006) / Frozen Backpackers (live techno version 2010) / Stand Clear (live 2010) Doomtime! (feat Niamh de Barra/Scurvy Lass, Molten Membrane) GRND Remix (Swarm Intelligence, forthcoming on Stasis Records) Playtime (forthcoming !kaboogie) / Frozen Backpackers (version x) Overflux remix (Magnetize, Mantrap 2007)/ Space jams (Dubreak, Kachanski, Ed Devane live ensemble 2010)/ Future (live 2010, forthcoming Takeover)
Space Mash (Spin (2003)/ Spacejams (live) re-edited / Apulse loop (2007)) War Stories remix ( T-Polar, Takeover Records)/ Blomg (feat Scurvy Lass, 2004) / space noises Haze remix (Anodyne, forthcoming TBC) 2C-me (Room Full of Empty People, Takeover)
A little jam with my zither, a malfunctioning phrase sampler and some reverb, and a seriously malfunctioning 80's Soundcraft mixing desk I recorded last week while trying to write something for the SSTN String Series. This is me just messing around, but it sounds alright. I'll be making something a lot more layered and "composed" this week under the Withering Zithering moniker, which will probably sound very different to this.
While working on a mix for DJ Welfare's Welfare Clinic show on Radio Na Life a couple of weeks ago I searched the archives for material I could use / re-use. I have hours and hours of recordings of John Mary Trilogy jams for a couple of years ago which alone will never see the light of day due to the overall quality of the recordings (and music).
That said it's a fertile picking ground for interesting textures, rhythms and noises, and the above is an example of what I could throw together in 20 minutes with the addition of some beats taken from a minute long, abandoned attempt at drum 'n' bass made in 2003. The radio mix should be online in the next few days, link on its way.
Finally got around to jamming with Fyodor for our FYED noise / electro-acoustic / hearing damage project. I used a little motor-powered air fan bought that day in Maplins, a telephone/ magnetic coil pick-up for input and an effect feedback ensemble in Ableton Live, and he used a turntable, loopers and effects. Plans are afoot for gigs and releases over the summer.
While not in Wexford over the last few weeks (supposedly putting the finishing touches to my next release on Takeover Recordings - "Room Full of Empty People" EP) I had a few jams with Kachanski, Rory St. John, Ronan Dunne and Dubreak in the space we started renting recently. Sound samples coming soon.
Ed Devane is a Dublin-based practitioner of music and associated areas of interest. Contact: edjdevane [at] gmail [dot] com
A more comprehensive CV site, discography and such is on the way, for now take a look through the posts and you'll see what I work at day-to-day.
