Practical Mechanics

'Bokeh' by Sage Rogan
Music & Lyrics by Sage Rogan
Produced by Troy Rogan & Sage Rogan
Mixed by Hayden Francis
Mastered by Matthew Gray at Matthew Gray Mastering

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LYRICS:

Shortbread houses, silver tinsel
Holly wreaths and handmade angels 
Perfect like it was when you were nine
Been a while, I miss your shy smile
Don’t know why all your plans are
Still wrapped tight in brown paper and twine

I think we’ll be okay 
Fragmented like bokeh 
Beautiful diffusion left behind
Framing open doorways
Lining every hallway
In the shadows chasing our own light

Still afraid to fall asleep
On dreams that might not wake up with me 
Flickering, never meant to be
Sleep soundly

I think we’ll be okay 
Fragmented like bokeh 
Beautiful diffusion left behind
Framing open doorways
Lining every hallway
In the shadows chasing our own light

The cold is creeping in
I wear my winter skin
The city’s quiet now
Our thoughts are way too loud
Fumble to find your keys 
We wonder where we’ll be 
This time next year

I know we’ll be okay 
Fragmented like bokeh 
Beautiful diffusion left behind
Framing open doorways
Lining every hallway
In the shadows chasing our own light 
Beautiful diffusion left behind

Bokeh

Labels. Artists generally utilise labels (e.g., freelance musician and educator) as a one-sentence elevator pitch of what they do in the industry. It's commonly seen at the start of biographies,  advertisements and social media. Nowadays, labels can be extended to express the details of one's gender, nationality, sexuality and much more. It is no longer just a one-sentence elevator pitch, but rather a way of positioning ourselves in the world by choosing to be identified by these 'labels'. It may just be a few extra words to say or write, but it can create a big impact to the world. What are your thoughts about labels? Leave a comment or e-mail us at musiciansumuted@gmail.com. You can also visit our website at www.musiciansunmuted.weebly.com

Music Credits 
Opening Theme by Daniel Kassulke 
Closing Theme by Anna Kho

Episode 41: Labels

Practical Mechanics a 5-part composition for chamber ensemble by Chris Perren. It is an ode to technological optimism, inspired by the tattered pages of vintage issues of Practical Mechanics Magazine, a home science and technology magazine published between 1933 and 1963. The music combines mathematically generated patterns and mechanical repetition with the warmth of folk harmony and melody, exploring a musical allegory for the threshold where grand laws of science collide with the grounded reality of day-to-day human life. 

Movement I - The Great Awakening

Movement II - Constructional Details of a Novel and Fascinating Machine

Movement III - Hovercraft: Transport of the Future

Nonsemble is a chamber group which draws on eclectic musical influences to fill a space somewhere between the conservatoire and the underground. It tips its hat equally to Mogwai and Ligeti; Autechre and Philip Glass.

Formed in 2012 by composer Chris Perren (of Mr. Maps, lofly/hangar), Nonsemble features some of Brisbane’s most talented young players, including Hik Sugimoto (Deep Blue) on percussion, Sam Mitchell (Brisbane Chamber Choir, NYCA), on piano, Flora Wong (AYO, Sydney Sinfonia) and Sam Andrews (QYS) on violin, Kieran Welch (QYS) on viola, and Briony Luttrell (Tara Simmons, Mr. Maps) on Cello.

In the short time since their inception the ensemble have performed at Restrung Festival at Brisbane Powerhouse with some of Australia’s top classical and new music ensembles, and were selected to play at Harvest Festival 2012 alongside acts such as Beck, Sigur Ros and Grizzly Bear.

Practical Mechanics is an ode to technological optimism, and playfully explores the belief that science can solve all human problems. The titles and text excerpts are taken from the tattered pages of vintage issues of Practical Mechanics Magazine, a home science and technology magazine published between 1933 and 1963.

The collision of hard scientific law with domestic human life, is reflected by the juxtaposition of mathematical and rule-based compositional approaches and the ineffably chaotic nature of human musical intuition. Practical Mechanics employs various rational and rule-based pattern- making techniques, including Schillingerian methods, list structures, additive and constructive techniques and others devised by the composer. This machine-like nature is especially prominent within the rhythm of the piece, and imbues the work with a complex yet controlled sense of mechanical determinacy. The harmony on the other hand is immediate and expressive, referring more to popular and folk music and reflecting the human needs central to the development and use of technology.

Recorded at The Nickson Room, UQ by Briony Luttrell and Chris Perren.
Produced, mixed and mastered by Chris Perren.

More info about:
Nonsemble: http://nonsemble.com.au
Chris Perren: http://chrisperrencv.tumblr.com

Movement IV - Photographing Noise

Movement V - The Shape of Wings to Come

Opening with a melancholic interplay between samples, guitar harmonies and soft flutes, the track soon swells with distorted voices, shimmering percussion and plaintive orchestral sweeps. For producer George Cloke, the meditative ebb and flow of the soundscapes incite the indefinable and unreliable process of remembering. 

Themes of memory, community and nature are explored throughout Spring In A Small Town’s self titled debut album, which releases on Flau 15th May.

Spring In A Small Town - Memoria

A private test recording - the basis of my performance at Oscillo Scape 13 (May 10th 2019).

Untitled

Hallelujah Junction— John Adams (Sam Mitchell— two pianos)

Float in a dreamworld with the one and only @peterbroderick. In his latest, Earnest Leslye, a radiant piano melody glides above a bed of bubbling synths, feeding our minds with inspiration and our ears with an air of calm.

🎧 orcd.co/pb-earnestleslye
🎬 youtu.be/cNXM5ucnJlw

Entry no 4 in our summer single series. Artwork by Mikhail Mishin.

Earnest Leslye

Download

Peter Broderick - Earnest Leslye

Australian Composer & Video Artist. 
Father of two, Social Media Defector, Monotasker.
PhD in composition from UQ under Rob Davidson.
Mr. Maps (math-rock)
Nonsemble (chamber/indie-classical)
Software of Seagulls (electronica)
Artless Pursuit (pop)
Various other audiovisual work, notated compositions, and one-off projects.

Movement I - The Great Awakening

Chrisperren

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