Originally for 4 channel surround plus LFE.

The drum kit offers an eclectic mix of sounds and although not pitched offers one of the widest harmonic ranges of all western instruments. Drum Solo is an exploration of the timbral qualities of the drum kit and the musical possibilities of the noise based sounds that these can create. The piece focuses on the interplay between stasis and rhythm changing rapidly between noise based drones and glitch inspired beats.

Drum Solo - Stereo Mix

Composed for the Furnace Park Project, Digital Spaces is an exploration of noise through the resonance of the real world. The sounds used throughout the work were generated by converting images of the park into audio; this harsh noise was then processed using convolution to allow these digital sounds to interact with real spaces and resonances captured at the park.

Digital Spaces

The human senses only allow us to experience a very narrow section of the world around us, Inaudible Soundscapes is an exploration of what we cannot hear. Focusing on the interplay between pitch and noise in the turbulent sound world of the inaudible. The piece is composed of recordings of electromagnetic waves and is intended for broadcast over radio (a form of electromagnetic wave). The work presents the medium of delivery as the piece itself.

Inaudible Soundscapes

Jingle Bells

Stratum

Noun

A layer of material, naturally or artificially formed, often one of a number of parallel layers one upon another.

Stratum

Fractured started out as a CD containing 12 tracks of white noise. This CD was destroyed and the resulting sounds recorded to another disk. Repeated over and over, eventually the original sound was lost, leaving only the sound of the process. The broken disks produced a plethora of harsh noise and volatile rhythmic patterns, these were layered the interaction between them explored. A CD can only be so broken before it is unplayable. Similarly the layers within the piece can only be so dense before they have to stop. 

Fractured

Inspired by the discussion in Simon Emmerson's article 'Losing Touch?' Matryoshka aims to blur the boundaries of causality for the listener. Rather than the electronics functioning on their own they instead function as an extension of the piano, both consisting of and triggered by elements of the piano performance. Rather than being a piece for prepared piano and electronics, the work could be considered as being simply for prepared piano, with the electronics functioning as part of the preparation.

Performers: The Edison Ensemble (Christopher Guild and Piers Tattersal)

Matryoshka

For years musicians, producers and engineers sought to reduce the noise-floor of tape. Technologies such as Dolby dbx were developed to minimise the influence of the media on the recorded sound. However today, for many the noise-floor of tape carries a sense of nostalgia, similar to the crackle of vinyl. Akai 4000D is an exploration of the sound of tape and tape machines. The piece looks to question the function of these sounds in a post-digital society. Whilst composing this piece I was particularly interested in exploring the simulacra of nostalgia I felt for the medium of tape as I was born after the invention and popularisation of the CD.

Akai 4000D

Composed to accompany  Lilja María Ásmundsdóttir piece Lurking Creature for sound sculpture, electronics and dance. Uncovered Creature looks to the noise of movement introduced into the original piece through the inclusion of dance and forefronts this sound, uncovering layers of sonic detail usually hidden.

Uncovered Creature

As it's source material this mix utilises tracks that explore the noise of a medium. Many of the tracks used in this mix originally inspired the development of Glitch Turntablism.

Glitch Turntablism is a new performance practice utilising CD's and circuit bent CD players. The practice is inspired by experimental turntablism however, instead of attempting to imitate the sound of vinyl, Glitch Turntablism seeks to expose and exploit the inherent noise of CD's for musical material. The effects of this process are often unpredictable and the affect it has on the original material varies widely, from subtle rhythmic changes through to harsh distortion. This unpredictability results in a constantly evolving music that is produced through improvisation between the performer and the performance medium.

Sitting In A Room

This recording is a short excerpt form a longer performance. As it's source material this section primarily explores the track Lear by Deep Listening.

Glitch Turntablism is a new performance practice utilising CD's and circuit bent CD players. The practice is inspired by experimental turntablism however, instead of attempting to imitate the sound of vinyl, Glitch Turntablism seeks to expose and exploit the inherent noise of CD's for musical material. The effects of this process are often unpredictable and the affect it has on the original material varies widely, from subtle rhythmic changes through to harsh distortion. This unpredictability results in a constantly evolving music that is produced through improvisation between the performer and the performance medium.

Deep Listening - Excerpt

Excerpt from a longer jam. Experimenting with rhythm using the Amen Break.

Amen Break - Excerpt

Bluetooth Disruptions

I am a composer and sound artist from England. Primarily I am interested in approaches to composing with noise. My music has been performed and prized nationally and internationally.

j_p_higgins

Popular tracks