In The Dreamroom

Malcolm Smith by Richard Frankland.

Musicians: Peter Camm; John Betros; Malcolm McBeath; Ian Kitney; Amy Saunders; Sally Dastey; Julia Messenger; Anthony Norris; Kimba Thompson; James Stewart; Doug Kelly; Stewart Donohue; Chris Pascoe. Producer: Anthony Norris.

https://www.discogs.com/release/22529753-Richard-Frankland-Down-Three-Waterholes-Road

Down Three Waterholes Road

Malcolm Smith by Richard J Frankland

In this new and challenging direction, 'Human Machine Amazing!' is Sylektis' second single from Collection 2, featuring drummer extraordinaire Osman Konuray. The process began with a rhythmic exploration of 18, split into 6+6+6 or 7+7+4.  Osman was presented with (in retrospect) an unnecessarily complicated mathematical musical puzzle, that he not only graciously solved, but also  took to another level by adding mind-bending layers of complexity and poly-rhythms in the cymbal and snare parts, creating the single tour-de-force drum performance you can hear on this track. That's right, this is one performance, not recorded in overdubs!

To contrast this marvel of human musicianship, it became clear that all the melodic aspects of the track had to contrast the live drums.. hence everything else was composed of synthesizers and worked around the drum performance. Frederic Dumesle once again lends his expert analog synth skills to the synth bass, while Basil created the higher synth lines and computer vox parts. The poly-rhythmic coming together and separating of live drums and synths is a wry nod to the synergy and dissonance of humans and technology.. hence the title.  

The vocoder computerised voices singing 'Amazing! Isn't it so... Amazing! Wasn't that so.. Amazing! Aren't you just so.." were already in the track. However by some bizarre twist of fate on the day the track was mixed, Basil heard the lines 'I just wanted to tell you, I think you're amazing. I think you're amazing too! you're so amazing!' while viewing the film Baghead (2008)*.  Naturally, this serendipity could not be ignored. 

www.sylektis.space

*Drums performed and recorded by Osman Konuray in Barcelona. Synth Bass parts by Frederic Dumesle recorded in Brussels. Additional synths and mix by Basil Hogios in Prague. 
*Sample credit: from the film Baghead (2008), written and directed by the Duplass Brothers, staring Greta Gerwig and Steve Zissis.  All attempts made to get copyright clearance for the sample.

Human Machine Amazing! (feat. Osman Konuray)

drifts

You can learn to play this piece. FREE scores and parts, among other materials, are available online: kronosquartet.org/fifty-for-the-future

Composed by Kala Ramnath on violin, arranged for string quartet by Reena Esmail 
© 2016 Inner Sunset Publishing
℗ 2016 Kronos Performing Arts Association
Commissioned for Fifty for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire

Produced by Kronos Quartet
Recorded July 2016 at Studio Trilogy, San Francisco, CA
Engineered and mixed by Laura Dean
Assistant Engineer: Alex Spencer
Production Assistant: Minna Choi
Mixed at Women's Audio Mission, San Francisco, CA
Assistant Mixing Engineers: Monica Bonilla, Ripley Young, Becca High, Victoria Fajardo, Hannah Valente and Victoria Fajardo

Amrit

Kala Ramnath - Amrit

You can learn to play this piece. FREE scores and parts, among other materials, are available online: kronosquartet.org/fifty-for-the-future

Composed by Rhiannon Giddens on banjo; Arranged for string quartet by Jacob Garchik
© 2016 Kronos Arts Publishing
℗ 2016 Kronos Performing Arts Association
Commissioned for Fifty for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire

Produced by Kronos Quartet
Recorded March 2017 at 25th Street Recording, Oakland, CA
Engineered and mixed by Laura Dean
Assistant Engineers: Gabriel Shepard, Peter Labberton, Ryan Ellery
Production Assistant: Reshena Liao
Mixed at Women’s Audio Mission, San Francisco, CA
Assistant Mixing Engineers: Molly Bolten, Adria Otte, EA Allen, Maira Clancy

At the Purchaser's Option with variations

Rhiannon Giddens - At the Purchaser's Option with variations

Outta Sight - Justin Connor & The Grand Wazoo

Cold Sweat - Justin Connor & The Grand Wazoo

You can learn to play this piece. FREE scores and parts, among other materials, are available online: kronosquartet.org/fifty-for-the-future

Composed by Hawa Kassé Mady Diabaté on vocals, arranged for string quartet by Jacob Garchik
© 2018 Inner Sunset Publishing
℗ 2019 Kronos Performing Arts Association
Commissioned for Fifty for the Future: The Kronos Learning Repertoire

Produced by Kronos Quartet and Reshena Liao
Recorded August 2019 at 25th Street Recording, Oakland, CA
Engineered by Zach Miley
Assistant engineer: Gabriel Shepard
Mixed by Zach Miley and David Harrington at Decibelle Recording, San Francisco, CA

Malcolm Smith by Richard J Frankland

bconnor

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