Skeptic Tank with Thomas Keyserling on alto sax

recorded November 8th 1990 - East 13th Street  Basement  

published by Sonic Boom Sound Art - ASCAP 2010, 2013


check out youtube video for part 2 of this recording:  http://youtu.be/bP323PH1kO0

http://youtu.be/bP323PH1kO0

Skeptic Tank - Nov 8th 1990 with Thomas Keyserling on alto sax

Myasma and acid blues improvisations - March 12th 1987

Three Beasts In Heat
March 12, 1987
Bard College Music Studio
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

©1986, 1987 Three Beasts In Heat - all rights reserved.
©2014 Sonic Boom Sound Art - ASCAP all rights reserved.

Myasma and acid blues improvisations - March 12th 1987

Skeptic Tank - September 3rd 1990 with Thomas Keyserling 

Recorded at East 13th Street storefront basement studio

©1990-2014 Skeptic Tank - published by Sonic Boom Sound Art - ASCAP all rights reserved.

Skeptic Tank - September 3rd 1990 - with Thomas Keyserling - Wild Space Jam

Everything Disappears - January 3rd 1990 from the forthcoming album Mahakala Overdrive

Post-production digitizing, editing, mastering in Audacity freeware - April 2015.

(Alien.planetscapes - January.3rd.1990 1 - 15mins - Efx Phaser)

©1990-2015 Sonic Boom Sound Art - ASCAP all rights reserved.  Recorded January 3rd 1990, St. Albans Queens, NYC - Doug Walker's Space Station basement studio:  Doug Walker-synths; Lenny Pace-drums; Lloyd G. Mair Jr.-bass; Harold Lehman-guitar&effects; unknown saxophone player audition


These recordings represent my brief work as guitarist for Alien Planetscapes in December 1989 and January 1990. A portion of the December 27th 1989 session was released on cassette by Doug in 1994 as the 'Lost Missle Outtakes' Volume 1. At the time, as a guitarist, I had been looking for an experimental improvisation, free-jazz, rock-space-psychedelic type thing, in the vein of Miles Davis circa 1971-1974. Doug had placed an advertisement in the Village Voice newspaper's musicians section, seeking like-minded improvisers. Though I can't recall the exact wording, it went something along the lines of a quasi-political poetry rant/plea with references to Hawkwind and Sun Ra. I imagine he had a difficult time sorting through all the phone calls from people interested in his ad, but not quite what he had in mind for his rock-based space-jam project. I really enjoyed talking with him on the phone and was eager to make the drive to St. Albans Queens for an 'audition' jam. For my first trip out there Doug had asked me if it was okay if I picked up the bass player at his home on the East Side of Manhattan. Well, since I was already driving sorta near there (not really), I went over and met Lloyd G. Mair Jr. Lloyd was also an experimental electronic musician, but he had been a gigging bass player in the New York club scene for many years prior, and like Doug, was older and had a lot of experience. When we finally arrived at Doug's home in St. Albans, we were warmly welcomed, and went down to the basement studio to set up. Lenny Pace was already there, setting up his drum kit. Doug and I talked about influences, inspirations, and he showed me his incredible collection of music. It was like getting a free tutorial, or mentorship in this genre, by an expert. Though I had heard 'Gong' on the radio, I didn't know Steve Hillage's solo works, and I was hooked. My influences were more Hendrix-MC5-Blue Cheer feedback and Sun Ra, Miles Davis electronic improvisation. Doug made some space-rock compilation cassettes for me to study and groove on in anticipation of moving this incarnation of Alien Planetscapes into a live performing ensemble. He was very enthusiastic about the chances for his space-rock themed project being promoted alongside a resurgent interest in Hawkwind and other legendary jam bands touring again. The unfortunate conclusion to my involvement in Doug's vision was his inability to maintain an interlocutor between his personal, political ideology (Trotsky-Maoist-Marxist) and his mouth. He attacked my personal beliefs. I really enjoyed jamming with Lloyd and Lenny. He called later to apologize, and asked me to reconsider working with him, but I was moving on, and the drive out there was long and exhausting. I was sad to learn of his tragic passing. I hope releasing some of these sessions adds to the Alien Planetscapes audio history.

Everything Disappears - January 3rd 1990

Flight Back - performed by Three Beasts In Heat
composed by Harold Lehman ©1985
recorded live in Bard Hall on December 6th 1986
post-production in Audacity May 2015

©1985-2015 Sonic Boom Sound Art - ASCAP all rights reserved

Flight Back

Flight Back - (December 6th 1986)

Leon's Sanguine Delight
Live at Sottery Hall - with Ben Fiering -  September 28 1985

Featuring Ben Fiering on vocals and harmonica

©1985, 2018 Sonic Boom Sound Art  -  ASCAP all rights reserved.

Leon's Sanguine Delight

Live at Sottery Hall - with Ben Fiering -  September 28 1985

Leon's Sanguine Delight
Live at Sottery Hall - September 28 1985

©1985, 2018 Sonic Boom Sound Art - ASCAP all rights reserved.

L.S.D. - Live at Sottery Hall  -  September 28th 1985

outdoors in the back patio at the random cafe with bowed cymbal and brushed percussion  - scott verrastro on percussion

Random Tea 

Random Raga

Three Beasts In Heat
 (The Ballad of...) Three Beasts In Heat

February 26, 1987
Bard College Music Studio
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY

©1986, 1987 Three Beasts In Heat - all rights reserved.
©2013 Sonic Boom Sound Art - ASCAP all rights reserved.

(The Ballad of...) Three Beasts In Heat  (February 26 1987 - Bard Music Studio - mono)

Three Beasts In Heat - Amnesty International Benefit at Sottery Hall

March 21-22 1987 2:00am

1. (Ballad of...) Three Beasts In Heat
2. Fastfunk
3. Space 
4. Flight Back*
5. She Pulled My Train All Night Long*

*(w/ Dan McBride on 2nd guitar)

©1986, 1987 Three Beasts In Heat - all rights reserved.
©2013 Sonic Boom Sound Art - ASCAP all rights reserved.

3.22.1987-Sottery Hall - live gig for Amnesty Intl *monophonic lo-fi version*

Skeptic Tank was an experimental,  free improvisation 'group' formed in mid 1990 and dissolving mid 1991.   Based in New York City's Lower East Side, near Alphabet City and Tompkins Square Park, and the East Village neighborhoods.     Influences were vast and musical backgrounds and interests diverse.

The core membership included Chris Kelsey-soprano sax, Mark Birkey-trombone, Steve Waxman-steinberger bass-violin-tin whistle, Marc Dale-percussion-poetry, Harold Lehman-electronic effects-electric guitar-sound art.

Skeptic Tank played live a few times at the "A Mica Bunker" weekly improvisational music and sound art venue hosted at ABC No Rio, and Salvatore Rosillo's artist loft for a live action painting jam with the band.

Thomas Keyserling is known for his discography with Gunter Hampel and other jazz greats.

These recordings may represent some of Thomas Keyserling's last work before his untimely passing.

Youtube video for part 2 of this recording session  - http://youtu.be/bP323PH1kO0

Skeptic Tank - September 3rd 1990 - with Thomas Keyserling - Wild Space Jam

Skeptic Tank

Related tracks