Short example of the "vibrissa" rod instrument.
Microtonally tuned rod instrument played using rosined gloves. No electronics or sound processing..

Vibrissa 1

Long-form piece in five movements (Sun AM, The Carpenter, Yahweh, Koan, Sun PM). 

The entirety of Origin's musical material is comprised of the vibrating strings of Pitre's ensemble of bowed "harmonic-guitars," which are unconventionally strung electric guitars (utilizing multi-unisons) tuned to intervals corresponding with the Harmonic Series, a.k.a. Just Intonation, utilizing the prime numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, and 11). No effects processing (pre or post) was used in this recording. All effect-like qualities result from the multi-unison strings (phasing), sympathetic vibrations, combination/difference tones (of the chosen just tuning), and natural acoustic phenomena as such.

Origin will be released on San Francisco-based label Root Strata (vinyl in May/June 2010, w/ CD &amp; digital download in the following months)


Origin (album preview)

As a duo Tim Catlin and David Brown come together as ‘Helium Clench’ and boast long histories in the Melbourne and international avant-garde music world. ‘Sieve’, their first duo recording is a studio-based project that amalgamates electroacoustic strategies, bowed objects and processed acoustic and electric instruments. Initial recordings focused on improvisational processes along with bowing of acoustic instruments and found objects, whilst other recordings utilized electronically processed electric guitar beds. All of these recordings were then subject to rigorous studio production techniques to shape the final compositions.

Ring Accretion (by Helium Clench - David Brown and Tim Catlin)

Tim Catlin is a guitarist, instrument designer and sound artist with a deep fascination for exploring the sonic possibilities inherent in friction, magnetism and resonant systems.  Although his work spans composition, improvisation, installations and soundtracks, common threads woven throughout  are a keen ear for sonic minutiae, a preference for physical over digital audio manipulation and a yearning for transcendence through sound.

Much of his activity has involved re-investigating the sonic properties of the guitar through a combination of traditional and extended techniques, guitar preparation and modified designs. These pieces are often drone based and densely textural, “blurring lines between metal machine music and holy minimalism.” (The Wire, UK)  Further works utilising resonance, feedback and the harmonic series have employed electric sitar, chromatic handbell sets, cymbals and long string instruments.

Most recently he has constructed a set of new instruments; the “Vibrissae”. These are microtonally tuned metal rod instruments, which are activated by longitudinal stroking to produce a sustained, “singing” tone. He formed the Overtone Ensemble in 2012 to perform works using these instruments along with other self-made instruments.

He has performed or collaborated with Machinefabriek, Jason Kahn, Jon Mueller, Otomo Yoshihide, Phill Niblock, Mike Cooper, Candlesnuffer, Philip Samartzis, Rod Cooper, The Wall of E Guitar Ensemble and many others.

Solo and collaborative releases include “Radio Ghosts” (23five, 2007), “Slow Twitch”, (Dr Jims, 2004), “Sieve” with David Brown (Bocian, 2013), “Glisten” and “Patina” with Machinefabriek (Low Point, 2009 and 2011) and “Plates and Wires” with Jon Mueller, (Crouton 2007).

Ring Accretion (by Helium Clench - David Brown and Tim Catlin)

Tim Catlin

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