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Our new Space Genetics release, “Volume 2”, evolved
from an idea we first explored in performance at the International
Society for Improvised Music (ISIM) Conference held in Ann Arbor,
Michigan in December of 2010. Unlike our musical work on “Volume 1”
where we composed collaboratively by sharing musical material
(played on woodwinds and electronics) via the Internet, “Volume 2”
was conceived as a series of improvisations that were created and
performed exclusively using Ableton Live, Novation Launchpads, and
digitally sampled sounds.
Each of us developed an individual palette of sounds, effects, and
musical ideas within Ableton Live. Since we were also interested in
exploring the creative possibilities of the Novation Launchpad, we
each developed our own system of using the Launchpad in order to
execute the peculiarities of our sound palettes. In the initial
phases of this creative process, although we shared musical samples
with one another, we worked largely independently in developing the
systems and technique necessary to allow us to perform without
woodwinds in a way that felt liberating and creative, without
feeling restricted by our respective technologies. After extensive
independent work, we collaborated in 30-minute performance at ISIM.
This was the first time we performed exclusively on Launchpads and
without woodwinds.
Feeling creatively empowered by this collaboration, we set out to
create a series of improvisations using the same palettes and
Launchpad setups we used at ISIM. The result is the five pieces
included on “Volume 2”. Although each piece has qualities that make
it unique, the five pieces can be perceived as a suite—there are
sonic elements and emergent forms that strive to create a sense of unity and
balance. We hope you enjoy listening to our work as much as we
enjoyed creating it. |
