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Tape Editing for Welcome to Mars at Interesting2008
By noisymatchbox | May 19, 2008
As previously mentioned I’ll be using a reel to reel tape machine when I perform along side Ken Hollings at the Interesting Conference this year. I’ll be using it to play pre prepared tape loops containing other worldly tones and oscillations over which I’ll be layering spaced out minimoog. Tape loops are (usually) short measures of tape spliced together end to end to create a short rhythmic or ambient loop. Used by the BBC Radiophonic workshop to bring to life alien planets in Dr Who and then by groups like the Beatles, Pink Floyd and 50 Feet Hose to add an extra level of aural acid to their sound, they even found their way into the Disneyland Starlight Parade through Jean Jacques Perrey.
Early users quickly realised that segments of tape could be spliced together, played back at different speeds or direction and manipulated by hand. Before synthesizers were invented people like Delia Derbyshire created complete pieces of music using these techniques.
Welcome to Mars looks at science and science fiction in the 1950’s and I wanted to reflect this period in sound as accurately as possible. It felt only natural to ditch the laptop and use analogue tape which has been used extensively in electronic and experimental music since the 50’s.
Watch a video of me making some tape loops here
Topics: Interesting, Sound |
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
[...] gathers pace for the Welcome to Mars live performance at Interesting 2008 in June. Find out more here and see the [...]