MOTM

Can someone refresh my memory...?

Recently someone (Paul?) mentioned that Robert Rich was coming out with a
new CD (video?) that was "Forbidden Planet"-like (I *think* that was the
comparison) and was MOTM-heavy.

I thought I had saved the Email, but I can't find it anywhere. What was the
name? Did I dream this? I'm always on the lookout for extreme weirdness in
good taste. The MOTM usage is an added bonus!!

(In the meantime, in anticipation, I have been scoffing up some of his other
works. "Gaudi" has been going around in the CD carousel for three weeks
now...can't get enough.)

Thanks in advance!

It's my understanding that the album is called 'Beauty' and will be 
released in September.  All MOTM, too.  I have a bunch of his stuff, 
icluding his DVD (all audio).  Love it.  Check out www.amoeba.com.

Mike

--- In motm@y..., "Tkacs, Ken" <ken.tkacs@j...> wrote:

> 
> Can someone refresh my memory...?
> ...

Ken,
No, not a dream.  I checked my old email and Paul S. had the following to
say:

"I received the 1st-pass, rough mix of Robert Rich's 100% MOTM CD called
'Bestiary'. If you are a fan of *early*, *experimental* electronic music (ie
pre-Switched On Bach), your jaw's gonna drop when you hear this cranked up
on a good stereo (get ready Tony K.!) Be sure the dishes and pictures are
secure, as one track has the lead melody played on cascaded '440 filters and
the frequency range is like 40Hz to 120Hz MAX! Due to be released in Sept.
I'll keep you posted!"

This sounds great, doesn't it?  I'm really looking forward to it!  I have
quite a few of Robert's other works.  Many are excellent.  I'm particularly
keen on his collaborations with Steve Roach, such as "Strata" and "Cavern of
Sirens".  I'll have to check out "Gaudi" now that you've given it such
praise.

Cheers,
George

----- Original Message -----
From: Tkacs, Ken <ken.tkacs@...>
To: <motm@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2001 9:11 AM
Subject: [motm] Robert Rich's New "MOTM" Project



Can someone refresh my memory...?

Recently someone (Paul?) mentioned that Robert Rich was coming out with a
new CD (video?) that was "Forbidden Planet"-like (I *think* that was the
comparison) and was MOTM-heavy.

I thought I had saved the Email, but I can't find it anywhere. What was the
name? Did I dream this? I'm always on the lookout for extreme weirdness in
good taste. The MOTM usage is an added bonus!!

(In the meantime, in anticipation, I have been scoffing up some of his other
works. "Gaudi" has been going around in the CD carousel for three weeks
now...can't get enough.)

Thanks in advance!





Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

>
> Recently someone (Paul?) mentioned that Robert Rich was coming out with a
> new CD (video?) that was "Forbidden Planet"-like (I *think* that was the
> comparison) and was MOTM-heavy.
>
 The release date is Sept. 15th. I probably can't say much more specifically
:)

What I *can* say:

a) I am sending a FREE CD to every active MOTM customer as a thank-you gift
(OK this was
to be a surprise, so...........SURPRISE!)

b) It is MOTM, effects (reverb, etc) and processing of external inputs (some
flute, some voice). THAT'S ALL!

c) I can gloat because I have a one-off of the master :) As far as the music
itself goes:

a) you need a REALLY GOOD system to hear everything. If you don't, get some
good headphones (I use the
industry-standard Sony MDR-7506 at about $95/pr). The opening piece's 'lead
voice' is a bass line that is
like a big drum made of animal hide hit with a sledgehammer. The voice is
made with 12 (!) sine waves and
cascaded '440 filters. WHUMP WHUMP WHUMP!!

b) the CD is 1 continuous piece 53 min. long in about 9 'sections'. There is
no fade to silence, but you can easily
hear the transitions.

c) What does it sound like? Well, I think it's safe to say that you HAVE NOT
hear anything quite like it.  It is
definitely 'pre-Wendy Bach' electronic music style. It is not 'bleepy and
bloopy' because Robert likes dark, complex
timbres and his production is so breathtaking that it doesn't compare
directly to the now-crude pre-1968 recordings.

In places, it reminds me of:

Wendy Carlos' 'Beauty in the Beast' and 'Sonic Seasonings'
Robert Rich's 'Stalker'
Pink Floyd's "Ummagumma" and "Saucerful of Secrets"
John Cage
Terry Riley
Phillip Glass "Einstein on the Beach"

The first time I listened uninterrupted all the way through, the overall
feeling was:

"Soundtrack to a 1963 sci-fi movie about alien bird creatures on a desert
planet." But with modern recording
and production techniques. But that's just me.

There will be many of you that won't like it, I'm sure. NOT dance, or party
background music. Not even CLOSE.
But it IS 99.5% MOTM, and just listening and wondering how he got those
sounds out of the modules is worth the trip.

I'll post more in late August.

Paul S.