Sunday, December 27, 2009

Owl (1966)

I don't know anything about Owl except that they were in Boulder and put out Tod Dockstader records. However the Dockstader stuff I have from them is absolutely, positively, without a doubt, the best avant-garde tape/electronic music I know of. This album has him working with a soundtrack composer and orchestra. The liner notes explain that he composed little passages using a synthesizer and tape loops, and then had the composer work them into a score and record it with an orchestra. Then Dockstader took the taped recordings and went to town with a razorblade and splicer. It's not even his best work, but it puts most every electronic "remix" of live recordings to shame.

The owl on the label looks simultaneously calm (left eye) and completely in shock (right eye) in regard to the sonic insanity in the groove that surrounds him.

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