Besides serving as the vessel for “Claws Longer Than Your Middle Finger,” (check the previous podcast for that audio gem), the cassette entitled: “Other Than Random Modulation” also features the first recordings that were actually “composed” on the Taped Rugs four track recorder. Goff hosted two sessions in late December, 1989, during which the recorder’s capacities for speed variation, backwards recording, and effects processing, were employed as compositional tools. The many tracks that were mixed down into compositions from these sessions were pure, improvised, first takes (not one “re-do” in the bunch). The results are true examples of “experimental” sound sculpture.

The first of these sessions, held on December 22nd, featured Goff, Will Flanagan (now Will Marston), and new Herd Of The Ether Space member Jeff Faulkner. Guitars, strange percussion devices, flutes, saxophone, toys, and vocals were combined in various ways into three compositions. The second session, held on December 30th, featured Goff, George Gibson, and another new Herd member: Ric E. Braden. Braden had been corresponding with Goff from his home in Oregon for the previous couple of years and had moved to San Francisco in late 1989. Four compositions were produced from this second gathering, which turned out to be even more experimental than the first.

The December 30th session incorporated prerecorded tapes, saxophone, synthesizers, percussion, lots of toys, and the voices of all three participants. Tracks were recorded at various speeds in various directions; often the performers improvised their noises while sequestered off in a room alone.

Presented here are:

1 Opera For The Slovenly Tourists Of Rome (12/22/89)
2 Warm Liquid Cake (12/22/89)
3 In The Cold Sunlight (12/30/89)
4 Squash Blossoms (12/30/89)
5 Prism Bars (12/30/89)

The next TAPED RUGS PRESENTS podcast will be the last excerpt in this series, wrapping up the adventures of Herd Of The Ether Space in the 1980’s and laying some groundwork for HOTES in the 1990’s.

THE AUDIO COMPONENT OF THIS PODCAST HAS BEEN REMOVED TO ALLOW MORE EPISODES IN THIS SERIES TO BE POSTED. IT IS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE LINK BELOW: http://www.archive.org/details/OtherThanRandomModulation