Free Improv for Robots: Field 1
Broken Record Chamber
Three individuals from different musical backgrounds (Jim Black, guitar, electronics; Ben Wilson, drum machine, electronics; Jess Conn-Potegal, turntables, keys, electronics), each with his own unique vision, meet at an Otomo Yoshihide/Ruins concert and the resultant collision becomes Broken Record Chamber. BRC ploughs a new sound field, through which meanders various sonic life forms, not excluding the patrons of the Epic hole-in-the-wall, The Sugar Refinery, where much of this was recorded. Imagine, if you can, a garage band version of Otomo chucking a used record store down the stairs.
Broken Record Chamber was inaugurated in September 1998, barely moments after the smoke and debris were cleared in the wake of a momentous double bill featuring Otomo Yoshihide, Martin Tetrault and Ruins. Since that time Broken Record Chamber have participated in the Taking Wing Improvised Music Series, and have performed live over the air waves from the studios of Vancouver’s cooperative radio station (CFRO). They have also been prominently featured on CBC Radio’s ’Brave New Waves.’
Like true grandchildren of McLuhan, BRC are at home in the global village, where instant access to all things electric is the norm. Drawing from acid jazz funk to pop rock, from punk to ambient electronic to improvisation, and from large ensemble jazz to 20th century classical, the diverse and combined talents of Jim Black, Jess Conn-Potegal and Ben Wilson have coalesced into a categorical no-man’s land: an urban/environmental, signal-to-noise, DIY improv-ambient adventure kit.
- Composer(s): Broken Record Chamber
CD (SPF 301)
- 1Chopsticks (1998)
- 2Modern Beat (1998)
- 3Quazimoto (1998)
- 4Back to the Blues (1998)
- 5Swamp Meat (1998)
- 6Sagittarius Project (1998)
- 7Story Intro (1998)
- 8Jazz-Bitch (1998)
- 9Buka’ Flute (1998)
- 10Videogame Argument (1998)
- 11French Reggae Strangulation (1998)
- Label: Spool Music
- SPF 301
- 1998
- UCC 778224685920
- Jewel case
- 125 mm × 142 mm × 10 mm
- 90 g