Album Notes

Stationary Drift

These two pieces are the result of the dynamic balance of many opposing forces. They were created by sending sounds into a self regulating feedback network consisting of digital processors, compressors, amplifiers and filters. Both were live mixes to stereo. They were created seven years apart using completely different technology, but they share the same process, macro structure and sound types.
The pieces were first sketched out in the form of graphic scores. In the recording studio the feedback system was assembled and tuned to a stable state. The source material was then feed into the system following the score and allowing the behavior of the feedback system to determine the microstructure of the piece. Each change in parameters perturbed the balance of the system, which would attempt to find a new stable state. This process creates a very elastic sense of time because each disturbance must work its way through a system that has a long but constantly changing response time.
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1. Sea of Vapors 17:26
Produced at Pine Forest Studio, Aptos, California - 1995.
Source Material:
Yamaha DX-11 synthesizer, Wind Gong, Digeridoo,
Army Signal Corps tube short wave radio.


2. A Warm Dark Place 41:53
Produced at the Mills College Center for Contemporary
Music, Oakland, California - 1989.
Source Material:
Buchla synthesizer, Sony digital short wave radio,
Ziljin 18” ride symbol, transposed cow moo toys.
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David Brown is a composer and musician living in Providence, Rhode Island. He combines found sounds with acoustic and electronic instruments to create collages of orchestral density. Drawing upon the musical languages of Africa, Latin America and Australia, he combines traditional styles with modern western musical aesthetic. The focus of his compositions is on the act of listening and its interaction with memory to evoke, sometimes unexpected, emotional responses in the listener.
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Thanks to Gino Robair at Rastascan Records and Ken Mabie at Pine Forest Studios for the generous use of their facilities. Also thanks to my wife Amy who always encouraged me when life got in the way of music.

David Brown