Horchata is the name used by Michael Palace for his electronic music compositions. Album Photo by Hans Hillewaert.
Palace's music focuses on four major elements: complex beat music, dark ambient soundscapes, programmed compositional glitch music, and field recordings. Often a composition will include several of these elements.
Palace has worked for a number of years as a research scientist at the University of New Hampshire's Complex System Research Center.
His work there focuses on necromass or dead wood in Amazonia. During his numerous field visits to the rainforest, he has recorded sounds using various microphones and minidisk recorders.
Modification of many computer simulations have yielded some interesting sound generating and compositional programs which are featured in newer recordings by Palace.
Finally, video and images have begun to feature more in Palace's live performances, using video that was shot in Amazonia and generated by computer programs.
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