Tony Conrad
Tony Conrad was one of the most compelling figures in 20th century music, a profoundly influential composer whose radical styles resist textbook definitions and challenge accepted notions of the minimalist canon. In 1962 he co-founded the groundbreaking ensemble known as the Dream Syndicate. Wielding a drone both aggressively confrontational and subtly mesmerizing, he and his collaborators -- including La Monte Young and future Velvet Underground co-founders John Cale and Angus MacLise -- created some of the most revolutionary music of that – or any -- decade.
Tony Conrad was one of the most compelling figures in 20th century music, a profoundly influential composer whose radical styles resist textbook definitions and challenge accepted notions of the minimalist canon. In 1962 he co-founded the groundbreaking ensemble known as the Dream Syndicate. Wielding a drone both aggressively confrontational and subtly mesmerizing, he and his collaborators -- including La Monte Young and future Velvet Underground co-founders John Cale and Angus MacLise -- created some of the most revolutionary music of that – or any -- decade.
Let There Be Music
One-sided release, restocked every so briefly. "YES!!! Finally!! Angus and Bon Scott would def label this knockout collab as grade A T-N-T!!! Here's how it went down: The Machines were kicking it Brooklyn style last January for some jam time with Burning Sess Core, and the Tovinator had a solo slot in Glasslands on Super Bowl Sunday. Seeing how we both were worked up from the Pitts power plays and amazing Puck and Queen B quality time, Thurston added fuel to the fire and suggested that Conrad hi…
Primordial Lift
Originally released on the Table of the Elements label and long out of print, this Pauline Oliveros's version of the recording contains an additional 30 minutes of material not included on the original release. Recorded live on March 20, 1998 at Hallwalls, Buffalo, NY. Primordial/Lift is based on information concerning the shift in the resonant frequency of the earth from 7.8hz to 13hz given in Awakening to the Zero Point by Gregg Braden, Radio Bookstore Press (1997). According to Braden, the re…
Sharing a Sonority
Alga Marghen proudly presents a new chapter in the documentation series of Charlemagne Palestine's historical works. This CD of previously-unavailable recordings not only presents you Charlemagne Palestine activities in 1974, collaborating with some of most important experimental artists and composers from either the New York loft scene and Cal Arts, but also features world premiere recordings of Terry Jennings and The Fundamental D Flat Group. "Short & Sweet" is the title of a breathtaking duo …
Jean of Arc
Tony Conrad is a founding father of 'minimalism' and a giant in the American soundscape. The indefatigable Conrad kept busy during the Revolution Summer of 1968. In addition to his reunion recordings with John Cale (documented in the Cale set New York in the 1960s), Conrad starred in Ira Cohen's legendary film The Invasion of Thunderbolt Pagoda and made extensive solo recordings, including 'Joan of Arc', available here for the first time. One of Conrad's personal favorites, it's a long piece for…
Avanto 2006
Three-way split release featuring an extended piece each by Tony Conrad, Ralf Wehowsky, and Jim O’Rourke. Tony’s piece works a lone processed violin to glorious effect; the solo variant of his “four violins.” Ralf’s is a musique concrète piece built out of assorted instrumentation and children’s vocals (coming across like a lost international harvester/älgarnas trädgard out-take in spots...) jim’s is an awesome side-length-plus rumination of drone-sound (harkening back to his “disengage” era) in…
Fantastic glissando
It's 1969, and Tony Conrad wants to take you Higher. Celebrated for the thrilling roar of his amplified violin, Conrad is a founding father of 'minimalism' and a giant in the American soundscape. Now Conrad's own Audio ArtKive imprint presents the first in a series of releases that reveal the wild breadth of his 40-year career, including field recordings, piano compositions, film soundtracks and more. Fantastic Glissando (1969) is a series of (d)evolving electronic compositions created with sine…
Bryant park Moratorium Rally
An October afternoon in 1969. Midtown Manhattan. A rally in Bryant Park against the Vietnam War. Down 42nd Street towards Times Square, Tony Conrad is adjusting microphones in his 5th floor loft, one directed at the TV set -- where it will pick up live local news coverage -- the other pointing out the window, where the echo of speeches and crowd noise mingles with the oceanic rush of crosstown traffic. As the event is about to begin, he rolls tape. Thirty-four years later, we hear what he heard.…
An aural symbiotic mystery
More that 30 years had passed since our last experimental duet. Tony arrived and decided he could stay for several days in Brussels and we casually started to play together one afternoon Aude, my wife, remarks about that special moment that in 5 minutes if not less she heard a natural musical chemistry of beauty and power that greatly impressed her yet. Tony and i hadn't played discussed or conversed about sound or anything in over 30 years None the less the result were totally surprising dazzli…
Early Minimalism vol. 1
Four CD box set with 96-page book and enhanced CD-ROM featuring interviews, performance footage and video scores. Includes the massive "Four Violins" (1964) -- one of the world's most important and space-inhaling pieces of music ever, which was only briefly available on LP. Mainline it as loud as you possibly can. Plus: "Early Minimalism: April, 1965" (for solo violin and string quartet) ; "Early Minimalism: May 1965" [performed here by Conrad, Alexandria Gelencser (cello) and Jim O'Rour…