Simulacrum
Archetypes
Excerpt From Liner Notes by PEK
“…Having a whole electronics section in the ensemble really brings out my original aesthetic intent for this ensemble. Electronics performers are not uncommon in the world of improvisation, but they tend to do solo, electronics ensembles with only electronic instruments, or a single electronics performer with other non-electronic performers. I think this Evil Clown concept of a fairly large improvisation unit with 3 or 4 acoustic players and 3or 4 electronic improvisors is somewhat novel and is very interesting territory for aesthetic inquiry…”
Archetypes
Simulacrum
Evil Clown Headquarters, Waltham MA – 1 February 2024
1) Archetypes – 1:10:37
2) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – 5:15
3) Shadow, Ego, and Persona (bonus track) – 6:27
PEK – clarinet, contralto & contrabass clarinets, alto & tenor saxophones, alto & bass flutes, tarota, melodica, accordion, game call through soma pipe, theremin with moogerfooger, ms-20, moog subsequent, novation peak, Linnstrument controllers, prophet, nord stage 3, almglocken, brontosaurus & tank bells, Englephone, danmo, wood blocks, log drums, cow bells, gongs, plate gong, [d]ronin, 17 string bass, nagoya, crotales, glockenspiel, chimes,spring & chime rod boxes, seed pod rattle, crank siren, tiny slide whistle, Tibetan bowls & bells, orchestra chimes
Michael Caglianone – soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, clarinet, flute, ocarina, hulusi, balafon, xylophone, almglocken seed pod rattle, wind siren
Bob Moores – Small-bell pocket trumpet with and without effects, short scale electric guitar with effects, drone generator with effects, Moog Mariana emulator on MacBook Pro with 32-key keyboard, balafon, xylophone, moog subsequent, novation peak, Linnstrument controllers, psychic mumbling
Eric Woods – analog synthesis, nord stage 3
Faruq Hassan – Koala Sampler, Novation Launchkey 49 MK3, Roland SP404 MK2, Arturia Beatstep Pro, Shur Beta 58a
Michael Knoblach – Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls, various shakers, devil chasers, split bamboo mallets, LP udders, Fisher Price Happy Apple, wooden clacker, bells, Bodhran, copper bowl, enamel bowls, sand blocks, African circumcision rattles, slinky, tit-fers, wooden billiards triangle, meinl helix bowls, xmas ornaments, tiny sleigh bells, glass furniture carpet protectors, ratchets, tiny seed pod shakers, huge & medium seed pods, party time balloon pump, wooden robot, Griswold cast iron skillets, flex-a-tones, vibratones, whisk, abacuses, basket of rocks, turtle skin rattle, egg beater, happy apple, pitchforks, devil chasers, wood shakers, fisher price turtle, fisher price bee, first years clown, humpty dumpty toy, spooky world noise makers, plastic tubes, castanets, Victorian children’s rattles, antique Asian bronze children’s rattles, healing balls, mortar & pestle, confirmation bells, wooden bell, sleigh bells, elephant bell, sistrum, antique sheep shears, axatse, scalp massagers, basket rattles, metal rattle, African wood blocks with stone inside, Chicxulub dinosaur and star teething rings, bags of marbles, water filled mason jar, magic wands, water filled lobster pot, palm frond rattles, plastic ball rattles, American Percussion busy box drum
Joel Simches – live to 2-track recording, real-time signal processing
Full Video
Video Shorties
Liner Notes by PEK
Simulacrum is an offshoot of Metal Chaos Ensemble that was conceived just prior to the Virus shutting things down. The ensemble features 3 core members PEK on all my stuff, Eric Woods on analog synth, and Bob Moores on space trumpet, guitar, and electronics. The basic idea of this band is to increase the amount of electronics, to keep the ancillary percussion and loose the drum set, along with PEK and Bob holding down the horn parts.
I’ve been looking for more electronics geniuses for the last few years. We’ve got Evil Clown regulars Eric Woods, who specializes in analog synthesis, plus Bob Moores who doubles trumpet, guitar & electronics plus me who also doubles. We have Bonnie Kane who always puts electronic processing on her horn playing. We have Bill T Miller who is a great player but is super busy and has only come twice. In the past, I’ve courted a few others but never managed to get them to participate. Recently, two new electronics gurus have signed on to the roster: Robin Amos – an excellent player who was a founding member of the seminal 90s era Boston band Cul de Sac with which he toured in Europe a lot who knows and has played with many seminal European electronic musicians; and Faruq Hassan, a young player who is the son of Raqib Hassan who was a mentor of mine in the 90s.
I’ve been trying to get a Simulacrum set to happen with all 4 electronic specialists (Eric, Bob, Robin & Faruq). I have not quite got there yet but Mechatronics (12/5/2023) had Robin, Bob & Faruq, and this current set (Archetypes) had Eric, Bob & Faruq. Having a whole electronics section in the ensemble really brings out my original aesthetic intent for this ensemble. Electronics performers are not uncommon in the world of improvisation, but they tend to do solo, electronics ensembles with only electronic instruments, or a single electronics performer with other non-electronic performers. I think this Evil Clown concept of a fairly large improvisation unit with 3 or 4 acoustic players and 3 or 4 electronic improvisors is somewhat novel and is very interesting territory for aesthetic inquiry.
I’m really excited about the development of this unit and I’m looking forward to seeing what we come up with over the next few years. Anyway, I like this set and I bet you will too.
PEK Out – 2/2/2024
Paul Brennan Photos
Video Screen Grabs
