papalCorruption v1.0 is a recent experiment for a larger body of new video based works exploring the glitch and corrupt data in media culture. The original clip was a short Italian television story about Pope Benedict XVI. I downloaded the video from the Vatican website and then corrupted it on a data level.
corruptedhorizon now available!
I’m pleased to announce my 13th studio album corruptedHorizon is now available for purchase as a physical CD or a high quality [320kbps mp3] digital download with full artwork. Orders for CDs can be placed now and will begin shipping on September 4th. Visit the STORE section to purchase. corruptedHorizon will also available at all quality digital retailers. [iTunes, Emusic, Amazon, etc.]
“Sloan builds upward from a base of gauzy guitar washes peppered with sharp beats, drum loops and intriguing, inventive clips of sound. The mix of texture and smoothness, ease and complexity, is perfect. Affording this disc a very focused listen is an absolute must.” – Hypnagogue Reviews
The new album clocks in around 50 minutes and includes six all new works:
> sunset.withoutAdawn [preview]
1web.mp3
> greyscale.spiral [preview]
2web.mp3
> dryANDabsolute. [preview]
3web.mp3
> corrupted.Horizon [preview]
4web.mp3
> forward. [preview]
5web.mp3
> particlesof.LIGHT [full track]
6web.mp3
Stylistically, corruptedHorizon picks up where my 2009 studio album [ — ] left off. Inspired by my live performances over the last decade, corruptedHorizon melds bits of IDM, ambient, pure electronic, glitch, shoegaze and subtle tribal leanings to spin a complex but enjoyable listening experience that I’ve been told defies easy classification.
july 30th stillstream radio performance now archived
In case you missed my live performance on StillStream Ambient Radio July 30, 2010, it’s now archived and can be streamed via the audio player below. In the next few days, the show will be moved to the RADIO CONCERTS archive located under the SOUND tab above. A big thanks goes out to Darrell Burgan at StillStream for having me on his program to perform.
With the exception of corruptedHorizon all the music performed was written specifically for this concert. All voices and ambient noise were extracted live from the airwaves using various radio equipment, scanners and receivers. Among the more interesting transmissions picked up during the performance were voices from a home intercom system and a brief cordless phone conversation.
I hope you enjoy the music.
SETLIST:
* whispersANDstatik
* [interlude]
* re.ACTION
* resolve.andEmptiness
* [interlude]
* corruptedHorizon
* burnt.Luminesence
* [interlude]
* closingDown
zip.disk [musik]
Today I was experimenting with some old zip drives I discovered inside a box in my studio. Rather than getting rid of them I wanted to see if I could use the drive as a industrial/data instrument.
The resulting experiment was beyond anything I was expecting. By simply soldering two piezo elements to the head of the drive and boosting the signal with a four channel preamp [which also allows for multiple line outs] the drive, when engaged, sounded rather amazing. I connected it to the computer, inserted a disc then waited for it to mount. I soon noticed that opening various file types directly from the discs would result in a variety of sonic output. Video files for example would create a slightly different texture than a static .jpg file. Media files also allowed the drive to be engaged for a longer period of time as the information was being transcribed.
I sent the audio output from the zip drive to a loop pedal to allow layering and then recorded the experiment/performance. What resulted was a slowly building, dark ambient/industrial soundscape composed entirely in the moment from three different zip discs and a loop pedal.
Raw recording 7m.36s
[sc_embed_player_template1 fileurl=”https://www.jasonsloan.com/audio/ZIP_DEMO.mp3″]
Over the next few weeks I’m excited to begin experimenting with both 5¼-inch and 3½-inch floppy drives. Who knows, there may even be a release in the future of just “disc.MUSIC.” Maybe I could call it “Funeral Hymns for Dead Technology.” Okay… maybe not.
documentation CD
The limited edition CD that documents the north avenue: NOISE + vibrating.AIR installation and performance from the 2010 Megapolis Audio Art Festival will be available in the next couple weeks. The package will be limited to just 30 signed and numbered copies via the store section of this site. north avenue: NOISE + vibrating.AIR is a handmade digipak design and includes a piezo disc attached to the back of the sleeve. The cd runs 61 minutes.
north avenue: noise + vibrating.AIR documentation
North Avenue: NOISE + vibrating.AIR was an installation and live performance created for the MEGAPOLIS AUDIO FESTIVAL in Baltimore on May 14-16. Below is a slightly modified text taken from the press release.
“Bradley’s North Avenue: NOISE, a sound art installation, used the windows of the Windup Space gallery as a large tympanum that picked up the vibrations, via multiple contact mics, from the street and transmitted the audio through a series of multiple FM transmitters and receivers. Each low powered mini radio station rebroadcasts the signal to the next transmitter at 4 different frequencies over the FM dial. The final transmission is remixed into the original sound from the street windows creating a slightly off synch or “double image.” Periodically, beat frequencies will emerge from the broadcast air depending on the amplitude from the streets. The final transmission saturated the airwaves on the corner of North Avenue and Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland, with a sonic checkerboard pattern. Sound artist Jason Sloan built a live streaming web interface for the North Avenue: NOISE installation that allowed a global audience to experience the work live regardless of their geography.
On Saturday May 15th, Bradley and Sloan employed a variety of RF receivers, radios, scanners, and the live web stream from the North Avenue: Noise installation to produce a 30 minute multi-textural carpet of undulating radio-phonic sound. Through the various layers emerged radio transmissions of live and fragmented voices, glitches and hisses from the Baltimore city streets and airwaves. “
All the sounds used to create the vibrating.AIR composition were extracted live from the airwaves and processed or edited on the fly. For example, the rhythm that emerges around the 10 minute mark of the piece was created from scanner radio static. One of my favorite moments was locking into someone’s home baby monitor who’s dialogue became the underlying narrative for the work. I also incorporated a live NOAA transmission towards the end of the performance which acted as a unique geotag and time stamp for the work.
Steve and I plan on releasing a hi-resolution audio and specially packaged limited edition CD documenting the North Avenue: NOISE + vibrating.AIR project in the near future. The CD will include interviews, various excerpts from the North Avenue: Noise web stream, plus a stereo and surround mix of the vibrating.AIR performance. More information will be made available soon.
vibrating.AIR performance. May 15, 2010.
vibratingAIR.mp3
Jason.Sloan and Steve Bradley discuss North Avenue: NOISE + vibrating.AIR on Maryland Morning.
Maryland_Morning.mp3