December 2012
Duck Death & The Tulip
With years end fast approaching two exciting projects are on the horizon. The first of which is a Barking Gecko production of Duck Death & The Tulip. I will be performing as part of the production's five piece ensemble at the Perth International Arts Festival.
The second project will be my fourth independent feature film score. Robbie Studsor's The Burning Kiss calls for a score mixed with kitsch 1950s exotica. My bass flute will definitely make an appearance! I'll start writing in the new year.
September 2012
A video of a recent performance at Melbourne's Make It Up Club 18th September 2012.
WAM nomination
I've been nominated for a Western Australian Music Industry award (WAMI) in the experimental category. My work Tetraplegiah uses prepared vinyl records and modular synthesizers and was a free improvisation performed at Noizemaschin! 9.
Tetraplegiah can be downloaded with other NM#9 acts here.
August 2012
Mutant Telescope
Commissioned by Western Australian percussionist Joshua Webster Mutant Telescope is a new work for cimbalom.
The piece explores the timbral qualities of the instrument using many different playing techniques both traditional and non traditional. The work will be premiered some time later in the year.
What's a cimbalom? click here
Josh Webster is currently studying his Masters at WAAPA. His main focus is on the performance of new works for the cimbalom.
Josh Webster
July 2012
Ménilmontant Album Release
Performed and recorded at the Astor Theatre in August 2009 my live score for Dimitri Kirsanoff's masterpiece silent film Ménilmontant is now available for download.
Each track of the album is accompanied by a correlating still from the film.
Good Bye Perth ~ Hello Melbourne
After many years living and working in Perth as a musician/composer/teacher I have decided to move to Melbourne. As of July the 14th I'll be a Victorian. For all you Perthlings wondering... yes the coffee is better in Melbourne!
Sororal Score Complete
Over a year in the making my score for Sam Barrett's Sororal is complete. The final recording sessions were held in St Paul's Church in Manora Perth. The choir sounded amazing. Big thanks to Father Tim Deeter for letting us use his great sounding church, choir director Micheal McCarthy for rallying the troops and score mixer Stuart James from Sound Field Studio for piecing it all together.
TUV Release Two Albums
The Uncanny Valley release two free live albums:
Translucent Skin (live at Poke The Box)
Zho 99 (live at Club Zho 99)
June 2012
Poke The Box 2
The Triple Threats play Poke The Box at the Velvet Lounge on the 21st of June 2012. The Triple Threats have spent three years accompanying director Glen Hall's improvisational theatre shows. The Threats turn their focus to film, improvising a live score to two Maya Deren silent films: At Land [1944] and Ritual In Transfigured Time [1946].
The Triple Threats are:
Tristen Parr - electric cello, electronics
Callum Moncrieff - Vibraphone, percussion
Christopher de Groot - keyboards, bass flute, musical saw, melodica, turntable
Club Zho 99
The Uncanny Valley will be playing Club Zho 99 at the Bakery, James Street Perth on the 8th of May 2012.
The Uncanny Valley is an analogue/digital/acoustic trio straddling the boundaries between improvisation and noise music.
The Uncanny Valley is:
Christopher de Groot - Doepfer A-100 modular synthesizer, turntables
Sam Gillies - digital processing
Callum Moncrieff - Percussion and acoustic sound sources
March 2012
Artifactory Residency
As artifactory artist in residence I will be using the hacker space to cut vinyl records using a machine called the Swarfomat. These custom cut records will be pieced back together in weird and wacky combinations. The records will feature in my performance at NoizeMaschin!!! #8 and #9.
February 2012
Sir Thomas Debut Album
Two hot weeks were spent in Margaret River at Lolly Box Studios recording songs for the long anticipated Sir Thomas album. Sir Thomas is a Western Australian band with the unique line-up of piano and vocals, keyboards and electronics, bass and drums. They have been compared to Sigur Ros and have influences including Radiohead, Elbow, Nick Drake, Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Sir Thomas blend driving ostinato rhythms, layered textures and odd time signatures with well crafted lyrics and beautiful melodies.
The album is currently being mixed.
January 2012
Whole Lot of Brass!
Three days in January were spent recording a 10-piece brass section for my newest film project Sororal. This brass recording is the 3rd stage of a 4 stage recording process:
1) record modular synth
2) record rhythm section
3) record brass section
4) record choir
