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Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: June 11 2004, 09:24 I've seen you understand a lot about the various Quadrophonic systems and released of Mike Oldfield albums and stuff. Well, today I discovered something really, really interesting. Perhaps you know about it already, but here it goes. Have you ever heard about an album by The Flaming Lips called "Zaireeka"? Well, I have - today. I guess it might be a really interesting experience to hear music in quadrophonic systems, but get this: "Zaireeka" is an experimental album that was recorded and released in 1997, and it was released in 4 separate CDs. And here's the trick: they are supposed to be played simultaneously in four different stereos. Now, tell me how nobody had thought of that before?? The leader of the band explains, in the liner notes, that CD players never play in synch with each other, so as you hear the four CDs blasting out of four stereos in four different places, they will eventually get out of synch and get really confusing, but that's the point. He explains that you can head two or three CDs at a time, but it's best when you hear all four. Of course, each of the CDs has a different recording, so you hear different parts of the music blasting from different places. Track 7 has a huge drum solo, and track 6 (I think) apparently has some "ultra-high and low frequencies" that can cause people to be disoriented, confused or nauseous. Freaky, innit? I thought this was really curious, and I'm really, really, really interested on it. I thought you could try it out if you manage to find the album. I think it can be quite a great experience! All reviews I'm seeing are absolutely raving, and say the album is totally mindblowing. Man, I'm curious now. Of course, that is if you haven't heard the album, already. If you have, share your thoughts! -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

familyjules Group: Members Posts: 1190 Joined: May 2004 Posted: June 11 2004, 09:38 I've heard about this thing too.  It's probably unlistenable (remember earlier experimental albums....Lou Reed's Metal Machine Music anyone?), but I still think it's one heck of a cool thing to do.  Too few bands play with the form of music anymore, and whether or not I want to hear this stuff, I'm so happy it's being made! Jules -------------- I like beer and I like cheese Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: June 11 2004, 09:41 Well, as far as I have heard, this record is only experimental in the sense that it plays with the CD format. The album contains actual music, you know, instruments playing actual melodies. It is far removed from the concept of "experimental" in the likes of Metal Machine Music (which I have heard, myself - twice), though there seems to be a little experiments with sounds and noises, like dogs barking from all directions at the end of the last track. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

Korgscrew Group: Super Admins Posts: 3511 Joined: Dec. 1999 Posted: June 11 2004, 10:17 I think it probably would be unlistenable with everything out of sync! I have a feeling that someone may have thought of it before, but it's certainly not common. It would actually be possible to sync four players together, though it would of course avoid the strange cacophony which seems was the point of the exercise! It's interesting in the way that the album would be different every time. That could be interesting for New Age type music - have one CD of synth pads (and perhaps rhythms), one of atmospheric sound effects and a small sample player (like you find in those children's books which have sound effects) with some melodic elements which the listener can trigger (or perhaps can be set to trigger at random). The Red Book CD format actually has provision for being used for quadraphonic recordings. It's only theoretically possible though, as nobody's ever made a four channel CD player - the idea of quad had been rather abandoned by the time CDs arrived on the market. I guess the ultimate experimental recording would be a four channel CD that nobody can play... Back to top

familyjules Group: Members Posts: 1190 Joined: May 2004 Posted: June 11 2004, 10:29 Quote (Korgscrew @ June 11 2004, 10:17) I guess the ultimate experimental recording would be a four channel CD that nobody can play... I have one of those - it's by Mike somebody or other! -------------- I like beer and I like cheese Back to top

familyjules Group: Members Posts: 1190 Joined: May 2004 Posted: June 11 2004, 10:52 Quote (Sir Mustapha @ June 11 2004, 09:41) Metal Machine Music (which I have heard, myself - twice) Twice?!?!  Dammit, were you drunk or did you lose a bet? -------------- I like beer and I like cheese Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: June 11 2004, 10:59 Quote (familyjules @ June 11 2004, 10:52) Twice?!?!  Dammit, were you drunk or did you lose a bet? Twice, yup. I heard it once, in headphones at work, and I was really... spooked. Next day, I heard it again to make up my mind... Yes, I agree that it works better as a rebellious act, a way for Lou Reed to insult his record label and get out of his contract (eat your heart out, Heaven's Open! ), but those sounds are scary, in a way, like a machine roaring and shrieking in pain. The strangest thing about that "Zaireeka" release is that it went almost unnoticed. The Flaming Lips aren't exactly a famous band, but that project was truly experimental and groundbreaking. On the other hand, perhaps it's better that way, or else we'd have hundreds of bands releasing 8 CD albums every day. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

Thea Cochrane Group: Musicians Posts: 445 Joined: Nov. 1999 Posted: June 11 2004, 14:02 Quote (Sir Mustapha @ June 11 2004, 15:59) [quote=familyjules,June 11 2004, 10:52]The Flaming Lips aren't exactly a famous band, but that project was truly experimental and groundbreaking. Yes they are, or at least they are in the UK where "Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots" was impossible to avoid for a while and has since been re-released on DVD. Very similar production to Mercury Rev and The Polyphonic Spree (same producer from memory, so no big surprise). "The Soft Bulletin" is pretty good too. Back to top

Sir Mustapha Group: Musicians Posts: 2802 Joined: April 2003 Posted: June 11 2004, 14:15 Oh, well, you're probably right. What I meant is that, while they're nowhere near "underground", they aren't exactly a "mainstream" band like, say, Radiohead. But whatever, I still have to hear the album so I haven't much more to say. -------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com Back to top

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