This is Not the Real World

In the real world, nobody voluntarily plays contrabassoon. Those who are forced to do so only play one note, and it's in long tones. This, however, is abstract, effected, avant-garde contrabassoon. This track comes from our newly released album, Everything You See Here. Don't ask about the alpaca.

"The Oboe is played with your face.
The Contrabassoon plays your face."
-Tommy Scheurich, Demons of Gyrophonia, 2011.

Recorded 26 May 2011 in the Rotatable Tremulant Studio.
Released 5 November 2011.

This album is the first of at least three in the queue for release, which should be out by Thanksgiving (this and another (possibly even one more) have been sitting on the back burner for about 6 months, though).

Enjoy!

INSTRUMENTATION:
Timbill Corder: Effects
Tommy Scheurich: Contrabassoon

• play
• pause
• min volume
• max volume

posted by askmeaboutLOOM (4 comments total)

Oh, man, the contrabassoon is just creepy. It really scrapes at my ears.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 2:58 AM on November 6, 2011 [1 favorite]

Sounds fucking great, man. Maybe my favorite thing you've posted here so far. That stereo delay/panning works real nicely.

One little critique: strikes me as just a wee bit too long. Condensing it into more like 5 minutes is what I'd do. Maybe I've been too pop-music'd, though.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:42 PM on November 6, 2011

I can see the argument for doing it shorter. This, like all of our improvs, had its length dictated by when it felt right to stop. It was also the last night we would have access to the contrabassoon, so there may have been some reluctance to end due to that, but I think it manages to continue growing and changing throughout, to the point where, at least for me, it keeps from going stale.

Glad you enjoyed it! It was a lot of fun to make. The contra was a real roomshaker--it literally rattled the window shades at times.
posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 8:21 PM on November 6, 2011

I played bassoon in my school orchestra. Despite initially learning under protest, I quickly grew to love it. Would have loved to play contrabassoon too but never got the chance.
posted by talitha_kumi at 3:18 PM on November 10, 2011