Showing posts with label Larry Fast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Larry Fast. Show all posts

Wednesday, 18 March 2020

Synergy - Computer Experiments Volume One (1981)

More stochastic composition using computer programming today.  Unlike Iannis Xenakis' work in the early 60s though, there's no jagged, creaking string intstruments here, just 44 minutes of eerily becalmed ambient electronica with an occasional proto-Blade Runner feel.

Between 1975 and 1987, and sporadically afterwards, Synergy was the alias of electronic musician Larry Fast, perhaps best known for his work with Peter Gabriel.  For this particular album Fast utilised a program called Pink Tunes, written by John Simonton of PAiA electronic kits, to send control voltages to a Prophet 5 synth.

The result was the two eleven-minute tracks and one 23-minute track that make up Computer Experiments Volume One (there wouldn't be any subsequent Volumes).  The first track in particular is a thing of shimmering beauty, then the other two dive deeper into more minor-key ambience.  Eno and Vangelis fans should definitely give this a go.

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