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Mnemonists: Horde (Recommended Records)


 

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product information:

Personnel:



Mark Derbyshire-cello, horn [crumhorn], tape, computer, sampler

Sara Thompson-doublebass, piano

Steve Scholbe-electric gutiar, alto saxophone, clarinet

William Sharp-piano, clarinet, vocals, tape

Amy Derbyshire-viola, sampler, horn [crumhorn]

Randy Yeates-vocals

Tom Katsimpalis-vocals

Torger Hougen-vocals


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UPC: 752725009522

Label: Recommended Records
Catalog ID: RŽR MN1
Squidco Product Code: 690

Format: CD
Condition: NEW
Released: 1998
Country: Great Britain
Packaging: Jewel Tray

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.
Swirling, shifting, fragmenting into new directions, spiraling off into unexpected cul-de-sacs... reminiscint of peering through a mircoscope at a drop of pond water: There's a lot more going on than you'd ever suspect." C.W. Vrtacek, Option".
Mnemonists were the precursor to Biota, essentially the same band with a different name, and a slightly more alien quality to their stream of consciousness expression. Quasi-anatomical artwork complete the picture and fascinating visions of this release.

Artist Biographies

Steve Scholbe is a guitarist and reed player associated with Biota and the Mnemonist Orchestra. His instrumentation includes acoustic archtop guitar and rubab, contributing to the ensemble's diverse sound palette.

-Squidco 5/7/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

William Sharp is an American composer, producer, and audio engineer, best known as the co-founder and creative force behind the experimental music ensemble Biota. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Sharp co-established the group in the late 1970s, initially under the name Mnemonist Orchestra, alongside Mark Derbyshire. Their early work combined abstract sound collage with visual art, reflecting their backgrounds in science and community radio engineering. By 1984, the collective split into two factions: the visual arts group retained the Mnemonists name, while the musical ensemble became Biota.

Sharp's role in Biota encompasses production, engineering, mixing, editing, electronic processing, and arrangement. He has been instrumental in shaping the group's distinctive sound, which blends elements of experimental music, electroacoustic techniques, musique concrète, and free improvisation. Biota's compositions are characterized by their unpredictable organization of sounds, inviting listeners to engage with the music in a personal and interpretive manner.

Under Sharp's guidance, Biota has released numerous albums, primarily on the Recommended Records (RēR) label. Their work often explores themes of displacement, solitude, and the consequences of long-term institutionalization. Notable releases include "Rackabones" (1985), "Bellowing Room" (1987), "Tinct" (1988), and "Tumble" (1989). The group's meticulous approach to composition and production results in music that is both timeless and teeming with life, motion, and complexity.

Beyond his work with Biota, Sharp has contributed to the broader experimental music community through collaborations and performances. He continues to influence the genre with his innovative techniques and dedication to pushing the boundaries of sound and composition.

-Squidco 5/7/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Randy Yeates is a visual artist and musician involved with Biota and the Mnemonist Orchestra. His musical contributions include keyboard work, notably the biomellowdrone, and he has been part of other groups like Artco and Viewpoint.

-Squidco 5/7/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Tom Katsimpalis was a multi-instrumentalist and visual artist associated with Biota. His contributions included guitars, harmonica, clavioline, ektara, and prepared music boxes. He was also known for his work in visual arts, contributing to the collective's aesthetic.Randy Miotke

-Squidco 5/7/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



Mark Derbyshire-cello, horn [crumhorn], tape, computer, sampler

Sara Thompson-doublebass, piano

Steve Scholbe-electric gutiar, alto saxophone, clarinet

William Sharp-piano, clarinet, vocals, tape

Amy Derbyshire-viola, sampler, horn [crumhorn]

Randy Yeates-vocals

Tom Katsimpalis-vocals

Torger Hougen-vocals

Related Categories of Interest:

Before April-2006
Electro-Acoustic
Recommended Records
Before April-2006

Search for other titles on the label:
Recommended Records.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Other Recommended Releases:
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A compendium of compositions and improvisations from 2009-13 by undersea acoustician and audio engineer A.F. Jones, who uses stringed instruments and analog devices, hand-crafted and found, in works that emphasize structural components such as timbre, tone, or attack over form.



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