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Biota: Almost Never (Recommended Records)


 

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product information:

Personnel:



Steve Scholbe-bass clarinet, alto saxophone, guitar, banjo, performer [marxophone], ukulele, recorder, harmonica, percussion, computer [processing]

William Sharp-computer [processing], tape, hurdy gurdy

Larry Wilson-drums

James Gardner-flugelhorn, electric piano, tape [field recordings]

Tom Katsimpalis-guitar, ukulele, organ [pump], bass, electric piano, percussion, computer [processing]

Gordon H. Whitlow-pump organ, whistling, harp


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UPC: 752725002929

Label: Recommended Records
Catalog ID: RER BCD3
Squidco Product Code: 761

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 1992
Country: Great Britain
Packaging: Jewel Tray
Recorded between Summer 1989 and Winter 1991/1992 at Dys Studio in Fort Collins, CO by Joan McAninch and Richard Pena.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.
"'Almost Never' returns to the deep layering and density of the earlier Horde'."-ReR Megacorp

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.

Larry Wilson is a drummer and percussionist contributing to Biota's rhythmic elements. His expertise in kit drums and percussion adds dynamic layers to the group's experimental soundscapes.

-Squidco 5/7/2025

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

James Gardner is a New Zealand-based composer and musician. Born in Liverpool, England, he co-founded the electronic music group Apollo 440 before relocating to New Zealand in 1994. There, he established the contemporary music ensemble 175 East and has been active as a broadcaster and educator in contemporary music.

-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:



Steve Scholbe-bass clarinet, alto saxophone, guitar, banjo, performer [marxophone], ukulele, recorder, harmonica, percussion, computer [processing]

William Sharp-computer [processing], tape, hurdy gurdy

Larry Wilson-drums

James Gardner-flugelhorn, electric piano, tape [field recordings]

Tom Katsimpalis-guitar, ukulele, organ [pump], bass, electric piano, percussion, computer [processing]

Gordon H. Whitlow-pump organ, whistling, harp

Related Categories of Interest:

Electro-Acoustic Improv
Free Improvisation
Sextet Recordings
Before April-2006
Improvised Music
Electro-Acoustic
Recommended Records
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Free Improvisation
Sextet Recordings
Before April-2006

Search for other titles on the label:
Recommended Records.


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