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Biota: Half a True Day (Recommended Records)

The eclectic, transformative and fascinating Biota (Mnemonists) in their 6th ReR CD of freeform sound, with video files and 13 images of paintings, drawing and woodcuts.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Kristianne Gale-voice

Tom Katsimpalis-guitars, Clavioline

Gordon Whitlow-accordion

Steve Scholbe-rubab

Mark Piersel-guitar

William Sharp-electronics, mix

Randy Yeates-keyboards

David Zekman-violin, mandolin

Charles O'Meara-piano

Randy Miotke-Rhodes, editing

James Gardner-flugelhorn

Andy Kredt-guitar

Rold Goranson-electronics, voice

Steve Emmons-electronics

Larry Wilson-percussion


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




UPC: 752725022224

Label: Recommended Records
Catalog ID: ReR BCD6
Squidco Product Code: 8698

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2007
Country: USA
Packaging: Jewel Tray
Recorded at Dys Studio, in Bellvue, Colorado, between Fall 2002 & Summer 2007, by William Sharp.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

Unique in their history and method, Biota painstakingly construct complex, organic structures that mix extensive studio processing and musique concréte techniques, with a highly eclectic orchestra of acoustic and electronic resources - from kit drums, through mediaeval winds, strings and barrel organs, to early experimental electronic instruments. Their works are always performance driven and interleaved with successive stages of lamination, imbrication of parts, and radical pre- and post-processing,.

"As the title suggests, in this new work a portion of a cycle - a repeating segment of time - is explored. We employed repeating and overlapping motifs of different lengths, allowing their staggered interaction to produce varying degrees of harmonization, dissonance, masking and reinforcement. Unpredictability of outcome was furthered by electronic processing - both manual and automated, random and predetermined -¬ and by the appearance, taken ¬out of context, ¬of unrelatedpassages taken from earlier projects. Realtime performers had to interact with this instability as they constructed their contributions, and later as they gave form to the final composition. Although there are elements of chance at work in the process, the eventual architecture is intentional, and carefully worked.

Mixing was done by hand, and without the aid of computers, then the composition was assembled and integrated digitally."-William Sharp, Biota.

The interaction of staggered, overlapping elements reveals a changeable truth about the whole as the parts variously harmonize or dissent; reinforce or cloak one another in their unfolding. The project is, at heart, about uncertainty. Players encounter the shifting interplay between previously recorded parts juxtaposed with instrumental snippets - out of context - introduced from the group's archives. Electronic processing programs are employed to apply semi-random and semi-intentional alterations to the proceedings."-ReR


Artist Biographies

Kristianne Gale is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist known for her work with Biota, contributing voice and strumstick. She has also produced experimental radio skits, showcasing her creative versatility.

-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

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Gordon H. Whitlow is a composer and instrumentalist who has been with Biota since 1985. He is also a principal member of the project Sorry For Laughing. His instruments include electric organ, pump organ, accordion, and processing tools, enriching Biota's experimental compositions.

-Squidco 5/7/2025

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

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.

Mark Piersel is a multi-instrumentalist and producer with Biota. His contributions encompass acoustic guitar, electric bass, and processing, playing a significant role in the group's sonic explorations.

-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

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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

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David Zekman was a violinist and craftsman based in Fort Collins, Colorado. A longtime member of Biota, he contributed violin and processed bowed strings to the ensemble's recordings. Zekman passed away in July 2022, leaving behind a legacy within the experimental music community.

-Squidco 5/7/2025

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Charles O'Meara, known professionally as C.W. Vrtacek, was an American multi-instrumentalist and composer. He was a founding member of the avant-garde band Forever Einstein and a member of Biota. His solo work blended elements from various genres, including rock, folk, jazz, and classical music.

-Squidco 5/7/2025

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Randy Miotke is a musician and producer who has been part of Biota's evolving lineup. His roles have included playing Rhodes piano, trumpet, synthesizers, percussion, and handling processing duties. He has also been involved in engineering for the group.

-Squidco 5/7/2025

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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.

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.


Track Listing:



1. Figure Question 1:46

2. Pack-and-Penny Day 1:36

3. Hidden Compartment 1:33

4. Angle Of Doubt 2:55

5. Proven Within Half - Half A True Day 8:19

6. Accidental Photograph 2:44

7. Winding Nth 10:30

8. Moth Across 2:56

9. Silent Grove 2:42

10. Just Now Maybe 2:22

11. Another Name 3:53

12. Turn The Moon 3:11

13. Globemallow, Left Untold 3:03

14. Cloud Chamber 2:38

15. Where No One Knows 2:29

16. Antimagnet 2:26

17. Passerine 14:37

Related Categories of Interest:

Recommended Records
Improvised Music
Electro-Acoustic
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Organized Sound and Sample Based Music
November 2007
Free Improvisation

Search for other titles on the label:
Recommended Records.


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