


Incredibly crafted sonic worlds from the Biota collective, and indescribable orchestration of electric & acoustic guitars, clavioline, trumpet, organ, micromoog, biolmellodrone, voice, electric & acoustic violins, bass, percussion, &c.
Out of Stock
Quantity in Basket: None
Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 5.00 units

Sample The Album:



Kristianne Gale-voice, guitar
Gordon Whitlow-organ, accordion
Tom Katsimpalis-guitars, Clavioline
Mark Piersel-guitars
David Zekman-violin, mandolin
Larry Wilson-percussion
Steve Scholbe-rubab, guitar
James Gardner-trumpet
Randy Yeates-keyboards
Charles O'Meara-piano
Randy Miotke-Rhodes, accordion
William Sharp-electronics, mixing
Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.
28 page full color booklet with information and superb Mnemonist artwork.
UPC: 752725030724
Label: Recommended Records
Catalog ID: ReR BCD7
Squidco Product Code: 16350
Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2012
Country: Great Britain
Packaging: Cardstock gatefold foldover
Recorded at Dys Studio, Bellvue, Colorado between Spring 2009 and Spring 2012 by William Sharp.
After 5 years of extensive and careful work, the new and much anticipated CD by this extraordinary collective, who have no parallels, no rivals and no peers, is at last complete. It's a dense and indescribable orchestration of electric and acoustic guitars, clavioline, trumpet, Hammond organ, micromoog, biolmellodrone, electric and acoustic violins, bass, mandolin, accordion, piano, rubab, kit percussion and sometimes voice, layered and radically processed in the unique Biota manner. There is a leitmotif of folk elements in this piece that emerge from the roiling, swirling quicksand of sound we now expect from Biota, with texts by WB Yeats and snatches, arrangements and influences floating by way of Christy Moore, June Tabor, Judy Collins, Sandy Denny, Bert Jansch, the Bothy Band and older traditional sources. Biota craft sonic worlds that relate to, but are not built like, the music with which we are familiar; for them time is a continuum rather than a sequence of events;
28 page full color booklet with information and superb Mnemonist artwork.

Artist Biographies
• Show Bio for Kristianne Gale 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. ^ Hide Bio for Kristianne Gale • Show Bio for Gordon Whitlow 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. ^ Hide Bio for Gordon Whitlow • Show Bio for Tom Katsimpalis 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 ^ Hide Bio for Tom Katsimpalis • Show Bio for Mark Piersel 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. ^ Hide Bio for Mark Piersel • Show Bio for David Zekman 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. ^ Hide Bio for David Zekman • Show Bio for Larry Wilson 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. ^ Hide Bio for Larry Wilson • Show Bio for Steve Scholbe 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. ^ Hide Bio for Steve Scholbe • Show Bio for James Gardner 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. ^ Hide Bio for James Gardner • Show Bio for Randy Yeates 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. ^ Hide Bio for Randy Yeates • Show Bio for Charles O'Meara 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. ^ Hide Bio for Charles O'Meara • Show Bio for Randy Miotke 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. ^ Hide Bio for Randy Miotke • Show Bio for William Sharp 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. ^ Hide Bio for William Sharp
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Track Listing:
1. Evening Full (The Lake Isle Of Innisfree) 0:37
2. Every Day Is Not Its Day 2:02
3. Flee And Wander 1:26
4. A Few Short Lines (Black Is The Color) 9:26
5. Clock Of Keys 4:21
6. The Bonny Boy / Bruton Town 6:51
7. Yet Untold 1:23
8. Life Like Our Own 1:35
9. Ran To Look 6:02
10. Lantern 2:02
11. Probably In The Sea 1:15
12. Valley Of Late 5:42
13. Rosemary Lane 5:30
14. Remember Another Name 5:02
15. Drawn Scarcely 2:12
16. Somewhere When 4:17
17. Arboreal 1:15
18. Of The Linnet's Wings (Innisfree) 4:43
19. Scatter Tree 2:41
20. On This The Other 1:44
21. Once More 4:19

Recommended Records
Improvised Music
Electro-Acoustic
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
Free Improvisation
Instant Rewards
Search for other titles on the label:
Recommended Records.

