A long time coming, Chicago, IL and Tulsa, OK sound artists, Rush Falknor and Natty Gray convened over a year ago with the intention of creating unique improvisational compositions that spoke to a gentler side of them while retaining an avant-garde, if not experimental core approach. Taking influence from their backgrounds in field recording and noise, Falknor and Gray both consider site specific improvisation as the backbones of their compositions.
Falknor approaches his side through recordings of him playing pianos at various public spaces throughout the city of Chicago. Occasionally voices and background sound bleed in, and tasteful, additional modular processing of the recordings blends and further adds an emotional and pensive tinge to the ceremonial piece. An overall sonic experience that oozes emotion and reflection while retaining a fluttering, drifting appeal. A hazy day dream while dozing off on the city bus. His composition is broken up in to seven movements:
| – Mourning Cloak Red Stained & Torn
|| – Warai Hannya
||| – Hawthorn (My Ugly, Dwindling Faith)
|||| – I Could Burn It All Down Myself (Jag älskar henne så att hjärtat nästan går sönder)
||||| – On Heavenly Mountain (Für Die Vampyr)
|||||| – Young, Tough, & Vaping On The Bus
||||||| – Insektenreich
Gray approaches his side through a familial lens, utilizing several spatial microcassette recordings of him playing a partially working pump organ at the residence of his grandparents. The microcassette recordings are then independently digitized with modulated speeds and, finally, all collaged together. His composition is dirgey, downtrodden, and occasionally dissonant. The sound of a vacant hoarder’s home, dusty and cluttered. Gray fully leans in to an atmospheric drone, belly full of analog ambience and the format’s innate discrepancies.
Overall, “Birthing A New Era Of Grace” / “Only Come Out In The Dim Like Vampire” is a highly juxtaposed approach at traditionally influenced improvisational music by individuals with backgrounds in experimental, noise, and extreme music. Aimed to appeal to fans of both the conventional and avant-garde, Rush Falknor and Natty Gray’s newest offering will demand attentiveness from both types of audiences. Out now on Cult Love Sound Tapes.
Purchase Cassette: Rush Falknor / Natty Gray – Birthing A New Era Of Grace / Only Come Out In The Dim Like Vampire
Joyful Union Cassette Resource 