Tape Deck Orchestra

Linear Notes Tape Deck Orchestra. “Home To Kitsilano” SimpleSounds MP3 The previous Tape Deck Orchestra project was conceived after TDO composer Jason Derr was recommended to find a hobby during the writing of his thesis. During this time he collected, cut and edited sounds that he tapped out on desktops, stair rails, book carts in the library, improved on the piano in the chapel or on an online virtual piano. Then he took a break, worked at SFU, met a woman, fell in love, got engaged and started work at Chapters. Between falling in love and Chapters TDO began working on a new record. Instead of the cut-and-paste sounds of ‘Four Elements One Love’ (SS01) – though the new project has that – Jason/TDO focused on a longer compositional piece constructed out of soundscapes, natural and wild sounds. Born on a bus ride after a night of meditation where Jason sat in silence as the bus drove home on the night of the Celebration Of Lights, catching glimpses of fireworks in the sky between the buildings, watching the layered reflection of lights in the windows dance and weave Jason conceived a TDO project that was a study in silence, noise, distraction and journey. Constructed from the sounds found on the buses of Vancouver, the street outside his door, an ambulance on the street, a child crying and the buzzer to his friend Jennifer’s building – as well as a few minimal virtual instruments -Jason and TDO have presented not an album or EP but an composed music of found sound: musique concrete for the modern ear. “Home To Kitsilano” (SS02) is a project to make the listener reflect, to encounter noise and silence and be carried along with them. While a narrative score was written the music itself is not based on three distinct acts or parts, but are instead 3 pieces exploring different parts of the journey. “Homeward Bound” is the meditative silence of the bus, “Street Walking” is the disruption of the world into our silence and “My inside is always outside” is the tenitive balance of the two. Musique Concrete is the art of making music out of found sounds. Originating with Pierre Henry and Pierre Shaffer in the 50’s every one from the Beatles (Revolution No. 9) and Bjork and Matmos has worked in this manner. The first TDO record, an EP by the name of ‘Four Elements One Love’ (SS01) – available on Aimee Street and MySpace – was recorded on an $60 digital tape recorder and edited on an $20 music-editing program. “Home To Kitsilano” was edited on GarageBand and recorded on the same $60 tape recorder. As a young man TDO founder Jason Derr worked with friends making music out of make shift tape loops, found sounds, drum machines and guitar. The result was a spoken/rap/punk distributed among friends. The tradition continues with the music of TapeDeckOrchestra. INFO: Artist: TAPE DECK ORCHESTRA Label: SimpleSoundsMP3 RELEASES: “Four Elements, One Love” (SS01) http://www.myspace.com/tapedeckorchestra http://amiestreet.com/music/tape-deck-orchestra/ www.freewebs.com/simplesounds http://www.virb.com/tapedeckorchestra “Home To Kitsilano: (SS02) http://amiestreet.com/music/tapedeckorchestra/ www.myspace.com/tapedeckHTK