Straphanger | Petrichor (2010) [57']

(cover photo by weimieweim)

Straphanger/Petrichor is an album of experimental ambient music. The two pieces are derived from concert works with the same titles. Materials that make up the shorter versions are expanded and elaborated here to create a different, more introspective experience. This collection has been deliberately mixed at a low volume for quiet home listening.

Straphanger is based upon sounds of Atlanta's MARTA transit system. It exists in two other forms: the original concert version (2006) and the installation version (2007). Like the installation, this ambient version uses expansions of the materials for the concert version, as well as some discarded elements. The form for this version is based on that of the original - each section follows the same proportions, multiplied by 5 (the original is 6 minutes, this is 30 minutes). Each corresponding section features the same materials, such as textures based on electronic beeps, conductor announcements, or sounds of the tracks.

Petrichor is based on recordings of rain. The original version of this piece was written for clarinet and computer-generated sounds. There is also a tape-alone version and an installation version. The installation contains soundfiles based on the materials for the original version, selected randomly (this can be presented by a Max/MSP patch or by several CD players set to shuffle). To create this ambient version, I recorded the installation several times, then edited together the best moments.

Listen above. Purchases via Bandcamp and donations via PayPal happily accepted!