COLLINS, NICOLAS - Devils Music

"EM Records presents the CD and vinyl reissue of U.S. experimental electro-acoustic artist/circuit bender Nicolas Collins live radio sampling masterpiece, Devils Music, originally released on vinyl in 1986. Born and raised in New York City, Nicolas Collins has been hugely influential in contemporary electronic music, having performed world-wide for many years, collaborating with Christian Marclay, Elliot Sharp, David Shea, David Tudor and John Zorn, composing, recording, modifying circuits and inventing instruments, and spreading the good word through his writing (Handmade Electronic Music -- The Art Of Hardware Hacking 2nd Edition; Routledge, 2009) and teaching (Department of Sound, School of the Art Institute of Chicago). The pieces released here are only part of his ongoing, multifaceted and truly experimental activities. This edition of Devils Music is served up in all its stuttering glory, a time capsule of the mid-80s New York City airwaves, acclaimed by Philip Sherburne as an early template for techno," with a feel somewhat akin to scratching turntablist madness, a block-rocking party put through a blender and re-assembled by body-popping demons. Also included is "Real Landscape," a 1987 "remix" recorded in Europe (originally released on cassette), and (CD-only) "The Spark Heard Round The World," a fascinating tape piece sourced from multi-band radio and scanner recordings, plus a video of a live performance of "Devils Music" from 1987 in Birmingham, Alabama. And if youre still not satisfied, CD purchasers also get a downloadable software version of the original hardware circuitry used for Devils Music which, a la David Tudor, constitutes the original composition itself. Make your own "Devils Music!" Devils Music is available on 2LP vinyl in a gatefold sleeve, and double CD in a triple-gatefold sleeve (with bonus audio track plus CD-Extra and software). 24-bit digitally remastered; containing a booklet with text in English & Japanese, including rare photos." - EM