SOTA

Other / Experimental / Ambient

slc, ut u.s.a.

chronology

first session 11/12/98
This first meeting of the Sons found them performing surgery on a vinyl copy of "409" with a razor knife, creating real-time locked grooves. Even in this early hymn to engines, an abundance of shortwave transmissions and subsonics form the bedrock of the SOTA approach (see "the ongoing knowledge of family radio").

exhuming shekhinah 3/31/99
(The Moroccan, SLC) Ceremonial ritual noise on the occasion of a double blue moon.
This evening length theatrical installation work utilized the first session tapes, field recordings, vibrating sculpture and an industrial vacuum-driven reed-organ rotorvator complete with horse jaws.

untitled (aircrash) 9/00 - 11/01
The first SOTA album began in earnest with field recordings in and around the SLC International Airport, investigating the emotional qualities of modernity's trust and fear of technology. A dormant period following the completion of the first half of the record prompted a reapproach that yielded a live performance (see "noise"). A recording of this live set became an apt conclusion after the world was recontextualized two weeks later on 9/11/01.

noise (live at kilby ct.) 8/26/01
SOTA curate an evening of noise & movement sharing the stage with local noise outfits Brain & SPKRKLR. This first collaboration with Wasatch Dance Collective had the Sons making a live radio broadcast into the Kilby courtyard where WDC performed a prelude in black burqas to 30 tiny transistor radios burbling broken gamelan.

no place like home 5/23-31/02 & 6/1/02
(rear area of The Pickle Company) Exploring the haunting and exorcism of suburban domestication in 7 rooms of installation, sound installation, performance and dance. The Sons provide the score to the ritual performed with WDC, weaving studio-recorded material (see houseplant jungle) and live microphone feeds into a living, breathing space lasting two weeks.

exploded-oracle session Summer/02
SOTA employ SLC noise guru Cory J. Bury to co-produce this track based on recordings of planetary VLF and a beautiful intercepted shortwave transmission heard near the end of the track. The Sons invited a coin toss divination method to guide and Mr. Bury to pilot the interface for SOTAs only digital production to date.

drunk on lilies 12/7/02
(studio theater/Rose Wagner Center, SLC) Deepening the collaboration with WDC. SOTA provide another score for evening length dance. In a simplified approach, all elements arise from an exquisite corpse text by the Sons & WDC. After opening the performance with a studio-recorded musical theme, this night saw the first use of live musical instruments (theremin, guitar) paired with SOTAs traditional shortwave broadcasts, subsonics and throat singing.

raw material (proto-hush) 11/21-22/03
(studio theater/Rose Wagner Center, SLC) Reforming the collective from "drunk on lilies" with WDC, SOTAs live score for dance continues to explore the borders between instrumentation (mbira, infrared MIDI triggers), random transmissions, and noise in search of a new musicality. Again using live microphones, the Sons experiment with the textures of water, rock salt, dry ice and metal bowls.

hush 4/15-17/05
(black box theater/Rose Wagner Center, SLC) Performing another live score for modern dance with WDC, SOTA remix 4-track cassette masters and employ close-miked steel water vessels to set up instrumental solos on theremin and gender wayang.

live 2/9/07
(The Pickle Company,SLC) A rare unaccompanied live performance, opening for the Ether Orchestra. Taking full advantage of the cement flooring and cavernous space, SOTA pump low frequency oscillations and an ear-ringing 4-track master cassette remix of track 2 from Untitled (Aircrash) (2002).

SOTA>sex utility sometime 2008
To be released on 8ctopus Records.

look - see all 4

you - see all 22

SOTA is: - see all 2

mttsn mcfrlnd - production, concept/design, voices, tapes, loops, effects, visuals, tactuals
drk fnnsbck - production, concepts, sound engineering, voices, tapes, loops, effects