TOM HAMILTON LP PRIVATE-EXPERIMENTAL-ELECTRONIC-SIGNED

$

61

TOM HAMILTON / RICH O'DONNELL / J.D. PARRAN

 FORMAL AND INFORMAL MUSIC LP

Somnath

Original private album, a collaborative masterpiece from Tom Hamilton, Rich O'Donnell and J.D. Parran. Signed by Tom Hamilton and Rich O'Donnell.

Some info on the release:  Bloody rare private issue, released in Usa sometime in the late 70's-early 80's by the Somnath label (=Tom Hamilton self-released). One of the most obscure and unknown well hidden gems of american experimental music. Works from 1973-1980. A wide variety of instruments are used like : E-Mu Microprocessor keyboard, serge Synthesizer, Custom electronics, Bowed cow bells, tabla, gamelan gongs, talking drum, Arp 2500 Synthsizer, Koto-veen, aqua lips, sprahng, flutes, clarinets, saxophones and many many more. Signed copy from 2/3: Tom Hamilton and Rich O'Donnell. 

Here's a review of the album from the internet: "An excellent album of free-wheeling analog electronics with woodwinds and hand percussion. Like its predecessor Music for Kohn, here the focus is Hamilton's deft control over his synthesizers, coaxing truly animated, rhythmic and bleepy tones, which coast along perfectly with the wheezing woodwinds and subtle rhythmic underside. The two sidelong tracks are very distinct, with side two's "Crimson Sterling" starting out in an almost spiritual jazz feel before soon getting swallowed by the impending bleep-bloop. The whole thing has a sort of spaced-out/cosmic loft jam session vibe; an earthy, woodsy charm augmented by a demented machine sputter that powers along yet never truly overtakes everything else enough to become "the token synth part making weird sounds" routine. Here, the electronics are integral to the cause, as on the title track (all of side one), where oscillations come flinging out of every corner. Excellent stuff. Think along the lines of a frenetic Terry Riley keyboard sound crossed with a damaged dot matrix printer."

Tom Hamilton has composed and performed electronic music for over 25 years, and he most often features older analog synthesizers in performance and recording. Since 1979, he has been exploring the relationships between 'Formal and Informal Music' in an ongoing series of concerts and recordings that contrast structure with improvisation and textural electronics with acoustic instruments. Hamilton has been a collaborator with visual artists, including Heleen Waterbolk (computer animator), Van McElwee and Morey Gers (video artists), and the late Ernst Haas (photographer). Since 1990, Hamilton has been a member of composer Robert Ashley's touring opera ensemble, performing sound processing and mixing in both recordings and concerts. A necessary sound document for experimental music fans.

A stirring multi-instrumentalist, J.D. Parran hasn't done sessions as a leader and lacks name recognition, but has contributed quite effectively to some outstanding free dates. Parran plays a wide range of clarinets from soprano to contralto, as well as sopranino, bass and tenor saxophone, flute, and others. He's recorded with Leroy Jenkins, Hamiett Bluiett, John Lindberg, Peter Brotzmann and the group Company which included Derek Bailey, Jon Corbett, Hugh Davies, Jamie Muir, Evan Parker, Vinko Globokar and Joelle Leandre. Parran has no sessions available on CD, but can be heard on reissued discs by Jenkins, Bluiett, Hemphill and others.

The multi facets of Rich O'Donnell span 45 years as virtuoso percussionist, composer, designer and builder of percussion and electronic instruments, teacher and writer. He is also the music director of New Music Circle. He was 43 years with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, most of them as principal percussionist. Known also for his collaborations with brazilian composer Jocy de Oliveira.

Condition: Vinyl lies in very good++ condition, looks clean with the exception of tiny mark and some "age wear", but plays with some crackle at the beggining and end of each side and some crackle here and there, while cover lies in excellent- condition with light ring wear.

Tracklist

Cymbal, Talking Drum, Timpani, Tuba, Gong [Gamelan Gongs], Marimba – Rich O'Donnell
Clarinet, Flute – J.D. Parran
Electronics, Synthesizer [Serge Synthesizer], Keyboards [E-mu Microprocessor Keyboard] – Tom Hamilton 

SHIPPING & PAYMENT

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Packaging: I am a collector too and i know