For the past several weeks SWARM has been conducting a series of experimental sessions with an unusual collection of objects. Unusual even by our standards – which is saying something. The centrepiece has been a variant setup of Bill’s Strange Fruit tower assemblage. We’ve altered the configuration of instruments and added more contact microphones. The tower mics all run through a little 8 channel mixer which runs to the main board and through a set of powered monitors. We’re also using two sets of large cans, an assortment of pvc drums, a portable suitcase sized xylophone and a set of tuned tanks (of the sort used for holding pressurized gasses). Also rototoms, and at one point the floor.

This is the first release of that undertaking. Next week there will be video.

Walking With Large Animals

We encourage very much the disassembly, reconstruction, dismemberment, recontextualization and subversion of this work.

ccMixter – Noise (Another Mix)

Also more music from artemisstrong .

We’re currently working on a show with a smaller footprint so we can expand the range of venues which can accommodate our show. The new instrumentation (including a handmade cylindrical stand-up bass!) and modified electronics will provide fresh ground for developing the repertoire.

The next public show is winter solstice in Cumberland, on Vancouver Island, December 21. I’ll put up more info as it becomes available.

updates and changes are coming soon – in the meantime everything is still in the same place it was, more or less.

In the meantime here is some music

samsara cannon

While we were away we started up a new project  – site explorations, viewable when you click here.

Here are a couple of the videos:

There are also some fresh things from theatrical shows:

For more, See Hear.

Fresh 20 minute video demo posted. The audio is from the ‘world’s heaviest dubstep’ compilation – provenance unknown but the mix of ‘wayfaring stranger’ that kicks it off is brilliant. It’s a live video recording and best viewed fullscreen.

The important thing is that the game is afoot.

There are updates to upcoming events in the calendar section and more things to come.

In the meantime, here are some photos of Swarm in the recent Vancouver Celtic Parade.

Also a flyer has gone out for the upcoming 12 Minutes Max event at the Firehall arts centre in Vancouver. Swarm will be premiering KounterKlockWerk – a new kinetic drum piece with banging and spinning and bungee throws. Much fun. (click flyer image for a larger version)

at the hands of the lighta! crew