Artist description Electronic Retro-Trance incorporating Rock guitar. All recordings are made completely live using Sseyo's 'Koan Pro 2' algorithmic software. All guitar tracks are recorded live, as 'Koan Pro' plays, with NO OVERDUBS!! The term 'Generative Music', inspired by Sseyo's 'Koan Pro' computer software, was coined by Brian Eno in 1996 to describe a method of music making where the composer acts as an 'instigator of a process', rather than 'the full specifier of a work'. Making Generative Music involves some unconventional composition methods; it is not a linear process and it invariably involves elements of chance and uncertainty. The composer creates a set of rules that govern the range and focus of permutations for the piece. The software then 'calculates' the implications of these rules in real timeand plays them as a midi stream to sound generating devices which then 'perform' this output; a musical process commonly known as algorithmic. The music featured on 'Genetically Modified Velvet' is essentially an experiment in improvisation where the rules governing a particular piece are set by the composer and 'played' in 'real time' by 'Koan Pro'. Consequently, the tracks that feature the guitar are the equivalent to a musical 'jam'. Typically, a 'jam' involves musicians who may make spontaneous decisions or 'instantly compose' to take a particular piece of music in an unspecified direction. Conventionally, this type of 'jam' invariably involves communication techniques such as eye contact and verbal instruction. In contrast, performing with 'Koan Pro' is the equivalent to 'jamming blind', where the human performer is totally reliant on hearing ability alone. Therefore, the guitar performances on 'Genetically Modified Velvet' are the result of a combination of design, intuition and coincidence. It is suggested here that there are two types of Generative Music; 'Evolving Form' and 'Mobile Form'. 'Evolving Form', as the name suggests involves designing a set of rules which enables a piece to evolve or 'mutate' over a certain time period. 'Eugenix' is a good example of this, where each voice type is rhythmically 'mutated' by 'Koan Pro' to create an entirely different 'groove' each time the same set of rules governing the piece are played. In contrast, 'Mobile Form' involves recontextualising pre-composed blocks of sound or sequences, around which, 'evolving' elements may play. A good example of this is 'Feel The Magic' in which set verses and phrases are generated in a different order or individually 'selected' to give the song a different 'feel'. Whilst all of this may sound very dry and academic, Unkle Velvet believes that the music should be judged on its own merits regardless of the method of its making. Hopefully you will enjoy the outcome!!

Music Style Generative/Rock/Progressive/Trance

Musical Influences Ashra, Frank Zappa, Michael Schenker, David Torn, Yes

Similar Artists Ashra (Tempel), Steve Hillage, Steve Howe, Michael Schenker.

Artist History Formed in 1997, Unkle Velvet incorporates the improvisational qualities of Sseyo's Koan Pro with that of the electric guitar.

Group Members Unkle Velvet, Sizta Velvet - Clare Canty (of U.K. chart group, Lucid), Mutha Velvet - Clare Durrant, Brutha Velvet - Matt Brobin, Koan Pro 2.1.

Instruments Hagstrom electric guitar, Koan Pro 2.1, E-Bow, Digitech RP 1, Tascam DA 20, Creative AWE 64 and Live soundcards.

Albums Genetically Modified velvet

Press Reviews "...Eugenix, by Unkle Velvet combines the best of it’s preceding tracks,meshing thick, textural ambient darkness with a subtle rhythm of movement and unobtrusive beats..."(Phosphor - Electroage Y2K online magazine on Unkle Velvet's contribution to 'Convergence I - A Generative Compilation Album).

Location Manchester, Greater Manchester - United Kingdom

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