Artist description Common Time is the notion that music can evolve beyond modern music theory. A notion proven through bizarre tempo shifts, odd time signatures, semi tones, and the manipulation of found sounds that occur in our day to day lives, the result is a more emotional, more abrasive form of music that lives outside the confines of 12-tone theory. With the advent of new technology we've discovered new theory. Common Time is electronic music roaming beyond the expectations of the 'rave' and 'big beat' scenes, into dangerous uncharted ground. Seemingly the only eletronic music that was affected by the Y2K virus, and it shows.

Music Style Imagine this artist playing in the head set of the demolition crew who finally blows the Earth free of history.

Musical Influences Aphex Twin, Bjork, Autechre, THE THE, Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Plaid, KMFDM, Underworld, Sheep On Drugs, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Ritalin, The Damage Manual, 12 Rounds, Recoil, UNKLE, Radiohead, PIG, SOW, Skinny Puppy, Square Pusher, The Golden Palominos, Plug, Public Enemy, The Afghan Whigs, The Twilight Singers, Prick, New Order, Atom And His Package, Tori Amos, The Dust Brothers, Moby, Tweaker, and many many more.

Similar Artists Judge for yourself.

Artist History Drew Chial (founder of Common Time) at the age 17 was the very first musician accepted into the Minnesota Center For Arts Education whose primary instrument was a laptop computer. The school voted Drew "Most likely to be sucked into cyber space." This is where an experiment based in Minneapolis Minnesota now known as Common Time began. With Common Time our initial aim was to expand on what people perceived as "music." We've sampled random non tonal sounds such as: passing cars, waves crashing along Lake Superior, drills, blenders, and Jerry Falwell, then we added an order to the sounds by looping them in a percussive fashion. Along with the inclusion of these found sounds, we added synth melodies (with bent pitches) that could not be accurately registered using the old fashion scale of music theory. In the composing process we gathered these sequencing tricks and instead of producing an unfocused mesh of noise we assembled these sounds into a catchy pop structure.

Group Members Common Time is: Drew Chial

Instruments Macintosh Power Book, Macintosh G4, Guitar, Violin, Keyboard, Bugle, Voice

Albums The Last Humanist, A Moment Of Clarity, This Isn't Really Art, Some Call it Art/Some Call It Evidence

Press Reviews Drew Chial and Cory Kalinoski hope to 'live outside the confines of music theory' ...... they succeed, yet remain surprisingly listenable and at times even charming. Probably the most immediately accessible piece is "Here is Your Man", which mixes up loops from Al Gore and George W. with fun retro keyboard samples and a Drum & Bass undercurrent, a-la Negativeland, and sports a sample of George W. sounding like a Dahlek from Dr. Who that had me in stitches. "The Storm Before the Calm" is also a highlight, showing off some flashy sequencing tricks, yet also immediately danceable, and with a gritty guitar melody that really helped the song stand out. The 'Welcome To the Machine'-like special effects at the end certainly were welcome, as well ...... I would love to be at one of their parties. (Scott Olson) Toast Magazine 'Enya meets Enigma on a rainy day' music with suportive chargrin. (J.P. Johnson) Pulse Of The Twin Cities "Palms," is a creepy number that successfully melds the beat/mind fuck of Richard D. James with a drippy, child-like theme that wouldn't sound out of place on a Pornography or The Top era Cure album. (Bryan Carroll) Toast Magazine

Location Minneapolis, MN - USA

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