Artist description Script-based improvising ensemble still in its embryonic stages. These tracks are from our first "proof of concept" sessions, which were held in late 1998. This music is noisy and shows a decided lack of interest in melody, harmony, rhythm, structure, or thematic development. Rather, the focus is on multi-instrumentalists working in a free-form environment using computer-generated scripts to guide them as to which instrument to play when. In some instances, the instructions are so vague they simply direct a player to use a guitar synth when the device in question has hundreds of patches to choose from, controlled by an instrument with a zillion possible approaches! p.s. for the exact OPPOSITE of this music, head over to Matt & Pink's other band, The Sediments!

Music Style Scheduled Improvisation

Musical Influences Eugene Chadbourne, Derek Bailey, Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser, John Zorn, Tom Cora, Henry Cow, The Dits

Similar Artists Skeleton Crew

Artist History We got the idea for The Chronomatics after seeing an opening act for a Eugene Chadbourne show in Chicago. It was a local act, and their set was well attended by friends who promptly vanished when the last note faded. On the plus side, we were three of five non-employees who got an intimate, private Chadbourne show! Anyway, the opening band was most interesting to us before they hit the stage--what are they going to do with this cool collection of vintage equipment??! When they started doing scripted improv, our ears initially perked up, but boredom soon set in: the keyboardist made the same bloop-ploop all night, the prepared guitarist did the same scrape-scrunch all night, and the short wave jockey pulled in white noise static and seemed fixated on an equalizer that did little to alter the radio's sound. Only the percussionist had a sense of movement about his playing. Good idea, but when's Eugene start??? As we were driving home, we got the idea to incorporate the essence of what we'd seen into a pool of multi-instrumentalists, where constant changes in instrumentation precluded the mind-numbing boredom of well-intentioned but self-involved noodling. Yes, we noodle plenty, but thanks to a computer program Pink wrote in 15 minutes we can only noodle on a given instrument for brief, exact periods of time. We are currently in the process of assembling an expanded ensemble for local live performance...

Group Members The Chronomatics are intended to be an ever-changing improvising collective, with a goal of a single "practice" session being all that's needed to make new players full-functioning members. Currently, the following have participated in our initial recordings: Matt Seniff (Guitar; Guitar Synth; Percussion; Cello; Autoharp; Etc.) *** Pink Bob (Keyboards; Guitar; Guitar Synth; Saxocorder; Trumpet; Toys; Theremin; Percussion; Etc.) *** Chris Nichols (Short Wave Radio; Prepared Tapes & Discs; Toys; Percussion; Etc.)

Instruments theremin, guitar, guitar synth, percussion, shortwave, saxacorder, elctronic percussion, cello, lapsteel guitar, lapsteel guitarsynth, banjo, autoharp, sousaphone, digeredoo, trumpet, tapes, prepared cds, toys, toy instruments, bells, and anything else that makes noise

Albums We own thousands of them!

Press Reviews LISTEN.COM had this to say: "A surrealistic ambient swirl of cavernous, pulsating noises, off-kilter Free Jazz squeals, and vocal samples, interspersed with passages of deep, trance-inducing drone. This structured improvisation collective moves through a staggering variety of textures without melody or groove."

Location Normal, IL - USA

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