Artist description Chinese-American composer/multi-instrumentalist Forrest Fang has released 8 recordings for the Ominous Thud, Cuneiform and (most recently) Projekt labels. His eclectic music incorporates both Western and non-Western influences as wide-ranging as minimalism, Balinese gamelan music and Chinese classical music. Fang's latest CD, released in September 2000, is an ambient solo project called "Gongland." He has composed music for shadow theater, and, more recently, composed a multimedia opera/theatrical work, 'Blind Messengers,' in collaboration with George Coates Performance Works. 'Blind Messengers' received its premiere in September 1998 in Sacramento, California. Fang has also been a guest artist on recordings by ambient artists Robert Rich and Carl Weingarten, and is currently recording a space music project with Weingarten.

Music Style Electro-acoustic ambient music with non-Western influences

Musical Influences minimalism, ambient music, traditional Asian and other non-Western music, progressive rock, fractal music

Similar Artists Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Brian Eno (ambient), O Yuki Conjugate, Forest Fang (a misspelling for MP3.Com's search engine)

Instruments Electronics, Western and non-Western stringed instruments and percussion

Albums Gongland (2000); Blind Messenger (1997); Folklore (1995); World Diary (1992); The Wolf At the Ruins (1989), Migration (1986), a.o.

Press Reviews Reviews of the CD, "The Blind Messenger" (available from cuneiformrecords.com): --Progression (Winter/Spring 1998) - "The music, built upon an electronic foundation, is unified, very well-conceived, and beautifully executed. While one might draw comparisons with recent Steve Roach and Robert Rich, Fang's music is truly separate, and one which asserts the composer's wide-ranging knowledge of non-Western instruments." Expose (Summer 1997) - "esoteric...revealing a depth all too uncommon in the field of electronic music...A truly fascinating and mysterious album that reveals itself over several listens, pockets of music that awaken on different levels of consciousness. Excellent throughout." Hollow Ear (Summer 1997) - "There are those musicians who have always travelled outside of their own culture, gathered the music of the world into their bag and made something unique of it...Fang has been one of those rootless cosmopolitans...Fang has a sonic depth (and a note of whimsy) that makes what could be ponderous introspection into a human aural experience."

Additional Info Fang's "Blind Messenger" and "Folklore" CDs are available at cuneiformrecords.com. His electronica side-project, "Spirit Oscillator," released an EP in 1999 ('Aquarium') that is available through MP3.Com. Robert Rich and Steve Roach appear in acoustic guise as special guests on 'Folklore.' Ambient keyboardist Kit Watkins and dobroist/guitarist Carl Weingarten appear as special guests on 'The Blind Messenger.'

Location Richmond, CA - USA

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