Alfred Brown

Inchoate

2010-12-08T12:02:00.000-05:00

Inchoate by Alfred Brown

And one more preview of a piece posted earlier, but with added instrumentation.

Serifs Release

2010-12-07T06:39:00.005-05:00

A project with my good friend John Valenti is now out on Asthmatic Kitty Records as a FREE download. You can check it out right here. Add it to your cart and you'll get it for zero dollars; a little Christmas gift for you all. Also check out John's other work as he is a very talented musician and film maker.

John's Website
John's Myspace
John's Vimeo

Sneak Peak

2010-11-19T08:59:00.003-05:00

Here's a preview of a piece from my upcoming release Music for Moving in Slow Motion due out sometime in (early?) 2011. Also on this collection is Inchoate, the piece posted previously.

Drawn to a Withered Hand by Alfred Brown

Peur Bleue

2010-07-23T11:18:00.004-04:00

The French blog Peur Bleue did a real nice and very extensive write-up on me. Follow the link to find kind words, samples of music that really inspires me, something I wrote describing a little bit about my process, and of course, a sneak peak at a new piece I wrote that will be released next year.

Start following this blog as Mr. Gohan always has interesting insights and great music postings.

Alfred Brown + Makeshift Letterbox + Pamela Swarts

2010-02-22T16:13:00.003-05:00

Join me (in solo performance) with Makeshift Letterbox (solo project of Jeff Suszczynski of The Gifted Children) and Pamela Swarts (live electronics and intelligent-beats maker extraordinaire) for an evening of uniquely fun music making. Three distinctly different electronic artists showcase their brands of thoughtful sound crafting.

702 Main Street
Buffalo, NY, 14202

Phone:716-348-6127

$3.00 at the door.

www.myspace.com/pamelaswarts
www.myspace.com/makeshiftletterbox
www.myspace.com/alfredbrown

Now Streaming Shark Remixes Vol. 1

2010-02-22T13:05:00.003-05:00

Now you can hear all of Shark Remixes Vol. 1 streaming over at my Myspace page. www.myspace.com/alfredbrown. If you like it, buy it on iTunes, or better yet, buy it in hard copy along with the other three volumes for a scant 22 American dollars right here: http://asthmatickitty.com/shark-remixes !

A Tussle That Will End In Bearhugs

2009-11-11T09:40:00.002-05:00

Here's a taste of what you'll hear this Friday at Boulder Coffee in Rochester. Don't miss it!

A Tussle That Will End In Bearhugs by alfredbrown

Performance in Rochester this Friday

2009-11-09T10:31:00.010-05:00

Pretty bells, washy guitar, and sparkling electronics fill the air with warmth.

Boulder Coffee

100 Alexander Street South Wedge

Rochester, NY 14620

November 13, 8:00pm

$5.00 cover

other / other / other - Nov. 20

2009-11-04T11:05:00.010-05:00

Friday, November 20th, 2009 5:45pm until 8:30pm:

FREE (tips welcome) SHOW AT THE RECORD ARCHIVE
other/other/other - is the collective effort of Fred Brown, John Valenti and Paul Burke. They have performed as Where is Fred Brown?, The Singularity is Coming, Leonard Cohen's Ghost and many others. other/other/other is now the official name of this outfit. Other bands TBA.

33 Rockwood St Rochester, NY 14610

(585) 244-1210

http://www.myspace.com/johnpaulvalenti

http://www.myspace.com/alfredbrown
http://www.myspace.com/akapaulburke
http://www.ilike.com/artist/A.K.A.+Paul+Burke
http://www.ilike.com/artist/A.K.A.+Paul+Burke/dashboard/songs
http://www.last.fm/music/Strippers

Inchoate

2009-10-15T07:30:00.011-04:00

All The Stars Obey, 1st movement by Alfred Brown
This isn't the recording from the October 3 performance, but it is the same piece, performed as it was then. There are two other movements that I hope to record some time soon. I also hope to eventually write extra instrumentation for it, including brass quintet a few suspended cymbals, and small choir. Current instrumentationn includes Electric Guitar, Electric Baritone Kalimba, Korg KP2, Looping hardware, and a small mixer.

Performance November 12

2009-10-13T07:43:00.005-04:00

Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 9:00pm

Come hear me stack blocks of texture in an brand new three-part composition All the Stars Obey.

Re:Soundings

2009-09-03T10:59:00.011-04:00

On October 3rd come on out to the rural Northeast for a full day of contemporary music "for those with big ears and a taste for the adventurous". It'll be an all-day minifestival featuring music for voices, machines, chamber ensembles, accordion quintets, and much more; including films.

For updated information go to www.resoundings.net

Composer/performers:
Alfred Brown
Nicholas Chase
David Gunn
Richard Lainhart - world premiere
Mary Jane Leach - world premiere
Al Margolis

Accordionist Rocco Anthony Jerry Performing:
Conrad Kehn - Maximinimal for accordion, electronics, and video - world premiere
Peter Machajdik - Five Mirrors for solo accordion - US Premiere
Yuji Takahashi - Like a Water Buffalo for solo accordion
Kjell Perder - AGNI god of fire for accordion quintet - 2nd US performance

Rewind: First Study in Textures

2009-08-07T08:25:00.005-04:00

Circa 2004, this is a saxophone quartet I wrote back in the day. One of my first ventures into a more textural way of writing. There are four movements in which I isolate single musical elements and try to create progression while minimizing other musical elements.

First Study in Textures-for four saxophones by Alfred Brown

Rewind: 5000 Years From Now

2009-08-07T08:16:00.014-04:00

This is a piece I did circa 2003. It's a pretty indecent recording, but I really like the piece. It's based on a section of a book by Clifford D. Simack titled A Choice of Gods, in which 99% of the human race inexplicably disappears and the remnant finds that they have lifespans of a few thousand years, possibly more. They also can travel through space telepathically. Some of the travelers bring back musical trees from an alien planet and plant an orchard of them on Earth. In the evenings these trees give "concerts". And there's Angsty robots. Read the book. Special love goes out to the Trawlerman, John Owen.

Instrumentation:
Vibraphone, Marimba, Bass Drum, Tam-Tam, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Sine Wave, Pink Noise.

5000 years from now by Alfred Brown

Preview

2009-07-10T13:35:00.004-04:00

For all who are interested, here is a quick little sample from a Singularity practice session. Hear this and much more tomorrow night!

Singularity by Alfred Brown, John Valenti, Paul Burke

Saturday, Saturday

2009-07-08T09:15:00.020-04:00

Don't Forget to make it out to Merge restaurant on 439 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo this Saturday to hear the up-tempo, zippy version of The Singularity (formerly Math Cozy; formerly Voulez Vous Danser?). Paul Burke joins John Valenti and me for the first (and what will hopefully not be the last) time, offering up beats, synths, and sounds to our otherwise dronetastic stylings. The party starts at 10pm. All ages, no cover charge. Food and drink available. Bring your dancing shoes. Figuratively speaking.

myspace.com/akapaulburke
myspace.com/johnpaulvalenti
myspace.com/alfredbrown

The Singularity is Coming...

2009-06-18T22:42:00.014-04:00

... to Merge on July 11th at 10pm. You may have seen John Valenti and me perform before, but never like this! Mostly because we will be joined by a third musician, a third musician named Paul Burke who will apply some hopelessly snappy beats etc. to the mix. We've got all fresh material (including some new versions of previous material) and it will no doubt be completely jawsome. We hope you'll think so too. As always, it is open to all-ages and free to attend. There's a tip jar and last time we had to split fifty cents so if you aren't too credit-crunched it'd be greatly appreciated if we could at least divide things evenly three ways. We'll play our giant robot hearts out no matter what, though.

439 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, NY

Would you like to dance with me?

2009-06-02T09:16:00.009-04:00

Mr. John Valenti and I joined forces yet again to fill the air with some drone-iful music this past Thursday. Listen to our performance below!

Voulez Vous Danser Avec Moi? by fredbrown

Performance this Thursday

2009-05-26T20:44:00.004-04:00

Don't forget to come on out to Soundlab this Thursday for some fun times and smooth sounds. John Valenti and me along with Videohippos and Communication Hymns.

Where: Soundlab 110 Pearl St. BFLO
When: May 28, 9:00pm
Cost: $7.00

For Sale:

2009-05-22T07:40:00.009-04:00

Now available on Etsy is the Electric Baritone Kalimba that I made. If you're interested or know someone who might be check it out

Upgrades to the Robot Mask

2009-05-17T14:46:00.006-04:00

MaskDemo by Alfred Brown

There are two discrete outputs; a clean channel and a channel that runs through the circuitry mounted on the side of the mask. Also, there is an input for running instruments through the modulating circuitry and a footswitch to alternate between mic and instrument. The following samples are of voice only.

Sample 1: Modulator in mask by itself
Sample 2: Second mic output to KAOSS Pad
Sample 3: Both signals at the same time

Performance on May 28

2009-05-15T13:28:00.007-04:00

John Valenti and myself, performing under the moniker Voulez vous danser avec moi? will be performing at Soundlab, opening for the Baltimore based group Videohippos. Come by for a night of slightly more ""accessible" "experimental" "electronic" music.

Where: Soundlab- 110 Pearl st, BFLO, NY
When: Thursday, May 28, 9:00pm
Cost: $7.00

Sometimes you just have to make some noise.

2009-05-11T10:04:00.007-04:00

Last Saturday was one of those times. Chase Middaugh, Bobby Griffiths, and I got down and dirty at Soundlab in Buffalo, NY and here, for you listening (dis)pleasure, is the full performance.

Live performance - May 9, 2009 by Golden Dawn Trio

Performance Location Change

2009-05-08T18:25:00.002-04:00

Hear ye, hear ye. Tomorrow night's performance at Sugar City has been moved to the good ol' Soundlab. Doors are at 8pm. Cost is five American dollars.

REMINDER: Me, sitting in with The Golden Dawn Trio. Plus others.

Performance Tonight!

2009-05-02T08:02:00.002-04:00

Mr. John Valenti, soundsman extraordinaire and myself will be playing tonight in Buffalo, NY at a restaurant named Merge. 439 Delaware Ave. We start at 10pm. Be there.

"...They combine live electronics, various small acoustic instruments, and found sounds to create a fresh, unassuming ambiance that blurs the line between Pop and Art music forms. Sound is layered in ways that are sophisticated, yet accessible, and the music flirts with minimalist drone while maintaining an ever-changing ebb and flow of sonic textures."

Maskrophone (prototype)

2009-05-01T08:00:00.011-04:00

This is a Darth Vader mask (as if you couldn't tell) that I bought a while ago. It has a built in voice modulator, which is why I bought it in the first place - most people who know me know I have no love whatsoever for Star Wars. So I modified it to have, instead of a dinky little speaker output, an XLR microphone connection for the purpose of amplifying and running through other sound processors. Also, I attached the circuit board to the side of the mask instead of keeping it in the chestplate. Exposed circuitry and wires are so much more exciting.

Golden Dawn Trio + 1: May 9

2009-04-21T22:07:00.011-04:00

I will be a guest Player with The Golden Dawn Trio, Buffalo's premier noiseguitar chamber ensemble Saturday, May 9th.

Place: SUGAR CITY (19 Wadsworth, Buffalo, NY)
Time: May 9, 2009 - Doors at 7pm
Cost: $5.00

Golden Dawn Trio - standard formation:
Chase Middaugh
Carl Pace
Bobby Griffiths

Other Performers:
River of Ichthyosis
Poverty Hymns

The (Surprise) Birthday Party

2009-04-19T23:02:00.007-04:00

I worked on a piece for a short film by John Valenti titled The Surprise Birthday Party. He also wrote all of the music for the film; I had the pleasure of adding some ear candy to an already great piece of music that was featured in the end credits.

Surprise Birthday Party by Alfred Brown

Concerning Audio Again

2009-04-16T13:07:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the savviness of Mr. Greg Kamprath, I have been clued into a way to stream higher quality audio from this blog machine without having to be smarter than Computer. Within the next couple of days I'll have all my previously posted material converted to play in this new manner.

Performance May 2

2009-04-15T23:10:00.006-04:00

I'm performing with the incomperable John Valenti Saturday, May 2nd in Buffalo, NY at Merge. We start playing at 10pm and end probably around 12:30am or so. I'll probably play a little by myself as may John. If you're unfamiliar with the musical stylings of Mr. Valentine please go here and / or go to Merge May 2nd.

Performance Info:

PLACE: Merge 439 Delaware Ave. Buffalo, Ny, 14202
TIME: May 2, 10:00pm
COST: Free dollars (Tip jar will be on premises)

Naturally Remix

2009-04-14T21:39:00.015-04:00

Naturally (remix) by Alfred Brown

This is a remix of a cover of Huey Lewis' Naturally by Shara Worden. Her version will be on a Huey Lewis tribute compilation (release date: TBA). To find out more about this album and to hear samples of the tracks, go to their Myspace account at myspace.com/areyoustillwithme

Album Info:

Apostle Of Hustle: "I Want A New Drug"
- fromSports (1983)
Catfish Haven: "The Heart Of Rock And Roll"
- from Sports (1983)
Derby: "Jacob's Ladder"
- from Fore! (1986)
The Dodos: "The Power Of Love"
- from the Back To The Future soundtrack (1985)
Erie Choir: "Some Of My Lies Are True"
- from Huey Lewis And The News (1980)
The Long Winters: "Do You Believe In Love"
- from Picture This (1982)
Menomena: "Bobo Tempo"
- from Small World (1988)
My Brightest Diamond: "Naturally"
- from Fore! (1986)
Oh No! Oh My!: "Finally Found A Home"
- from Sports (1983)
Ola Podrida: "Perfect World"
- from Small World (1988)
The Pale Pacific: "Heart And Soul"
- from Sports (1983)
Panda & Angel: "Hip To Be Square"
- from Fore! (1986)
Sleepy Kitty: "Doing It All For My Baby"
- from Fore! (1986)
Throw Me The Statue: "If This Is It"
- from Sports (1983)
Travels: "I Never Think About You"
- from Plan B (2001)
Will Johnson (Centro-matic): "Hearts"
- from Huey Lewis And The News (1980)
Windsor For The Derby: "Bad Is Bad"
- from Sports (1983)
Winnebago Deal: "Working For A Living"
- from Picture This (1982)
The World Provider (feat. Dustin Hinterland): "Walking On A Thin Line"
- from Sports (1983)

More names to be confirmed...

Electric Baritone Kalimba

2009-04-14T09:47:00.014-04:00

I made this instrument by putting yard rake tines on a stratocaster with a modified bridge. It is tunable; the lengths of the tines can be adjusted to pitch by loosening the screws that hold the bridge in place, sliding the tines forward and backward, and retightening the screws. To give an idea of the range, the tuning in this photo from left to right is G1, A1,D2, F#2, A2.

The best sound that I've found so far is achieved by gently striking the tines with a small metal beater right in front of the bridge with a stereo multi-delay on it. This brings out the root frequency as well as several overtones on each tine, increasing the range and polyphony.

This is a sample of the sound it makes:

Fell Through the Ice by Alfred Brown

Concerning Audio

2009-04-14T09:11:00.005-04:00

Bad News: It seems like Blogger doesn't offer a way to upload audio.
Good News: I've faked it out since it allows the uploading of video.
Bad News: The audio quality isn't that great.
Good News: When I post new material here I'll also post it in my Myspace player

www.myspace.com/alfredbrown

Summerlights #2

2009-04-13T09:12:00.018-04:00

The Flowers Open As If To Praise Their Creator by Alfred Brown

An electronic compilation released on the EKO netlabel, a subdivision of Semlabel, with pieces about / inspired by nature. I have a piece on it titled The flowers open as if to praise their creator. You can download the whole 33 track album for FREE right here. Click on EKO 016.zip.

Album Info:

1. So Far - Koutaro Fukui
2. Orange - Stephen Saxton
3. You my little treasure - Fax
4. Spherical - Sonmi 451
5. Ocean Walk - The Green Kingdom
6. White Smoke - Brian Grainger
7. Lang Park (Cherry Blossoms Falling on Pavement) - Daniel Maze
8. Aliet Ejgb - Edgar (EJGB)
9. Cedar Light - Dave Zeal
10. The Playing Fields - Phoenelai
11. Arunatsunohi - Daisuke Miyatani
12. The flowers open as if to praise their creator - Alfred Brown
13. August 19, 2006 - Kenneth Kirschner
14. L'eau Dans Les Oreilles - Residu
15. In Red - Scaldis
16. Sunny Shores - Parvoart
17. Compendi - Benfay
18. Sometimes - Alexandre Navarro
19. Une Robe de Pluie - Un Escargot Vide
20. Reve - Gogooo
21. Watching Football - SGIS
22. Constant Partial Attention - Andy Graydon
23. Plume - Peter Stenberg
24. The Crucible - Cameron
25. Mladen - Letna
26. Tragl - Lezrod
27. Of Heath and Marsh - Greater Explosives
28. Metamorphose - Mastra
29. Cassandra - Elian
30. Campo del Principe - Yannick Fanck
31. June Moon - Karras
32. Old Wooden Bridge - Eric Delay
33. Upala - K Cornelius

A Weevil in a Biscuit

2009-04-13T08:00:00.008-04:00

As the dead ship sinks by Alfred Brown

A compilation of Electroacoustic works featuring a piece by me titled As the Dead Ship Sinks, released on Bearsuit Records. If you'd like to purchase this album for £8.00, go to myspace.com slash bearsuitrecords. To purchase a downloadable version for £6.00, contact the label directly at bearsuitrecords@hotmail.co.uk.

Album Info:

1. Anne King - Unknown Us Apart
2. Alone Together - Human Beings
3. PNDC - Pick Up Your Tears
4. Oomiaq - Adventure Toi
5. Oldman - Half Brother
6. Kaboom Karavan - Toambertree
7. Harold Nono - A Shining Space
8. Pequena Fiera! - Do Re Mi Fa So I Love You
9. Limbic Somnus - A Candy Coated Slow Down
10. Alfred Brown - As the Dead Ship Sinks
11. James Ross - Study No. 1 (Inhoarmonicity)
12. Linda Bjalla - You Are Alive
13. DM Stith - Be My Baby
14. Sonicbrat - That Little Something
15. Hulk - In the Belly of the Hungry White Sea
16. Cahier - Bebe

Habitat

2009-04-12T23:51:00.006-04:00

SphericalType GasHolder by Alfred Brown

October 28, 2008 (Physical)
November 18, 2008 (Digital)

I have an original piece on this album titled SphericalType GasHolder; an electroacoustic work that attempts to create an imaginary landscape and references the original work by Idris Khan. This is a two-disc compilation featuring 29 artists! Go to www.asthmatickitty.com to purchase this album for a reasonable $10. Sales of this compilation benefits Habitat for Humanity.

Album Info:

DISC 1
1. Tidal River - A Cross Section of Clown Mountain
2. Aspects of Physics - Utiliterranean
3. Jim Guthrie - Little Furnace
4. Kristin Miltner - The Barns Flock
5. Instruments of Science & Technology - INST.stem.INST
6. Nick Hennies - The Living Piano
7. Ero Gray - Staircase and Water Pipes, 42 Broadway
8. Cepia - Algiers
9. Ben Owen - 5 for 14
10. Alias - In Hope of Witchless Attics
11. Alfred Brown - SphericalType GasHolder
12. Cheryl E. Leonard - Uncle Iroh's Teahouse
13. Blevin Blectum - Vast Angles
14. Son Lux - Speak

DISC 2
1. Actuel - QRS/TUV
2. Sole w/ William Ryan Fritch - all tomorrow's sewers
3. i am robot and proud - Jeanne Mance
4. 900X - BGM
5. Yuko Nexus6 - wsagg-chorus for spaces
6. KILN - marigold bunker
7. therefore - piznanano
8. Six-Fing Thing - Sandpiper on the Warehouse Floor
9. Stars Like Fleas - Call Me Trimtab
10. ting ting jahe - d3p574
11. Moth!Fight! - A Long Way from Home
12. Jon Galaxy - Shelter?
13. Kadet - Horizon
14. Wayne Feldman - Calling On You
15. DM Stith - Your god is a Lion recently fed, drowsy

Shark Remixes Vol. 1

2009-04-12T23:07:00.013-04:00

Stars at Elbow and Foot by Alfred Brown

I had the pleasure of yet again remixing original material by Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond. This is the first in a series of four remixes (Release date: October 28, 2008); all from the album A Thousand Shark's Teeth, each volume by a different remixer - Subsequent volumes by Son Lux (January 20, 2009), Roberto C. Lange (March 31, 2009), and DM Stith (TBA). All four will be released through Asthmatic Kitty Records on iTunes. Album art by the multi-talented David Stith.

Album Info:

Drawing inspiration from My Brightest Diamond's many references to the heavens, Alfred Brown developed a narrative to guide the composition process of his remixes. The stunning result is a cinematic and textural avant-classical deconstruction of the My Brightest Diamond's A Thousand Shark's Teeth. Instead of a straight ahead approach to remixing a single song, Alfred combined parts from different songs, juxtaposing new elements to give the preexisting material new meaning. The guiding narrative is about an astronaut stranded outside of his ship while working in Low Earth Orbit. As he descends toward earth he is completely cut off from all communication with Earth and finds himself totally alone. During this time of complete isolation he thinks about his loved ones back on Earth, about his life, about God, and about dying. The remixes narrate, through words and music, these contemplations being sent out across the universe; and the echoes that come back.
__________________________________________

I.

1. Overture
2. A Thousand Stars Against a Dark Sky
3. In Vacuum
4. black!Black!BLACK!

II.

5. Of Fear and Wonder (I Found a Universe)
6. I'm Never Letting Go (Stars at Elbow and Foot)
7. The Lonliest Man In History (Looking Down from the Top of the World)
8. You Are Now Untouchable (Esto Perpetue)