Program 700: New York City, 1980s
KALW Broadcast Date: June 12, 2022 | Host: Mark Abramson
This program, our 700th, focuses on four artists that were creating new experimental music in New York City in the 1980s. I think you could make a case that a lot of the new art and music that was created in New York that decade had been influenced by the energy and attitude of punk rock. That’s certainly true for Rhys Chatham’s work, as his epiphany at a Ramones concert is well known. We’ll listen to a couple of Chatham’s pieces for rock ensembles, featuring either 3 or 6 guitars along with bass and drums. And we’ll hear a cameo from the aforementioned Ramones as well. Chatham successfully combined populist punk rock ideals with the intentionally exclusionary music of modern experimentalism. Anyone can enjoy this music, on whatever level you’re prepared to engage, whether as a head banger or an intellectual. David Linton, one of the drummers in a Rhys Chatham ensemble, created uncompromising work with an emphasis on volume and abrupt changes of direction. He composed for live drums with live triggered samples, and while he may have used some overdubs in recording these pieces in the studio, I saw and heard him bring these off in live solo performance at the time, and they sounded pretty much the same as what you’ll hear on this program.The electronics-focused work of Nicolas Collins exhibits a radical political tilt and a do-it-yourself approach to new technology. He uses home-made electronic circuitry, radio, found sound material, and altered musical instruments in his work. Trained in the experimental compositional tradition of Alvin Lucier, David Behrman, and David Tudor, all of whom he worked with closely, Collins was an integral part of New York’s experimental music scene in the 1980s. And The Ordinaires, a nine-piece rock-oriented ensemble, refused to keep things neat and tidy for their listeners, challenging without being pretentious. There was an exciting mixture of creativity, attitude and entrepreneurial spirit in New York at the time, and work in all the arts – visual, dance, theater, everything – reflected that.
Program Audio
30-Second Spot
Track Info & Links
Titles: Guitar Trio (1977)
Composer: Rhys Chatham
Performers: David Linton, drums; Michael Brown, bass; Joe Dizney, guitar; Nina Canal, guitar; Rhys Chatham, guitar
Recording Title: Rhys Chatham Sampler (2006)
Record Label: Radium
Catalog Number: CD/LP-801
Title: Blitzkreig Bop
Composer: The Ramones
Performers: Tommy Ramone, drums; Dee Dee Ramone, bass; Johnny Ramone, guitar; Joey Ramone, voice
Recording Title: Ramones (1976)
Record Label: Sire
Catalog Number: SASD-7520
Titles: Die Donnergötter (1985/1986)
Composer: Rhys Chatham
Performers: Rhys Chatham, conductor; J.P., drums; Conrad Kinard, electric bass; Ben Neill, Bill Brovold, Karen Haglof, Mitch Salmen, Robert Poss, Tim Schellenbaum – guitars
Recording Title: Rhys Chatham Sampler (2006)
Record Label: Radium
Catalog Number: CD/LP-801
Title: Fireworks
Composer: David Linton
Performers: David Linton, drums and samples
Recording Title: Orchesography (1986)
Record Label: Neutral Records
Catalog Number: 14
Title: A Nile-Ist
Composer: David Linton
Performers: David Linton, drums and samples
Recording Title: Orchesography (1986)
Record Label: Neutral Records
Catalog Number: 14
Title: Die Komponist
Composer: David Linton
Performers: David Linton, drums and samples
Recording Title: Orchesography (1986)
Record Label: Neutral Records
Catalog Number: 14
Title: A Letter from My Uncle
Composer: Nicolas Collins
Performers: Nicolas Collins, electronics; Susan Lyall, Robert Poss, Susan Tallman – modified electric guitars
Recording Title: Let the State Make the Selection (1984)
Record Label: Lovely Music
Catalog Number: VR 1712
Title: Devil’s Music Two (excerpt)
Composer: Nicolas Collins
Performer: Nicolas Collins, electronics
Recording Title: Devil’s Music (1985)
Record Label: Trace Elements Records
Catalog Number: TE1013
Title: A Clearing of Deadness at One Hoarse Pool
Composer: Nicolas Collins
Performers: Nicolas Collins, electronics; Susan Lyall, Robert Poss, Susan Tallman – modified electric guitars
Recording Title: Let the State Make the Selection (1984)
Record Label: Lovely Music
Catalog Number: VR 1712
Title: Nature
Composer: Kurt Hoffman
Performers: The Ordinaires
Recording Title: The Ordinaires (1985)
Record Label: Dossier Records
Catalog Number: 7509
Title: Precious Flower
Composer: Kurt Hoffman
Performers: The Ordinaires
Recording Title: The Ordinaires (1985)
Record Label: Dossier Records
Catalog Number: 7509
Title: Hope
Composer: Brown, Hoffman
Performers: The Ordinaires
Recording Title: The Ordinaires (1985)
Record Label: Dossier Records
Catalog Number: 7509
Title: Racing Thoughts
Composer: Kurt Hoffman
Performers: The Ordinaires
Recording Title: One (1989)
Record Label: Bar None Records
Catalog Number: 7 72615-1
Title: The Dance of Coco Crispies
Composer: Fritz Van Orden
Performers: The Ordinaires
Recording Title: One (1989)
Record Label: Bar None Records
Catalog Number: 7 72615-1
Title: Kashmir
Composer: Page, Plant, Bonham
Performers: The Ordinaires
Recording Title: One (1989)
Record Label: Bar None Records
Catalog Number: 7 72615-1
