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No Thing - The Greatest Tape Band You Never Heard Of!

6/11/2018

11 Comments

 
No Thing was a group of three artists who performed in the Washington DC area
​between 1989 and 1992.

Arthur Harrison - vocals & electronics 
Jack Hertz - electronics & percussion 
Rupert Chappelle - electronics
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The trio performed live improvised sound fused with elements of avant garde, classical, futurism, and popular culture.

We, No Thing, were a late 80s trio that formed our sets around the cassette tape. Everything, even live shows were done to tape. The release is all transfers from the original analog cassettes. We performed often locally, but published very little. We have just released a cache of recordings for people to hear.

The album is available now on CDR (actually a factory made data DVD which includes 5+ hours of music plus bonus materials)  and download from Acousmatique Recordings at Bandcamp.
11 Comments
C. Goff III link
6/12/2018 10:30:04

Jack doesn't mention in his little bio on the right that he operates the Encyclotronic website at encyclotronic.com, which is an excellent resource for people interested finding information about all sorts of electronic instruments, films, and music. He also runs Aural Films at auralfilms.com, which has released a lot of unique recordings over the last few years -- all well-worth checking out.

Regards this "Some Things" release, I have given a serious listen to one of the lengthy pieces on it: "You Have To Be Patient, I'm Not Done." My impressions:

The recording is very clear-sounding and well-produced -- definitely on the "Hi Fi" end of cassette productions. The players are obviously familiar with how to improvise with one another in a group setting -- nice flow throughout. The overall presentation also clearly demonstrates that the members of the group are intimately familiar with how to use electronic instruments and effects. Collaged washes meld echoes of noises and voices into unique soundscapes. The moods vary throughout this lengthy piece, but they consistently modulate around through dark and spacy places.

I'm guessing that the other lengthy pieces on this release might be equally engaging, so I think Jack is missing out by not releasing all of these rare old 45 minute sound concerts as individual albums, maybe spacing their releases with a month or two time interval, which would allow listeners a chance to get healthier nourishment from their digestion.

Thanks for sharing, Jack, and welcome to EC!






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Hal McGee
6/12/2018 10:40:43

Charlie, thanks for reminding us about Encyclotronic and Aural Films! And thanks for the thoughtful reaction to Some Things. I think that the same thing could be said about osvaldo cibil's electronic music post that he made: would the material be better served by offering it in smaller doses?

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Jack Hertz link
6/12/2018 11:18:29

I miss the old days of being starved for new art. There is a tendency in the digital age to give people more for less as a kind of deal they cannot refuse. More recently I have gone back to buying albums. Waiting for them to arrive by mail, and listen to them on replay, like I used to. I am not starving any more, but this approach still fills me up with a much deeper appreciation for the art's ideas.

Hal McGee
6/12/2018 11:37:10

Jack, I feel that. I too have been buying albums and then waiting on them to arrive in the mail. There's a certain satisfaction in that that one can't get from online music, no matter what it is or who it is by.

Jack Hertz link
6/12/2018 10:58:14

Thank you Charles for sharing the site information and nice words about No Thing. We looked at a doing a multi-CD or tape set. But, had no idea of what kind of interest there was in this. OR that a resource like EC would return. Basically, we settled on the idea of virtual boxed set. Offering a somewhat biographical introduction to No Thing for.

Considering the warm reception, already, and this community coming together so nicely. We will certainly be offering some single releases on tape, promise.

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Thomas Park link
6/12/2018 13:06:06

Welcome, Jack-- a man who uses mind, heart and hand to help others.

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Jack Hertz link
6/13/2018 09:05:52

Thanks, Thomas!

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Chris Phinney
6/12/2018 16:12:29

Welcome Jack to EC , wonderful soundscape piece here, right up my alley!

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Jack Hertz link
6/13/2018 09:07:31

Thank you, Chris! Really glad to know its being appreciated after so many years. A fine whine gets better with age. :P

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Rafael González
6/14/2018 13:21:45

Welcome! It's great you are here!

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Jeff Central
6/18/2018 16:16:41

Welcome Jack!!! You'll fit right in!! :)

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    Jack Hz

    Inspired by the mystery of life. I manipulate sound to create intangible electro-organic impressions between music and noise.

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Electronic Cottage is a webzine covering independently-produced Experimental & Electronic Music, Space Rock, Audio Art, Video Art, Mail Art and more.