IDM Mailing Archive

On Mon, 30 Oct 1995, Oh, I see. wrote:

quoted 7 lines I have heard the "band" The Hafler Trio mentioned by various sources

> I have heard the "band" The Hafler Trio mentioned by various sources > (amongst others, The Wire magazine, which seems to be pretty > reliable), but was wondering if anyone on the list have any opinions. > > If you're a poet, try to describe what they sound like. I know Depth > Charge (UK) carry their releases, but I need to at least get some > idea of what they sound like.

the hafler "trio" was a brilliant piece of fiction cooked up by Andrew McKenzie and Chris Watson (early Cab member). It all centered around the sonic research of the third member, "Dr. Edward Moolenbeek," the ROBOL Sound Lab, and others largely fabricated and appropriated by McKenzie and Watson. The story ended several years ago after the death of Moolenbeek and the "mysterious disappearance" of Watson somewhere in the jungles of South America while making live recordings. Up to that point, their "sound documents" were just one part of the ongoing tale. Everyone knew it was a fake, but there *were* bits of truth mixed in it, and believing it was much more fun than not. McKenzie finally came clean in an interview so he could concentrate more on the sound and less on the story...or is that just what THEY want us to believe... As far as the sound, it's noise, sometimes unpleasant, sometimes not. Any resemblance to sound or music living or dead is intentionally coincidental. Recordings of cabbalistic rituals better left unperformed. Waveforms unexplainable by modern sound theory. Undeciphered tranmissions from from beyond as-yet unnamed distant stars. Sounds both borrowed and stolen from nature. Experimental tones to extract specific physiological response. Official techniques of feedback impression traits. Low-level instructional implants created for Muzak, Inc. A recording of the background radiation of the Universe. Half-lies obscured by half-truths. So, even though the original story is over, many small ones have taken it's place. Touch has been re-releasing almost the entire recorded history of the hafler trio, but I would recommend trying to dig up some of the original discs or vinyl with booklets and liner notes. It's not the same without them. "Soundtrack to Alternation, Perception and Resistance" is my favorite, along with Inoutof, Bang, and Kill the King. poetically, jmar! via SPIRICOM. | J M R T N K O | fonstrosities and other toys by ILLGBLITY ENGNRING. | | D S G N E T C | JOHN-A MARTINKO, w. desk chief martinko@netcom.com |