Squarepusher EP 'Music For Robots'

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   In short, Squarepusher will release a new EP of music written by him and performed by Japanese-made robots that can play things humans cannot.

http://warp.net/records/squarepusher/squarepusher-music-for-robots

Squarepusher on the EP:

“In this project the main question I’ve tried to answer is ‘can these robots play music that is emotionally engaging?’

I have long admired the player piano works of Conlon Nancarrow and Gyorgy Ligeti. Part of the appeal of that music has to do with hearing a familiar instrument being 'played' in an unfamiliar fashion. For me there has always been something fascinating about the encounter of the unfamiliar with the familiar. I have long been an advocate of taking fresh approaches to existing instrumentation as much as I am an advocate of trying to develop new instruments, and being able to rethink the way in which, for example, an electric guitar can be used is very exciting. 

Each of the robotic devices involved in the performance of this music has its own specification which permits certain possibilities and excludes others - the robot guitar player for example can play much faster than a human ever could, but there is no amplitude control. In the same way that you do when you write music for a human performer, these attributes have to be borne in mind - and a particular range of musical possibilities corresponds to those attributes. Consequently, in this project familiar instruments are used in ways which till now have been impossible.”

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Floyd Steely Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: December 04 2011 Location: Madison WI Status: Offline Points: 213	Topic: Squarepusher EP 'Music For Robots' Posted: February 17 2014 at 20:38
	In short, Squarepusher will release a new EP of music written by him and performed by Japanese-made robots that can play things humans cannot. http://warp.net/records/squarepusher/squarepusher-music-for-robots Squarepusher on the EP: “In this project the main question I’ve tried to answer is ‘can these robots play music that is emotionally engaging?’ I have long admired the player piano works of Conlon Nancarrow and Gyorgy Ligeti. Part of the appeal of that music has to do with hearing a familiar instrument being 'played' in an unfamiliar fashion. For me there has always been something fascinating about the encounter of the unfamiliar with the familiar. I have long been an advocate of taking fresh approaches to existing instrumentation as much as I am an advocate of trying to develop new instruments, and being able to rethink the way in which, for example, an electric guitar can be used is very exciting. Each of the robotic devices involved in the performance of this music has its own specification which permits certain possibilities and excludes others - the robot guitar player for example can play much faster than a human ever could, but there is no amplitude control. In the same way that you do when you write music for a human performer, these attributes have to be borne in mind - and a particular range of musical possibilities corresponds to those attributes. Consequently, in this project familiar instruments are used in ways which till now have been impossible.”
	And if you can't be with the prog you love, honey, love the prog you're with.

Man With Hat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team Joined: March 12 2005 Location: Neurotica Status: Offline Points: 166183	Posted: February 17 2014 at 20:56
	Idk...Admittedly not a guitarist but I don't hear much in the video of stuff humans can't play (possibly the middle part). But I do like it. Shame it'll only be an EP though. Does remind me of Metheny's music machines work in a way (though obviously much busier). Edited by Man With Hat - February 17 2014 at 21:11
	Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.

twosteves Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 01 2007 Location: NYC/Rhinebeck Status: Offline Points: 4095	Posted: February 18 2014 at 08:40
	Heard this a few days ago and it was a fun and interesting listen.