" Rag Dun is the culmination of my 'hunter and gatherer' stage in the pursuit of creating a kind of spiritually based experimental music.

This project began with the idea of assembling a convenient live performance set up. It has since evolved into what amounts to a compression of 35 plus years of experimenting into a set of immediately assessable options. Work done under this name is not what I call experimental in the sense that the processes are set, the individual sound generators/instruments and the equipment is generally set. What happens from here is a controlled chaos. There are probability modifiers scattered throughout this setup that apply various degrees of randomness to notes, velocity panning and so on. So playing something similar is an option, but just the same not so much. Additionally many sounds come and go based on velocity meaning one note can have many layers of sound with different key pressure triggering entirely different sounds.

Continuing with the idea of being able to play something similar but not the same Rag Dun will have repeated themes or little mini genres. For instance on 'Sun Spots' there are a few tracks with an abstract hint of some fragmented jazz thing. I normally try and steer clear of an obviously repeated 'style'. But I really happen to enjoy working with that sound and with this 'prepared computer' they may sound/feel related but still stand up on their own. Or so I hope.

I have been fascinated with Tibetan Culture and Buddhism for many years. So I tend to lean towards using concepts, images and sounds from here in my work in general. With that in mind the concepts of 'wrathful, peaceful and joyful' deities enter into this sound. Rag Dun mixes between these concepts, sometimes punch your face noisy, then put you to sleep peaceful...

'Pure' is the title of this performance piece. 'Pure' always begins with two sounds, the Tibetan long horn (rag dun or dungchen) and female voice which then twists and turns into the unknown. This release here 'Pure 1.01' is the first complete performance recorded live without edits, overdubs or sequencers. Each performance is unique as can be heard here : wdavidoliphant.bandcamp.com/track/live-at-the-cresent-ballroom-5-22-2016.

Rag Dun in the studio (shorter tracks with overdubs...) can be heard here : wdavidoliphant.bandcamp.com/album/sun-spots-working-mixes.

Special thanks to Tristan Koreya for my biennial/annual release on Nostalgie de la boue. "

wdo

2-8-17

wdavidoliphant.bandcamp.com