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RESPITE

8/5/2017

1 Comment

 
Respite is a single 21 minute long experiment in field recording, dulcitar and digital sound manipulation, different from things I've done in the past and different from things that I'm working on for my next eventual proper full-length record, but still very much anchored in the sonic territory I often traverse, But in a more minimal, abstract and ambient fashion.
The field recordings were captured in April 2017 in PA, and everything else was recorded and mixed in August 2017 in Richmond, Virginia.

It should be equally well suited for critical listening on a quality set of speakers or headphones, or on faintly in the background. Regardless, thanks for your support and thanks for listening.
​-Dave
1 Comment
liz owens link
8/9/2017 06:30:36 pm

this track is something special. opening with a breathtaking crescendo of windy white noise that seems to fill every audial nook and cranny in the most satisfying way, the first few seconds of the song feel like a grand inhale — an appropriate starting point for the sonic journey (also appropriately) named "respite."
from there, we are taken inside ourselves for a moment to touch the soft spots we've been avoiding the past few hours, days, weeks. there is a sadness in the slower, deeper chordal melodies of dave's playing here, but there is also an aura of safety and comfort in allowing the feelings to be, and in honoring them with our ears and hearts.
after a brief pause — in thought, in story, in breath — another feeling arises. this one is warm, fiery, bubbling...a longing for change, the desperation of inspiration, the energy to go on, effortlessly building into a kaleidoscope of swelling, shimmering loops as the gorgeous tonal variations of dave's masterfully expressed, (seemingly) free-form melodies continually melt and rise from an immersive "backing" track of wind, chimes, rain, and warm summer air that magically, organically breathe life into these otherwise electronic sounds. the shimmering grows more and more, like a cloud of fireflies and moths swarming lightly around a warm lantern in a damp field at dusk, eventually giving way to another in/exhale as we're given another short breath before the final stretch.
the soft adventure continues to build (or collapse) into an epic, binaural drone of choral and synth tones that feels, and in fact is, nothing short of an endorphin rush. like a warm, encompassing ray of light shining through closed, receptive eyelids, the last few minutes of "respite" literally lift your mental state by alternating your brain wave activity... the subtleties of distant bird-chirps and multi-layered harmonies only add to the euphoria and sheer joyousness of this incredibly rich soundscape.
This track leaves you feeling truly, unbelievably relieved and restored, which is an amazing gift in this extraordinarily strange and selfish world. listen with headphones, 900%.
also, buy this/support the artist, 1000%.

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    I am a musician, engineer, luthier and audio/visual artist currently residing in 
    Richmond, Virginia.

    Thank you for being here.
    Thank you for listening.
    You can find me on stage coaxing any number of sounds out of my homemade electric dulcitars in conjunction with assorted effects, looping mechanisms and sometimes sound reactive video projections.

    You can find me behind the scenes recording the music of fellow Richmond area artists in a addition to my own musical works.  

    I also work full time for
     Richmond Ballet as A/V supervisor and do freelance theatrical sound and projection design from time to time.

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