Urknee and Birdtone Russell-Smorg Is Bored

Two of my favorite people to collaborate with have released a whopping 2CD live document of 2009 performances. I join them on several tracks, including the controversial "Ballad of Hollis Mouse". Rick does most of the writing, and his poetry is abstract and lovely. Mike plays various instruments and is a sympathetic improviser. To procure your copy, get in touch with Mike at jonmacrae2002 .a.t. ya-hooooo fullstop com, I am not sure how much he is charging, but given the quality and quantity of performances it is worth checking out.

Bolide & NPV Octet - Split CDr

From UK label Chocolate Monk comes a split with NPV-if memory serves me correctly this is from the Halloween show last year. I played very noisy guitar and bass, and it might be a little buried in the mix. Hear a sample at their website http://chocolatemonk.co.uk/available.htm where you can also purchase a copy for about 10 bucks.

CRKD

An hour of new music.The first piece is me trying to move slow and create a meditative bed of sound. The second piece is chaotic, but I think also has meditative value of its own. Both use a couple of new devices that I recently acquired. I hope you find them an interesting listen-available free to download from http://www.archive.org/details/MattHenshaw-crkd

STRNG

New music: STRNG is a new conceptual project where  the performer is limited to creating sound from one string, be it on a guitar or stretched in a physical space. I was quite pleased with how this ended up, and hopefully I can turn it into a short live set, possibly with other STRNG players. Available for free download at http://www.archive.org/details/STRNG

Milk of Minutia Interview

Milk of Minutia is a weekly podcast dedicated to analysis of entertainment, interviews with people from many walks of life, and music that you might not otherwise hear about. Their latest episode was a call in where I got to talk to hosts Ken and Justin at length about music-producer Audrey also had excellent insights. Go here to listen http://www.blogtalkradio.com/minutia/2010/04/23/episode-9-w-you and I strongly encourage listening to their archive for some good laughs and conversations. If you are an iTunes user please give them a review as well.

Update

Hey now-just home from the INC which was quite good. I was glad to see friends from the scene here. I've been absent lately, mostly due to the ESM Gamelan ensemble-our concert is Monday April 26 at 8PM at Kilbourn Hall. $18 gets you in for a great show with costumes, dancing, and of course music!
Hopefully in the coming months I can get out to play some more-my goal this summer is to do a couple of collaborations with friends in the scene. If you are interested drop me a line and hopefully we can set a time up to work on some ideas. Solo music has been slow-another goal is to get a CD of material prepared for some kind of release. Some irons are still in the fire-an (archival) Urknee and Bjurton Live 2CD is due out soon, a couple of compilations may still be in the works, and an supporting cast member role on a soon to be released NPV CD coming out on Chocolate Monk records in the UK. One more 'project' which may manifest itself-STRNG. Thanks for stopping by, and I always welcome comments!

NPV-Accidental Paradox

Killian over at http://damagedoutreachrecords.blogspot.com has put out a recording of the mighty NPV titled Accidental Paradox. There are 40 of these bad boys out there, if you don't get to see NPV live (and you should make all efforts to) strongly consider supporting them and the label by buying a copy. I was fortunate to join them for this set, so check it out. NPV can be found at http://www.myspace.com/npvmusic

Vertical Consequences

Over an hour of new music touching on various styles, from noise to more serene ambience. All freely improvised and recorded live to tape. Trying a different way to get it out for people to listen to-I have posted this on last.fm where you can listen to and download the tracks for free. If you wish to procure a physical copy-try before you buy, and then make a reasonable offer to me. This will be packaged as a CD-R, in a plastic slip case, then wrapped in duct tape, cut up audio tape, and finally cellophane tape for an unique tactile experience. You will need to cut open the packaging to get to the CD-R. Thanks for listening-as always your comments are welcome!

Listen and download here: http://www.last.fm/music/Matt+Henshaw/Vertical+Consequences

ONDOC008

I am excited, as always, to be included in the latest release from Output Noise (please to be visiting their website at http://www.outputnoise.com for subscription information). Other releases I appear on remain available from them, please support their admirable endeavors. I am grateful to Jeremy and Colleen, and of course the other musicians, for their efforts. On this recording I appear on track 5, which is only a couple of minutes. It is noteworthy to mention I do not play guitar on this track, but drums. The other performances are also stellar, as is typical of the high quality of the NR series of CDs. Again, please visit their website and consider becoming a subscriber.
In other news, briefly, my performance with Joe (actually John Horner) on his day tour was successful. Much thanks to Joe, John, and Cameron (for his assist with the amp and effects). My performance at the House of Hamez the following day was also a success-in spite of scaring off the 'folkies', which isn't all that bad a thing actually. Much gratitude to James and best of luck to him in securing a new venue. Thanks also to the folks that showed up and listened, and especially Ed Downey who played the last ten minutes with me and helped bring an eerie and ambient end to the set.
I always remain interested in opportunities to play live, solo or with others, so feel free to contact me as you see fit.
I am participating with the gamelan ensemble at ESM this year, after a hiatus. This is an excellent group of musicians, as well as people and I am thrilled to be back.
More releases loom on the horizon, you'll hear about them here as they become more concrete. Thanks for listening and be well.

Live Actions upcoming

Hey now all, a couple of programs to tell you about. Joe is doing his Day Tour again on Saturday-it should be an excellent day of music. I will be performing with him sometime between 4 and 5PM at Cobbs Hill Reservoir. More info about the day tour can be found here-please try to make it out and support the local scene.
http://joe.carbonrecords.com/day-tour/
Then on Sunday I will be playing a solo set at 5PM as part of Mezapalooza at The House of Hamez. A link to the site is over at the right. James, the owner, makes delicious foods and could really use whatever business you can give him.
Thanks to Joe and James for giving me a chance to play out.
Possible releases coming in the near future...stay tuned.

In other music news

Hey everyone, I have been gone a couple of months, in the process of moving-hence not a lot of new things musically. All of my stuff is still available, still the pay what you want deal (or free from various labels and websites). Coming up soon is a track I contributed to the No Tone project curated by Ian Downey of Rochester. Also a track on an upcoming Carbon records compilation of Rochester noise artists. The Gallery has now closed it doors, sad to see it go, but happy for the curators moving on to bigger and better things. I participated in a couple of recording sessions for them which may see the light of day soon. And of course I have some music I have been sitting on for several months which will get released at some point. If I end up playing out anywhere I will try putting it up here. Stay well

Output Noise Document 6 Release

Been a little while since I have posted here, with moving and everything. I neglected to put this up, this is the newest Output Noise release, number 6 for those who are counting. I am on tracks 1 and 2-there is some very sympathetic listening and playing going on throughout the disc, and will reward careful listening. This is available by going to http://www.outputnoise.com . Consider getting a subscription, as the curators need support to continue to release sessions like these.

That Which Transpires

When you have nothing to do on a Friday night-record a new CD. This one is a little more "in the weeds" as King Buzzo would say. Track divisions are a little arbitrary-this is best digested as a whole piece. The aim was to create pieces that utilized repetition, drone, non-idiomatic improvisation, and minimalism for something "different". If you find yourself drifting then this is a good thing. Available free for download from http://www.archive.org/details/ThatWhichTranspires or hand packaged in a bubble wrap sleeve with title and tracklisting papers.

Listen I Like You

I recorded this new EP this morning as part of the Album-A-Day project at http://crapart.spacebar.org/aad/ which Ryne at Memory Wave Transmission was kind enough to tell me about. This is far different from the last set of recordings; listen to at a low volume for best results. It has been an idea for some time for me to dedicate an album to all the women I've known, and it seemed appropriate for this set. If your name isn't on the list, that doesn't mean you were not a part of the inspiration here-everyone matters after all in spite of the artist's sometimes faulty memory. Thanks for listening and comments as always are welcome. This is another FREE album to download from http://www.archive.org/details/ListenILikeYou .

I Stay In I Move Out

Given the changes I am undergoing-I find the title very ironic now. The attentive listener may be able to determine the source of both of these tracks. No hints from me-but once you have ideas and share them with me I will surely appreciate your input, then I'll fill you in on the process. Not enough? The re/depression got you down? What if I told you this cd was available for FREE!! My good friends at Love Torture Records take in an enormous volume of new, strange, heavy, dark music and put it all up for free on archive. They also include the art work if you want to make your own packaging. Click on the link for Love Torture Records in the right hand column and this is LTR 182. Huge thanks go to Dave who encouraged me to submit some work for an upcoming compilation (an edited version of track 2). I hope it makes you think and you enjoy it-as always I welcome any input. More to come soon!

Output Noise Document 3 Release

Fans of avant-garde music would do well to check out the newest release from the Gallery of Potential Life Studios. Every Sunday, Jeremy and Colleen host a night of electroacoustic improvisation, Output:NOISE. Musicians from a variety of backgrounds come and play without a net. Nothing is discussed beforehand-everyone just listens and plays. Jeremy, in addition to contributing on electronics, also records each session. He then reviews the performances and selects the very best for release. This is document 3-the first two are also available and excellent. This release includes performance elements of mine, playing bass and guitar. Here are my notes from the evening:
"No music when I got there. Figured I would start on bass. Ariel played drums and Jeremy electronics. It was OK-kind of kraut-rockish. My fingers started killing me. Then Rob (gtr) and Tera(vox) show up and we wrap the piece Ariel and I did. Then we did a swinging tune which I thought was quite neat sounding. The Greg (banjo and saw) showed up and I sat out for much of what they played because my fingers were in such pain, but I did join in at the end mostly scraping. Piece ends and I switch over to guitar. Simple/gentle F# minor melody comes to my fingers. I begin looping, etc., then just back to the simple melody. Greg starts playing saw-so sympathetic. I was hoping this would be the direction it took. Tera added very lovely voice to it, and Rob did little melodic bits. Greg switches to banjo. Ariel joins lightly after about 10 minutes. I lose track of time, my fingers hurt a lot but I keep playing. Switched to chord randomly just to keep things interesting. Played a short solo, right back to the head. The music decays into noisiness for the last 5 minutes. Really excellent piece though-I could tell people were digging it. I am hopeful it will end up on a future release. This makes the pain I am in now worth it-my own meditation work."
In addition to this session, there is also a segment from another evening featuring the sublime horns of Ed Downey and Ed Buscemi. I have had the good fortune to play with them (tonight both of them) and both are incredible players.
So head over to http://www.potentiallifestudios.com -you can secure your copy through a subscription to the gallery. For only 50 bucks you get this and future output noise releases and other goodies. Jeremy and Colleen can only continue to make things like this possible with support from the community. They are also still selling my solo CD "Light Slows Down" for 7 dollars-and all funds from that go directly to the Gallery. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and if you check it out I'll be interested to hear your thoughts!

Update

Hey now-just a reminder that 'Light Slows Down' is still available from the Gallery of Potential Life Studios, and 'Twilight Year' remains a free download from Twilight Luggage-links are to the right. I hope folks that read this have a really wonderful holiday. Coming up in the new year, a couple of tracks for two really interesting compilations and a couple more solo releases slated for the first half of '09. Cheers everyone!

Twilight Year

This will be my last release for the year, and for some time. I don't think I have ever been so blessed creatively as this year. To be sure there were a number of trials to overcome, but part of that work has helped the music out so much. I am truly very glad to be gradually widening the list of considerate listeners and hope you will keep following me down the path. My releases have seen progressively better distribution areas, from handing out samplers at NPV shows, to starting this blogsite, to Light Slows Down which is still available for $7 all going to the Gallery of Potential Life (go to link in the side bar), and now a release through Norweigian Net-Label Twilight Luggage (link is to the side). I have been slowly getting word out to various labels with some of my work, and Hans and Andreas were very excited by it. Andreas created this amazing artwork (it could be a poster!) and it is available for FREE download exclusively through their website. While you are there please check out the other artists who range from dark ambient to full on harsh noise, and consider making a small donation so they can continue to produce amazing art. I am so humbled to be part of their roster, and hopefully people around the world can now get into some of my music.

Live 10/24/2008

Joe from Carbon Records and many different groups was kind enough to photograph and record the solo set I did on 10/24. I am pretty critical of my playing, but for something that was primarily improvised I think it came out alright. One of the pieces will be appearing in a different/improvised manner on a future recording, the rest were completely improvised in and for the moment. This gives a pretty good idea of my playing style, and I'll look forward to playing out again in the future. Thanks again to Joe, The Gallery of Potential Life Studios, and the other performers from the evening. Enjoy and share as you see fit.
http://www.archive.org/details/MattHenshawLive_24102008

Unfurled

Another harsh enigmatic release. No need to "bring the noise" as this 75+ minute piece has plenty to share. Not recommended for those close to losing sanity. A sample is available here for your observation: http://www.archive.org/details/MattHenshawUnfurled . As with my other noisier releases, I leave it up to each listener to conclude what they wish about instrumentation and themes. Suggested volume setting at "close to intolerable".
Hand-assembled, packaged in a DVD case then "mummified" in an atrocious tie!
Read a review here http://memorywavetransmission.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/matt-henshaws-unfurled-finally/

Light Slows Down

New CD available exclusively from The Gallery of Potential Life Studios. I've been participating in some really intense and interesting sessions on Sunday nights with the curator (Jeremy) and other musicians. I approached Jeremy about doing a release exclusively through them and all of the proceeds going directly to the gallery. He was quite enthusiastic about this, agreeing to handle the art side which I am blown away happy with. On the musical end, you are getting over an hour of new music touching on a variety of forms and moods; here you'll find drone, noise, and more melodic work-recorded entirely live and mostly improvised with quite a bit of post-production (some of this too was actually improvised). This is a really special release to me, and I hope you will visit the Gallery's website, http://www.potentiallifestudios.com, and remember that purchasing the cd directly and completely supports this great facility. Much thanks again to Jeremy and Colleen for their art design contributions and their support!

Buying my CDs now cheaper and more convenient

Hi everyone-I am excited to announce that I am set up to accept Paypal transactions for purchasing CDs. With this change I am also going to revise my pricing structure. First a brief word on how Paypal works. It does "cost" me a little to accept Paypal (specifically 1.9% to 2.9% + $0.30 USD of every transaction). Keeping this in mind, CDs are now for sale at a price you choose. That's right, much like Radiohead and NIN have successfully implemented this year, you choose what you pay for my CDs! So when you know what you want to buy, head over to Paypal and send your payment to "thebizzle76@yahoo.com", be sure you include the CD or CDs you want to order as well where to send the order to. Once funds have been received I'll follow up with you as far as what you ordered and when I ship it out. Remember that I do everything myself, so your patience is really appreciated, but I should be able to turn orders around in a matter of days. It probably costs me in total about $3.00 per cd, so you can use that as a "floor" if you'd like. Your consideration and fairness in doing business this way will help determine how much more music I can produce and get out to people. Thank you very much!

The City Is The Corner I Stand In When I Am Bad

"A game is an activity among two or more independent decision-makers seeking to achieve their objectives in some limiting context."
-Clark C. Abt, Serious Games, Viking Press, 1970, p. 6

My move then. Using some of the same elements which created "320", and expanding upon them, "The City..." consists of one epic track called "Practical Power". The music is all original and new, although it will sound familiar to those who listened to "320". Maybe there is more of a narrative here, a lonely soul trying to go home but stopped by various obstacles. The soul toils and pleads for release, but none comes. In the end, one interpretation may be that we get out of the game by refusing to play anymore. Another may be that we find the cracks to squeeze through and escape by using the game against our opponent. "Games are for playing, not for living" is an idea I like at the moment. My hope is that this piece will permit you to tap into your own practical power and to achieve what you wish with it. Your move.

Create your own story/theme/narrative; I can only speak for my own experience listening and performing. Plenty is there for the considerate and erudite listener. Best for listening on headphones but watch the volume, it can become quite noisy at times. Operation of heavy machinery is not recommended when listening to this CD.

A 5 minute sample is posted here for your scrutiny: http://www.archive.org/details/MattHenshawPracticalPowerExcerpt_3

Hand Assembled, Packaged in a DVD case with a key to enter, escape, or unlock the practical power necessary to "win" the "game".

320

Fresh recording from the road! Born out of exhaustion and despair, recorded in solitude in a slightly altered state of mind, this is life for the lonely professional. Recorded and composed entirely live, with post-production done immediately afterwords, I am quite pleased with how this turned out. I'd like to think of it as a little more than an average field recording. I may write something up on the process and "instrumentation" used but I think I'll go the enigmatic route and just say listen and analyze for yourselves...
Free to listen to at http://www.archive.org/details/MattHenshaw320

Packaged in a plastic sleeve with cover card and a copy of a comment card.

Pull Him Along

If you had told me I would have recorded music today, and in fact, enough to warrant a release I probably would not have believed you. But somehow, here is my latest CD recorded and put together in the space of the last 5 hours or so. A short CD (EP really) returning to simple melodies and chords, a 180 turn from the last couple of CDs. All songs were spontaneously composed and ever so slightly produced to cut back on all that "terrible noise".

FREE DOWNLOAD: Folks going here can download and listen to "pull him along" in it's entirety.
http://www.archive.org/details/MattHenshawPullHimAlong_2 .

Packaged in a plastic sleeve attached to a floor tile with song and title cards enclosed.

Order A CD

I now accept Paypal payments for CD orders-see first October 2008 post for details.

I personally burn and verify CDs before they go out and assemble the packaging myself.

Included with your order I'll also include a 30-40 minute sampler from CDs you didn't order.

All of my work is under Creative Commons copyright and I encourage you to share your comments with me and share my music with others as you see fit (please be sure to send them by this site as well so they can buy if they wish)

Your support helps me to continue to share my work with a broader audience so I humbly thank you for your interest in what I do musically and sincerely hope that you come away from listening to my music as having had a personal experience worth recalling.

Thank you

Bury Me Before I Die

Recorded in May and June of 2008 shortly after Hollow Stone Space. A further refinement and exploration into drone, noise, and improvisation. Different from what came before it and certain to lead to something new in the future.
Hand packaged in a DVD case, including a small handmade cut-out and sample of dirt for burying what you wish to leave behind

Check out a review of the cd here: http://memorywavetransmission.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/a-listen-to-matt-henshaws-bury-me-before-i-die/

Hollow Stone Space

A return to more consistent recording in 2008. These are two companion pieces growing from the Suite For Bad Neighbors set. Any more to be said would be telling...
FREE DOWNLOAD: you can hear both of these pieces in their entirety here
http://www.archive.org/details/MatthewHenshawHollowStoneSpace

Hand packaged in a DVD case, including additional photos/instructions and a small hand painted stone for contemplation, meditation, etc.

Suite For Bad Neighbors-Compositions for Piano and Guitar

Amidst a flurry of personal and professional upheavals (some good some bad) 2005 and 2006 were lost years on the musical front. I had recorded one piece in 2004 that, while I was pleased with it, did not seem to fit thematically with anything else. Inspiration came from a number of sources musical and "extra-musical" and a new composition was forthcoming in middle to late 2007 which gave the first piece an added dimension of meaning. What is here is extremely volatile and angry-a curse which allowed me to come to some level of peace and opened new musical possibilities in the releases that followed.
Hand packaged in a DVD case and including a short essay on the pieces.

A System Of Unknowns

"#6 in an ongoing series"-Similar in tone to Failure To Complete and in many ways its companion. It would be a couple of years before I returned to recording music for "public" consumption. Another relatively short-length CD with a bonus track.
Hand packaged in a DVD case

Failure To Complete

2004 saw the production of two shorter CDs and another longer piece. This is the first of the CDs-a marked attempt at shorter duration pieces of varying flavors. New influences are felt and progress and evolution are apparent.
Hand packaged in a DVD case

971682APE

A mini-project and third recorded output. An experiment in long form improvisation over shifting time signatures. It would be several months until the next pieces I would record.
Individually created artwork with order, packaged in a (randomly selected) colored plastic sleeve.

A Ghost, A Key, A Way Out

My second solo CD recorded shortly after Black Binder Clips and Tears. A little more varied in it's approach exploring various textures and a more experimental post-production process. First song is a "cover" of Frank Zappa's "Watermellon in Easter Hay" showcasing some of my influences up to that point.
Hand packaged in a DVD case

Black Binder Clips

This is my first CD of solo music. Previously I had played in the jazz-rock collective known as The Band Without A Name and had recorded a (now lost) project called HiVE. These recordings were made several years after this work, and reflected a different direction in my music. These were recorded in 2002 and 2003.
Hand packaged in a DVD case.