Sampling can be tricky. Sometimes you’re lucky and you get just the right sound to slot into a piece that ends up making every other part of the creative process fall perfectly into place. I recall sampling a snippet of a choir from the radio that sounded incredibly groovy and evocative when I looped it. Even though the piece I built around it didn’t quite do it justice, I still bliss out every time I replay that loop on Bandcamp.
But there are many times when I labor on a sample for what seems to me to be a very long time, only to end up with nothing salvageable. Maybe it’s a lack of skill, but I find the process pretty hit or miss, with a lot more miss than hit. One place I regularly return to for inspiration is Hal McGee’s oeuvre of microcassette recordings. There is a veritable goldmine of great material to sample, and one instrument that pays off big dividends for my personal creative work is the Vox McGee—Hal’s voice. There’s something about what Hal says and the way he says it that I find really inspiring, perfect for building some of my little sound odysseys around. What is it? How does he do it? Well, I think it is conscious artistry. Sampling Hal’s voice from the microcassette recordings is not too different from ripping a great groove out of a classic song. Hal has been performing in these recordings for years, and one cannot ignore the fact that when he hits the record button, it’s like a jazz artist knowing when to start his solo or set up someone else’s. Lots of great riffs are born in the process. So, yeah, sampling Hal may be considered cheating, and I am lucky he is generous in allowing these “collaborations.” I just hope that what I do is to take what he has offered the world and create something that stands on its own, humble though it may be.
12 Comments
Leslie Singer
1/19/2019 17:28:32
Lumen, what a great posting for Hal’s birthday. I really enjoyed hearing your awesome sound pieces with the samples of Hal. I agree- when he hits the record button the poetic magic begins.
Reply
Lumen K
1/19/2019 21:03:40
Thank you, Leslie! I am glad you enjoyed these pieces. Hal’s spoken word material is, as you say, magical! He records some of the most interesting and musical conversations..
Reply
Rafael González
1/19/2019 19:16:07
Wise words. Completely agree! Really inspiring and unique. Good job, Lumen.
Reply
Lumen K
1/19/2019 21:05:34
Thank you, Rafael. Being part of this community with you all is a treat for the senses and the mind.
Reply
Rafael González
1/20/2019 01:45:01
My pleasure, Lumen. I think the same, I'm very lucky being in this community with all of you.
Juan Angel Italiano
1/20/2019 18:31:15
Very good assembly.
Reply
Lumen K
1/20/2019 19:13:17
Thank you, Juan!
Reply
Phillip Klampe
1/20/2019 20:39:57
Excellent tracks! You are right about Hal's voice and his approach being inspirational. It has been a goal of mine to incorporate Hal into some audio experiments for a long time. Maybe someday.
Reply
Lumen K
1/22/2019 21:55:40
Thank you, Phillip! I look forward to hearing your future Vox McGee inspired tracks! Until then I will continue to enjoy your other works, such as homogenized terrestrials.
Reply
Dylan Houser
1/23/2019 02:31:36
At the last Apartment Music that I was at, Hal said something funny and noteworthy, but I didn't have my recorder on. I quickly turned it on and he was kind enough to repeat what he said so I could get it recorded. Thanks Hal!
Reply
Hal McGee
1/23/2019 02:36:23
I am glad that you recorded it because I don't remember what it was!
Reply
Penny
1/30/2019 01:53:43
These are really good. Thank u for creating these.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Lumen Kis an electronic sound artist Archives |