After Midnight by Noise Reduction Society

Early January, in greyscale, it seems. These tracks were recorded in the evenings, when the traffic outside my windows was quiet as only a winter evening can be. Maybe it comes across as moody but that's not what I was thinking.

The improvisations were about curiosity, actually. And realizing a sense of space and openness, apart from the intensity of the stream of noise that flows past this particular place where I live and work. It was also about seeking to break old patterns of note relationships and maybe discover something new, going forward. Enjoying the minimal and individual sounds I was making on my piano and hearing them resonate and bounce back through the processing. Time to consider and to seek. To look forward instead of back, to seize new ideas and new beginnings, to suggest space and individuality, and to feel peace in the moments of quiet - and noise! I hope this inspires similar notions of searching and discovery.

Process. Improvisations were based on short melodic fragments "composed" in the moments leading up to each recording. These are not scored compositions but free improvisation exploring compositional possibilities in real time, in the moment. The modular synth was set up with a patch for each recording that incorporated generative control of effects perameters. Processing was recorded live in realtime (not as an overdub in the mix) and each track used either the Tyme or the Monsoon.

Materials. 1964 Yamaha G3 grand piano. Eurorack modules Tyme Sefari and Monsoon (Mutable Instruments Clouds clone) for reverb/looping/glitching. No other reverbs or delays used. Fab Filter EQ and compression in the mix. Recorded and mixed in LogicProX. AKG 414s as main stereo pair on the piano. AKG 214 mic at the foot of the piano. A pair of CAD M179 mics in omni as a room pair. EV 635A omni mic direct into the Tyme and Monsoon through the Doepfer Ext In. LFOs and S&H used to modulate parameters in the Tyme and Monsoon.

Tracklist

1.	Neon Reflections	7:02

2.	Silent Listening	2:58

3.	Momentary Intersection	5:55

4.	Outlines of Branches	7:34

5.	Clouds Glowing	4:22

6.	Shadows of Colors	6:19

7.	Moonlight Saturation	8:27

8.	Patterns of Footprints	7:59

9.	Cars Floating	5:07

Credits

released April 26, 2023

Composedy and produced by James Hegarty

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