Well-crafted look at eccentric Baltimore sound artist Neil Feather. Two for the price of one: a portrait of a quirky but articulate inventor and a meditation on the nature of music.
For those of us that grew up loviing sound as much as music, this overview of Neil Feather's sonic wildness is a great insight on how a person becomes an experimental musician. As this type of music becomes more mainstream (through its use in film scoring, installation pieces and other emotional environments), it is useful to hear the creation in action.
Often, it is difficult to know where to start in this genre. This piece offers a personal view of Feather's creation process, and provides an entre into an otherwise difficult world.
This profile of "sound mechanic" Neil Feather works neatly on different levels for different types of listeners - the sound art aficionado, the uninitiated, even one who finds this kind of work insufferable. Like myself, I'm loathe to admit. That's why I think this piece is so well done. Ask me to listen to someone who thinks a pile driver makes a "cool sound" and I'd run in the opposite direction. But I was intrigued by Feather as I was lured gently into his world of sometimes very ungentle sound. The musical atmosphere seemed to underline the theories and descriptions and I could almost visualize his studio and strange instruments. I might never want to attend one of Feather's concerts (unlike him I was traumatized by a Captain Beefheart gig at an impressionable age) but I listened to this piece twice in one sitting without flinching. A perfect,off-beat piece for any culture or music (yes, even music) program.
The sounds of these instruments alone make this one worth a listen . But producer Aaron Henkin manages to make it more than just a "wow, isn't this dude cool" kind of a radio piece. By situating Neil Feather in the wider context of musical evolution throughout history, Henkin gives Feather's instrumental creations a new depth. Well written and well recorded.
Comments for Neil Feather's Musical Chop Shop
Produced by Aaron Henkin
Other pieces by Aaron Henkin
Rating Summary
4 comments
Gary Marcus
Posted on March 12, 2005 at 05:28 AM | Permalink
Review of Neil Feather's Musical Chop Shop
Well-crafted look at eccentric Baltimore sound artist Neil Feather. Two for the price of one: a portrait of a quirky but articulate inventor and a meditation on the nature of music.
Darwin Grosse
Posted on November 17, 2004 at 11:13 AM | Permalink
Review of Neil Feather's Musical Chop Shop
For those of us that grew up loviing sound as much as music, this overview of Neil Feather's sonic wildness is a great insight on how a person becomes an experimental musician. As this type of music becomes more mainstream (through its use in film scoring, installation pieces and other emotional environments), it is useful to hear the creation in action.
Often, it is difficult to know where to start in this genre. This piece offers a personal view of Feather's creation process, and provides an entre into an otherwise difficult world.
David Swatling
Posted on November 05, 2004 at 10:19 AM | Permalink
Review of Neil Feather's Musical Chop Shop
This profile of "sound mechanic" Neil Feather works neatly on different levels for different types of listeners - the sound art aficionado, the uninitiated, even one who finds this kind of work insufferable. Like myself, I'm loathe to admit. That's why I think this piece is so well done. Ask me to listen to someone who thinks a pile driver makes a "cool sound" and I'd run in the opposite direction. But I was intrigued by Feather as I was lured gently into his world of sometimes very ungentle sound. The musical atmosphere seemed to underline the theories and descriptions and I could almost visualize his studio and strange instruments. I might never want to attend one of Feather's concerts (unlike him I was traumatized by a Captain Beefheart gig at an impressionable age) but I listened to this piece twice in one sitting without flinching. A perfect,off-beat piece for any culture or music (yes, even music) program.
Tina Antolini
Posted on November 04, 2004 at 04:03 PM | Permalink
Review of Neil Feather's Musical Chop Shop
The sounds of these instruments alone make this one worth a listen . But producer Aaron Henkin manages to make it more than just a "wow, isn't this dude cool" kind of a radio piece. By situating Neil Feather in the wider context of musical evolution throughout history, Henkin gives Feather's instrumental creations a new depth. Well written and well recorded.