Under the Earth Tones

Didgeri Dudes - Under the Earth Tones

released in 1997

Under the Earth Tones is the second album of experimental didgeridoo music by Jamie Cunningham and Brian Pertl, a.k.a. the Didgeri Dudes. The didgeridoo is an ancient Australian Aboriginal wind instrument that is capable of producing a wide variety of sounds utilizing combinations of pursed tones, harmonic manipulation, vocalizations, and circular breathing techniques. Using a sonic palette of traditional and modern didgeridoos made from wood, bamboo, plastic pipe, and cactus, the Didgeri Dudes and special guest Stuart Dempster paint ambient textures on the canvas of an abandoned two-million gallon underground water cistern at Fort Worden, near Port Townsend, Washington. This huge circular subterranean chamber boasts an extremely long reverberation of well over a minute requiring the musicians therein to play the acoustic space as an instrument. The recording was made during a marathon fourteen-hour session in the dank darkness of the cistern, illuminated only by the light that filtered through the small roof-top entrance. The effect of being totally immersed in pure sound for an extended period left the performers emotionally charged and euphoric at day's end. To recreate the dynamic and meditative ambiance of this incredible space, we recommend a quiet listening environment and high-quality speakers or headphones. No overdubbing, electronic effects, nor artificial reverberation was used in this stereo mix from the live four-channel digital recording. (from the liner notes)

Tracklisting:

1. Magma {9:32}

2. Land of Snows {14:52}

3. Cosmic Frogs {7:56}

4. Orion Nebula {19:56}

5. Shudder {9:31}

6. Final Peace {8:19}

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The Deep Listening Band -Troglodyte's Delight (1990)

The earth holds mysteries, and they are composed of movement and stillness. The sounds from below the surface are of particular interest to the Deep Listening Band. During early June of 1989, members of the Deep Listening Band explored the sound properties of The Tarpaper Cave in Rosendale, New York in a special underground concert and recording.

To me, this recording represents a unique fusion of "environmental" and "intuitive" music, a really enchanting experience.

Vocalist and electronics specialist Panaiotis: "We really wanted, as a group, to become an aspect of the cave. During the recording, and the concert, we were responding to the cave... (the idea being) to listen to the cave, and then, as the group participated, to respond to each other as well."

The Deep Listening Band spent a week in the cave preparing for the concert. Panaiotis used this time exploring different areas to find acoustic "hot spots, where things really blossom and resonate." ...
Where Panaiotis recalls the incessant and omnipresent mosquitoes of The Tarpaper Cave, trombonist Stuart Dempster remembers "the capriciousness of the lighting... mists blowing down with changes in the weather... it was like Valhalla from time to time..."
Stuart Dempster - trombone, didjeridu / Pauline Oliveros - accordion, voice, whistles / Panaiotis - voice
Guest artists: Fritz Hauser - percussion / Julie Lyon Balliett - voice

1 Cave Water

2 Quarry Query

3 Cannery Row

4 After Dinner With The Trogs

5 Rain Delay

6 Trog Arena

7 Cave Water

 This way to Valhalla: (1)