This page contains a brief overview on the album ANDREW STRANGLEN: Secret Orchard Apparatus. Learn more about the artist and explore the track lists and website. If you find any information that needs to be corrected, please let us know.

 
"Secret Orchard Apparatus"
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I became interested in fingerstyle guitar soon after learning some introductory Classical Guitar in the early Seventies. I discovered the music of Fahey, which led to other discoveries like Kottke, Lang, and Basho. Eventually I traded the Nylon for Steel. Thus I began the process of self-taught "American Primitive" syncopated fingerpicking.

In addition to my love of American Primitive Guitar, I also like many other types of music. I have always been keen on synthesizers, so I make use of them, as well as collaged sounds and field recordings for occasional accompaniment to my guitar playing.

Some notes about "Secret Orchard Apparatus" :

This is my 2nd Cdbaby release. It features a little more experimentation with accompaniments and further use of delay/echo, and synthesizer.

'Act of Capture' - starts off the set with a realtime capture of a guitar sample which sets the metre for the duration of the piece. -in a D-modal tuning.
'Gas, Food, Lodging', a ditty for the road weary traveller.
Those familiar with the legendary Dock Boggs will recognize the country blues section of
'Country Blues/Hancock County Ramble'. In the latter section, I reminisce {in tones} on memories of my late grandfather's fruit farm and apple orchards where I spent much time as a kid. The farm was located in Western Illinois, within view of the Mississippi River and the Santa Fe mainline.
'Forsaken' - an experimental piece in which I alter the tuning somewhere in the middle.
'Heat Lightning' - uses the distant static of Summer thunderstorms on an AM radio as a backdrop for some creative improvisation.
'Wintertide(Under Ice)' - suggests the stasis of Winter with a chilling delay effect.
'Impending Dust Explosion' - no guitar here, just synthesizer... echoes of a grain silo explosion?, or something going terribly wrong.
'Local News' - nearly nine minutes of D-modal exploration/improvisation.
'Badland Hoodoos' a lively stomp that pays homage to those multi-iterative structures found in nature, erosion patterns, rock formations, etc.
'A Long Time Ago with blips' Guitar and Synthesizer combine for a dreamlike effect. The album closes with a two-tracked self-duet appropriately titled
'Fogbottom Haloes'.

Enjoy the tunes!
and be sure to check out my other cd "Harken"! http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stranglen1

Check out the artist's website:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/lectrikdog/

Track List:
1. Act of Capture
2. Gas Food Lodging
3. Country Blues/hancock County Ramble
4. Forsaken
5. Heat Lightning
6. Wintertide(underice)
7. Impending Dust Explosion
8. Local News
9. Badland Hoodoos
10. A Long Time Ago With Blips
11. Fogbottom Haloes

Other Genres:

• FOLK: Folk Blues
• ELECTRONIC: Soundscapes
• SOLO INSTRUMENTAL