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Electronic sound and art 1987 - 1993: Arcane Device. Electronic sound and art 1993 - current: Pulsewidth.
Arcane Device and Pulsewidth are David Myers.
David Myers, as Arcane Device, released the first ever CD on Silent Records (Arcane Device/PGR - Fetish SR9009) in 1990 and followed it up with another release 2 years later (Arcane Device - Trout SR9339). In
a way, David Myers is a true "electronic musician" in that he uses the sound of the effects device itself. Rather than using synthesizers and midi to create sound, David feeds the output back into
the effects device and controls the flow to create sounds that are listenable (or not). This is data... this is noise, but David Myers has perfected his technique in a most unusual and creative way.
These feedback machines were designed and built by David and he continues to modify and tweak... always creating new devices in the attempt to control the noise of the electrons.
Part of the noise bands and
cassette traders of the late 80's and early 90's, Arcane Device is a name that is familiar to many due to his many live appearances (including the Knitting Factory in New York) and his many compilation
appearances. Having been released on labels such as RRR, Silent Records, Staalplaat and Recommended, Arcane Device has solidified its place in the experimental noise community. Unfortunately,
David's dealings with Silent were not ideal and his departure was not on good terms. This is a shame, as collaboration with Kim Cascone would be something to drool over.
A friend of famed comic book
artist Alex Ross, David Myers is also a visual artist. The inspiration for his art at the time came from the technology he was employing with the feedback machines. After a few showings in New York and
the Netherlands, David took a long break from both the visual arts and his music.
Luckily, his sabbatical was not permanent. David continues the idea of the feedback machine and Arcane Device as
Pulsewidth.
The newer releases broaden the scope of Arcane Device. More traditional instruments, like guitar, can be heard with software-emulated analogue synth sounds and even beats! Don't
worry, the soundscapes and noise of Arcane Device have not been lost. Most of the Arcane Device back catalog can be purchased as CDR through the Pulsewidth website.
from the Pulsewidth website:
"Feedback Music (aka Processor Music) is created through circuitry of Myers' original design which forces electronic effects devices to generate their own unique tones and patterns, often surprising the
composer himself. An ever-changing maelstrom of sounds bursts forth and must be wrestled into shape on the fly; the process is a real challenge, particularly in live performance, but this only adds to the invention
and excitement of this innovative music."
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David Myers Discography
Full-Lengths:
Arcane Device - Engines of Myth LP, Recommended/ReR, 1988
Arcane Device - Feedback Music II cassette, Generations Unlimited, 1988
Arcane Device
- Improvisations (package of two seven-inch vinyl disks), RRRecords, 1988
Arcane Device - Half Live cassette, Generations Unlimited, 1989
Arcane Device - Diabous Ex Machina CD, Staalplaat, 1992
Arcane Device - AD6 cassette, Korm Plastics, 1990
Arcane Device - AD7 cassette, Banned Production, 1990
Arcane Device - Also Sprach Zarathustra, Anckarstrom, 1993 (re-released by Staalplaat)
Arcane Device - Trout CD, Silent Records, 1993
Arcane Device - Envoi in Cumin, PlayLoud, 1994
Arcane Device / PGR - Fetish (split CD), Silent Records, 1990
Arcane Device and Asmus Tietchens - DBL FDBK, Stille Andacht
Arcane Device - Feedback In Turmoil cassette, SSS Records
Arcane Device and Asmus Tietchens - Speiseleitung, Soleilmoon/Staalplaat, 1996
David Myers - Ourobouros, Pulsewidth, 2001
David Myers and Asmus Tietchens - Flussdichte, Disco-Bruit, 2001
David Myers - Dyed Smear Live, Generator, 2001
David Myers - The Final Concert of Arcane Device 3" mini CD, Generator, 2000
David Myers - Resonant Coil CDR, Pulsewidth, 2000
David Myers - Cel CDR, Pulsewidth, 2000
David Myers and Alex
Ross - Fetid Poets CDR (recorded in 1990), Pulsewidth, 2000
Tracks on other CDs:
Arcane Device - "Lathe" on Testament LP, RRRecords, 1988
David Myers - "Engine of Myth" on ReR Quarterly Volume 2 Number 3 LP, Recommended Records, 1988
Arcane Device -
"Zero Crossing" on Er Ist Tief Und Dein Wasser Ist Dunkler LP, Quiet Artworks, 1990
David Myers/Alex Ross - "Pressure Inversion Ratios" on Quarterly Volume 3 Number 2 LP,
Recommended Records, 1990
Arcane Device - "Dead Birds Sigh a Prayer" on A Realization Compilation, Realization, 1991
Arcane Device - "Giant Steps" on A Gnomean Haigonaimean LP,
Johnny Blue, 1991
Arcane Device - "Tendril" on Dry Lungs International 2XCD Compilation, Subterranean Records, 1992
David Myers - "The Unknown (No. 4)" on Quarterly Volume 4
Number 1, Recommended Records, 1994
David Myers - contributed to tracks on Azoic Zone with Francisco Lopez, Illusion of Safety, John Hudak, Minóy, Zan Hoffman, Scot Konzelmann, Richard Franecki,
Michael Gendreau, Steve Peters and John Wiggins, Geometrik Records, 1993 (re-released in 2002)
VHS Video:
Arcane Device - Scanners, 1990
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Special silentrecords.net interview with
David Myers
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How did you meet Kim Cascone and get involved with Silent Records?
I've never physically met Kim. I think
that we became aware of each other through the "cassette underground", or more likely, that he heard my 1988 ReR LP "Engines of Myth" (BTW, to be rereleased on CD by ReR,
probably early 2003). I proposed that we each send the other tracks which would be transformed by the recipient, but when he heard my "Penetrating Black Ice", he declined to
touch it ("like putting a moustache on the Mona Lisa" was his comment) and we therefore put out a "half and half" album--Fetish--which was almost an LP, but became the
first CD for Silent.
Briefly describe the "ambient" scene during the times you were putting out material for Silent.
Well,
at the time "ambient" was a term intitiated by Brian Eno, and I didn't consider the music on Fetish to even be ambient. Maybe through Silent's influence, the term took on a
different slant, and in ensuing years something else under this name emerged. Of my own releases I probably only consider "Also Sprach Zarathustra" and "Envoi in
Cumin" to be "ambient"--but then, I cling to the original Eno conception.
How has it changed?
I haven't the
vaguest idea--I don't follow genres. But obviously the "glitch music" of Mille Plataeu and so on (Oval, Pole, etc.) has emerged from all this...
Is there any unreleased material from the Silent period?
Of mine? I released pretty much all of what was produced during that
time--Zarathustra, Envoi...
What is your favorite Silent release?
Believe it or not, except one release of Kim's, I have heard
not one thing, so I guess it must be "Trout"...!
Any plans on re-releasing the Silent material?
I make available on my
website CDRs of all my back catalog, but besides that, no...
What are you up to now?
I have a new collaboration with Vidna Obmana,
"Tracers", coming out on the Austrian Klanggalerie label in early 2003, and "Uncertain Symmetry" with San Francisco's Thomas Dimuzio, to be out this October on Korm
Plastics/Staalplaat. Also in production is a fourth collab with Asmus Tietchens, and a special secret project with a Very Famous Composer which will be unannounced until completion,
probably 2003...
Is there anything you would like to add?
I would like to thank Rod Modell for being so encouraging and
supportive of my musical and sonic activities. He has been like a younger brother to me. I would like to thank all the people who have sent me kind email
messages about how they still listen to Sonic Alter and still find it timeless.
Please include links to any sites you would like included on the site.
Well, mine of course!
http://www.pulsewidth.com
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