Maclean, Steve - Prime [CD]

This is Steve's eighth ReR release. They've covered a lot of ground - and coincided, unhappily, with his progressive sight loss. Now in almost constant darkness, he wanted this CD to acknowledge the challenges of his condition, and to be more personal; hence the photograph and poor-vision friendly package design. Otherwise he continues to teach at Berkelee (not driving any more) make records and get on with life. This new collection ranges across media and genres and mostly explores prime numbers and the overtone series, animated by many guitars, a grand piano (played and remote-controlled), a quiet drum station, tube bells, assorted percussion, an amplified wire (with Echoplex), a modular synthesizer system, and a collection of Moog, Roland, Korg and Smith synths. There is also a bassoon, a five-string bass and, occasionally, drums. It cross-refers to earlier releases - there are tuneful, rock band - polyrhythmic compositions, timbre-based constructions, atmospheric meditations, film-music and some exquisite manipulation of sound. And of course, it's meticulously produced and mastered. Steve started playing drums and guitar at seven and composing at twelve. He co-founded the Portland Experimental Music Collective, established the Steve MacLean Ensemble and had compositions performed at numerous festivals. In 2000 he moved to Boston to become a professor in the Synthesis and Ensemble Departments at Berklee College of Music. He remains active as both composer and performer.