david fodel

This is an experiment I did in preparation for a lecture on the origins of loop-based composition. This set-up uses a piano patch, which is run through what Terry Riley called the "Time Lag Accumulators" and Brian Eno sketched on the back of his "Discreet Music" release in 1975 and subsequently became the technique used in his work with Robert Fripp.

The set-up consists of 2 open-reel analog tape machines, the first deck having the source reel, with the tape stretched over the record head of the first machine, spanning a variable distance, and attached to the take-up reel of the second machine, after passing over its playback head. The signal is patched from the output of the second machine back into the input of the first machine, while also receiving the live input from the original source. With subtle control, beautiful time-shifting and phasing effects occur, resulting in rich counter melodies. The original source in this instance is 5 repeating notes.

More photos here