The User: Symphony #2 For Dot Matrix Printers (2002)

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

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Published: November 1, 2002

The User: Symphony #2 For Dot Matrix Printers

This Canadian aggregation’s previous effort had something to do with converting a Montreal grain silo into “an instrument of sound.” Hence, the band has purportedly qualified itself as a hi-tech entity. With this release, the artists have sampled the sounds of ancient dot-matrix printers via midi technologies, software engineering, sampling, and so forth. In addition, the press has announced that this venture will also be issued on 45 RPM 12” format in Europe only. Perhaps the gist behind this move would be to provide turntablists with another sound sculpting mechanism? In any event, the group’s invention offers a rhythmic perspective to the sounds of fourteen dot matrix printers. This recording is constructed upon a rather monolithic approach, yet the results are strikingly interesting. More like a work of abstract art that might be occasionally revisited, this production causes one to reflect on incidental sound-based attributes that often go unnoticed. Especially when appropriated from a consortium of inventive minds at work. As they state in the liners: “It’s really all just printer music.” For additional insight and information, visit The User online.

Asphodel

Track Listing: Symphony #2 For Dot Matrix Printers

Personnel: A collective founded by composer Emmanuel Madan & architect Thomas McIntosh

Record Label: Asphodel
Style: Electronica