Monitress, by Wobbly

Monitress

by Wobbly

supported by

Robert Syrett Some of the most creative and kinetic synthesizer sound design I've come across. Definitely worth some repeat listening. Favorite track: Respectables.

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$8 USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
CD packaged in a six-panel wallet with artwork from HausMo Max and Amy Freibertshauer. Full color disc.

Includes unlimited streaming of Monitress via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 2 days

Purchasable with gift card

$12 USD or more
Cassette + Digital Album
C54 – Blue shell with black imprints – super-ferric stock. 2-sided 7-panel J-card with artwork by HausMo Max and Amy Freibertshauer. This is the catalog page with album information and artwork. To view the store page, click here.

Includes unlimited streaming of Monitress via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

ships out within 2 days

Purchasable with gift card

$9 USD or more

1.	Instant Entity 04:34	buy track
2.	Welcome Away 04:05	buy track
3.	Respectables 03:38	buy track
4.	Solved 03:08	buy track
5.	One Trillionth 05:13	buy track
6.	Forced Affinity 01:10	buy track
7.	Best Necessary 01:03	buy track
8.	Edits 01:16	buy track
9.	Microaccident 00:10	buy track
10.	Medieval Refrigerator 02:49	buy track
11.	Multiplet 02:04	buy track
12.	Information Free 06:13	buy track
13.	Monitress 10:28	buy track
14.	Operant 05:01	buy track

about

HAUSMO96 - CS / CD / DIG

credits

released November 8, 2019

Performed and edited 2015-2018
Mastered by Xopher Davidson.
Design elements by Amy Freibertshauser.
Front cover and design by Max.

‘Monitress’ is a piece for multiple mobile devices, each one running a pitch-tracking app and a synthesizer. Each is sent an audio signal, which the tracking app converts to MIDI data which is then used to drive the synth. Using an analog mixer, the sounds of one mobile can be routed / cascaded among the others. Feedback loops similar to acoustic or electrical feedback occur when you close the circle. The pitch-tracking apps are prone to errors, especially when presented with complex multiphonics or polyphonies; they get quite a few notes fascinatingly wrong. But more striking is the audible reality of their listening to each other. Unison lines are an elemental sign of musical intelligence; we are entrained to emotional reactions when hearing multiple voices attempting the same melody. These machines may not meet our current criterion for consciousness, but every audience I’ve played this piece in front of quickly realizes they're not listening to a solo.

The result is best heard in live performance, with 3-6 devices singing along. For the album version, studio improvisations on keyboards & touchscreens were recorded and then used to trigger an additional two or three layers of pitch-tracked response. But there's still only one initial human performance, embroidered on all sides by detailed machine listening.

The technology used to create these sounds existed before the mobiles, but this music would not have been made on earlier equipment -- it's a result of the relationship developed with a machine that is always present, and always listening. This was the project I dug into as we woke up to the true owners of these tools, a frame to make the relationship between ourselves and our machines audible while we think about the necessary steps to take next.

Live performances of Monitress frequently utilized the following iOS apps: Sonnus G2M, Midimorphosis, TC-11, Phawuo, GrainBender, Manetron2, PPG WaveMapper, djay Pro, Animoog, Virtual ANS, Cube Synth, microTERA, Tera Synth, iVCS3, iLectric Piano, NeoSoul Keys, ComboOrgan, Ondes, Ruckers 1628, VoxSyn, iMonoPoly, World Scales, Moog Model 15, ODYSSEi, M3000 HD, Sopranotron, tardigrain, Korg Module, Dedalus, SampleWiz, Shoom, Thor, Poseidon, bitKlavier, iSEM, SoundyThingie, DXi, Optigan, FM4, iCathedral, SingingFingers, Galileo, iMini, Stria, iPulsaret, 76 Synthesizer, iPolysix, Burea, Turquoise DS, SeekBeats, bent.fm, Alina, AUFX: Dub, MegaCurtis, MicroTones, Moon Beam, Photophore, Nature Oscillator, Samplr, Audio Reverb, Drums, Impaktor, Argon, AD 480 pro, Attractor, Movement I-V, Drumatron, Wilsonic & aardvark.

Thanks to:
Laurie McKenna, Bryce Recordon, Naut Humon, Jake Rodriguez, Drew Daniel, M.C. Schmidt, Matthew Patterson Curry, Laeticia Sonami, Thurston & Eva, David Behrman, George Lewis, Tania Chen, and Doug & Max.

license

about

Hausu Mountain Records Chicago, Illinois

Hausu Mountain is a record label founded in 2012 by Doug Kaplan and Max Allison. We release music on vinyl, cassette, CD, and here on Bandcamp.

hausumountain.com

contact / help

Contact Hausu Mountain Records

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Monitress, you may also like:

Rainbow Bridge
by Fire-Toolz

supported by 16 fans who also own “Monitress”

Interesting and addictive mathgoat
go to album
Everywhere at the end of time
by The Caretaker

supported by 15 fans who also own “Monitress”

There are so many things I could say about why this album is absolutely perfect. But to keep it short, single-handedly the most depressing album I've listened to, but also the most fantastic album I've listened to. Would highly recommend to anyone willing to give it a listen. mcdoob
go to album
The Common Task
by Horse Lords

supported by 14 fans who also own “Monitress”

because it's experimental but dancing balouvas
go to album
YR SEX IS COMPLEX
by Kinnara : Desi La

New on the AFROVISIONARY: DARK MATTER label is this bracing nine-track outing into extreme electronic music. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 25, 2021
go to album
A Marshmallow Called Moon
by Young Girl

Bouncy, glitchy, colorful electronic production that calls back to the inventive work of Oval and Mouse on Mars. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 20, 2019
go to album
Happy Earthday
by Bjarki

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jan 8, 2019
go to album
The Consuming Flame: Open Exercises in Group Form
by Matmos

supported by 12 fans who also own “Monitress”

This is getting a VINYL release soon... Right?..... Right?
go to album