Brood X: Live Free Improvisation with 2021 Great Eastern Brood Cicadas

by Mac Blackout

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	1.	Brood X part 1 18:46 video		buy track
	2.	Brood X part 2 15:03		buy track

about

Brood X: Live Free Improvisation with 2021 Great Eastern Brood Cicadas

Recorded in Chicago during the summer of 2021, this album is equal parts spiritual improvised art and cultural entomology study.

During daily solo sax/synth improvisations I noticed the intense sonic swells of Cicadas coming from the tree outside my studio. These were 17 year Brood X cicadas, a massive brood known to have a deafening mating hum capable in some cases of reaching 100 decibels.

With windows open I witnessed obvious interaction with the frequencies and swells I was creating. The intensity of the insect hum would swell with and around the sounds I was creating with a synth sequence and saxophone. I repeated this ritual many nights over the summer and the interaction was undoubtedly real. Sonic communication and a form of primal human insect dialogue was taking place.

This album was recorded with one mic out the open studio window to record the insects simultaneously with one open air stereo recorder in my studio to record my amplified synth/saxophone improvisation. This is a 100% live recording, no overdubs, in the raw state in which I recorded it. There is a minimal synth sequence repeating while I play tenor sax through a delay pedal along with occasional sleigh bells. This combination of instruments seemed to create sonic frequencies the cicadas would best respond to.

Inquiries: macblackout@gmail.com

credits

released January 7, 2022

Mac Blackout:
Tenor saxophone through a Boss DD5 delay, sleigh bells, Prophet Rev 2 looped sequence

Brood X cicadas:
Mating hum swells

Recorded live (no overdubs) August 28, 2021 Chicago, IL USA
(note: audio notation of Sept 28 misnoted, actually recorded Aug 28)

license

about

Mac Blackout Chicago, Illinois

Mac Blackout (solo 2001-PRS): all inst/recording

Chicago Avant-Garde Street Collective (2021-PRS): Coordinator

Armageddon Experimental Band (2018-PRS):
saxophone/guitar/synth/concept/video art

Mac Blackout Band (2012-2017): guitar/vocals

New Rose Alliance (2012-2016): vocals

Mickey (2010-2014): vocals

Daily Void (2006-2010): guitar/vocals

Functional Blackouts (2001-2006): guitar/vocals
... more

shows

May 8

Sleeping Village

Chicago, IL

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