Michael Valentine West is an artist, musician, composer and autodidact who utilises techniques learnt from various musical disciplines such as minimal, ambient, glitch, hip hop, jazz, post-classical and sound design. Michael has released albums and EPs under various guises; Twiggy and the K-Mesons, Suck Susan, Lower Third, Mikimo Sosumi and Anal Teens, et al.
His work has been released to critical acclaim on labels such as Daddy Tank, Bedroom Research, Kaer’Uiks, Ana Ott, Irrational Media Society, uvg212, Section 27 and Future Disorder, to name but a few.
The album “Discrete Objects” was conceived whilst observing geometry in nature and trying to make a connection between it, neuroscience and abstract physics theories. This led to the question; could using a series of ‘discrete objects’ intentionally cause a cognitive change in the listener?
To test this idea, a number of processes (discrete objects) were used to enhance the recordings. This envolved the subtle usage of neural oscillators (alpha, beta, delta, gamma and theta waves), isochronic tones, binaural beats, harmonic counterpoint and stereo placement.
The result was a slowly evolving musical body of work in which the listener is gradually coaxed into an altered state, vaguely equivalent to ‘tripping’.
In order to fully take advantage of this album, playback on decent stereo speakers that are optimally placed, or good headphones are recommended. However, Discrete Objects can still be enjoyed from a purely musical aspect without these recommendations.
Coming Soon: August 13