Side-Wise 8

Using only a bass, effects pedal, and a live recorder Side-Wise 8 could be called the master of minimalism. With these nearly "outdated" electronics, he turns his bass into a palette of sonic colors that are then mixed, matched, and juxtaposed in compositions that are reminiscent of a pop song you may have heard in a dream. Many songs start with a beat, than a twisted bass line and before you know it there are 7 or 8 layers of dreamy, ear-clenching sounds interacting with his voice to create what one might describe as a "choir of electricity". The foundations of rhythm, melody, harmony, and movement are all maintained in this new approach to music, however the fresh context for these old ingredients give them new distinction. Despite the vividly fresh sonic palette and the almost unheard of style of live performance, Side-Wise 8 has an oddly nostalgic sound and presence that brings the listener back to a time period that never happened. The heavy percussion produced by hitting the the bass, the elegant tap of fingernails against metal, as well as the screeching distortion of the pitch-manipulated strings, all being fed into the same massive speakers throw the listener against a wall of sound bigger than a band of 100 people. The variety of sound generated from fingers, a bass and a single pedal rivals that of laptop musicians using the limitless possibilities of a computer. Side-Wise 8 is a powerful and unique force in the live electronics world and although he easily fits in the "live looping" category, he is a one of a kind musician who has created his own genre.