Ouroboros

Description

On “Ouroboros” by Katelyn Clark and Mitch Renaud, astronomical and astrological phenomena, concepts, and symbols such as the Great Year or Eternal Return serve as starting points for sonic explorations and experiments. Focusing on a range of frequencies with a unique temperament, from deep drone rumbles to airy pipe swirls, the duo develops a minimalist and highly evocative sound world on their debut album for Hallow Ground. Composers, improvisers, and curators working on the experimental scenes and former dynamic Canadian scenes, Clark and Renaud began developing “Ouroboros” through numerous improvisations with a reduced setup. Clark, who has worked extensively with historical keyboards since her studies in Amsterdam and Siena, played a small pipe organ modeled after a 14th-century instrument, while Renaud brought a modular synthesizer and his interest in feedback systems to the collaboration. Later, the duo refined their artistic dialogue and the sonic interactions of the two instruments during a shared two-day recording session in Vancouver. Subtle crackles, acoustic beats, and other (psycho-)acoustic effects in five pieces document this encounter, giving the music a deep physicality while hinting at the bodily presence of the two collaborators.