Keith Fullerton Whitman and Greg Davis Yearlong

About

Yearlong is the long awaited compendium of live recordings from New England ’s favorite bearded computer-music duo (a.k.a. Keith Fullerton Whitman and Greg Davis), as recorded between 2001 and 2002 in parts of the world only read about by most. Taking in a ludicrously wide range of sound-sources and stylistic leaps, Yearlong is the first collection of improvised laptop pieces from Keith and Greg, edited down from around 18 hours of footage into one concise 45 minute mind-slayer.

Artist Bio

Keith Fullerton Whitman started his path through music at an early age (9) by intentionally ‘versioning’ Commodore Vic20 basic sound programs to yield raw computer-speak skronk. Growing up at record-collector fairs throughout northern New Jersey in the late 80s, Keith was privy to just about every phylum of underground music imaginable… declaring allegiances early on to European free improvisation, progressive and psychedelic rock, breakdance-themed urban machine music, the post World War II orchestral avant-garde, and the early electronic experiments of the WDR and INA-GRM camps. Upon moving to the fertile creative ground of Boston in 1991 to study Computer Music with Richard Boulanger at the Berklee College of Music, he proceeded to form rock-based ensembles in a smattering of forms (the Fluxus-pranks-meets-Hasil-Adkins duo El-Ron, the Dub/Sahko/Jungle beep-vibes of The Finger Lakes, the electro-acoustic/freely improvising ‘power trio’ Sheket/Trabant), most rehearsing bi-weekly for months in preparation of a single gig (after which, mission being accomplished, the ensemble would break up). After barely acquiring his Bachelors in Music Synthesis in 1996 due to some… confusion regarding his final piece/thesis “Error” (three hours of broken DAT machine connections, skipping CDs, corrupt signals of all walks, DC offset, barely audible clicking, etc…), he set out on his own to bridge the gap between the academic avant garde and the fan of sound at large through a series of subversive tracks credited to dozens of homonyms… the main of which, Hrvatski, was lifted off of a billboard for the Boston Language Institute for its similarity to one of Keith’s favorites… the hip-hop collagist Steinski.

After years of hip-hop groups, jazz combos, free improvisation, and experimental composition, Greg moved toward the world of computer-based music. At DePaul University in Chicago, Greg studied classical & jazz guitar alongside composition and jazz studies. In 1997, he started his own label, Autumn Records, in order to put out his own music and the music of others. Several CD-R releases later, Autumn Records relocated to Boston in 1999 and released the ‘autumnature’ compilation in may of 2001, which featured the likes of: Marumari, Hrvatski, Lexaunculpt, Cex, Colongib, Asterisk (a.k.a. Greg Davis), and many more. At this time Greg was attending the New England conservatory of music in Boston, where he received his master’s degree in composition in June 2001. Mouthmoth Records’ Mothballs 7″ series also featured several tracks by Greg (as Asterisk) and his performing duo, Parallel, with Don Mennerich. Greg was an active performer in the Boston area, playing many shows by himself and with parallel. Greg relocated back to Chicago in august 2002. Greg’s ‘Clouds as Edges’ 7″ was released in October 2001 on Grounded Records. His debut CD, ‘Arbor’, was released in February 2002 on Carpark Records. Also, a Greg Davis & Don Mennerich split 7″ was released in may 2002 on Greg’s autumn records label. Greg has been touring since the release of ‘arbor’ doing an extensive 7 week tour of the US in March and April 2002 and a 4 week tour of Europe in May and June 2002, all with friend and musical collaborator, Hrvatski (a.k.a. Keith Fullerton Whitman).

Other releases for the coming year include various remix and compilation appearances, a Lux Nigra 12″, a Melektronikk 7″, a Tonschacht 7″, a live CD on Staalplaat as part of their ‘Mort Aux Vaches’ series, a Greg Davis and Keith Fullerton Whitman CD on Carpark, and a new full length album for carpark. Greg Davis and Hrvatski took part in this year’s impakt festival in Utrecht, Holland. Greg recently returned from a Japan tour (Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo) as well as a Midwest tour with Lullatone and shedding. Greg’s music will also be featured on an upcoming episode of MTV’s ‘the real world’.

Greg Davis has played live shows around the world with: Hrvatski, 242.Pilots, David Grubbs, Zoviet France, Chicago Underground Duo, Flying Luttenbachers, Adult, O9, Otto Von Schirach, Stars As Eyes, Lexaunculpt, Blectum From Blechdom, Viki, Mitchell Akiyama, Loscil, Casey Rice (designer), E*Rock, Inkblot, Marumari, Twine, Warmdesk, Bit Meddler, Flashpapr, A-Musik Soundsystem, Murcof, Lullatone, Shedding, Ogurusu Norihide, Fonica and more.