Comments for Neil Feather's Musical Chop Shop

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Produced by Aaron Henkin

Other pieces by Aaron Henkin

Summary: If a musical instrument and a household appliance were thrown together into a particle accelerator, Neil Feather's music would be the result.
 

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Review of Neil Feather's Musical Chop Shop

Well-crafted look at eccentric Baltimore sound artist Neil Feather. Two for the price of one: a portrait of a quirky but articulate inventor and a meditation on the nature of music.

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Review of Neil Feather's Musical Chop Shop

For those of us that grew up loviing sound as much as music, this overview of Neil Feather's sonic wildness is a great insight on how a person becomes an experimental musician. As this type of music becomes more mainstream (through its use in film scoring, installation pieces and other emotional environments), it is useful to hear the creation in action.

Often, it is difficult to know where to start in this genre. This piece offers a personal view of Feather's creation process, and provides an entre into an otherwise difficult world.

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Review of Neil Feather's Musical Chop Shop

This profile of "sound mechanic" Neil Feather works neatly on different levels for different types of listeners - the sound art aficionado, the uninitiated, even one who finds this kind of work insufferable. Like myself, I'm loathe to admit. That's why I think this piece is so well done. Ask me to listen to someone who thinks a pile driver makes a "cool sound" and I'd run in the opposite direction. But I was intrigued by Feather as I was lured gently into his world of sometimes very ungentle sound. The musical atmosphere seemed to underline the theories and descriptions and I could almost visualize his studio and strange instruments. I might never want to attend one of Feather's concerts (unlike him I was traumatized by a Captain Beefheart gig at an impressionable age) but I listened to this piece twice in one sitting without flinching. A perfect,off-beat piece for any culture or music (yes, even music) program.

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Review of Neil Feather's Musical Chop Shop

The sounds of these instruments alone make this one worth a listen . But producer Aaron Henkin manages to make it more than just a "wow, isn't this dude cool" kind of a radio piece. By situating Neil Feather in the wider context of musical evolution throughout history, Henkin gives Feather's instrumental creations a new depth. Well written and well recorded.