Offering “a tone so pure it is almost a sine-wave” (The Wire), ADAM LION is a percussionist/vibraphonist investigating enabling constraint, acoustics, repetition, surprise and coincidence. His experimental performances blur acoustic space, creating opportunities for new sonic frameworks to naturally emerge. Within this process new realities grow, encouraging listeners to investigate the hidden potential of reimagined sound. Based in Los Angeles, his work has been featured in The New York Times, Pitchfork Media, Artforum Magazine, and Bandcamp Daily.
His new vibraphone album When a Line Bends is a repetitious study on the possibilities of acoustic phenomena. Sound floods the room with music one would only expect from amplification or supplementary electronics. Bars are bowed for sustained durations producing an effect similar to a sine tone, and textural adjustments occur spontaneously. Slowly evolving ostinatos result in pulsating, dissonant overtones whose frequency beatings bring about scintillating clouds of polyrhythms. As bars are bowed, struck, scraped, and touched, Adam explores the vibraphone hoping to surprise himself.
SFSOUNDGROUP performs two iconic sound works for ensemble and tape:
ALVIN LUCIER'S Two Circles (2012)
ROBERT ERICKSON'S Pacific Sirens (1969)
PERFORMERS
Sam Weiser, violin
Monica Scott, cello
Kjell Nordeson, percussion
Lisa Mezzacappa, bass
Hadley McCarroll, piano
Brendan Lai-Tong, trombone
John Ingle, saxophone
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
Diane Grubbe, flute
Tom Dambly, trumpet
