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Robert Cox
Random Musics

Album 2018 on Unlikely Records label
Electronic (Abstract, Ambient, Drone, Industrial, Minimal)

During 1982, 1983 and 1984 I 'composed’ and recorded a number of pieces for keyboards and signal generators using 36 cards with note pitch and 16 cards with note duration written on them. Some, like A2 Is Missing, had no rules applied and sound very alien. Others used the notes from particular keys or modes only and sound (slightly) more human. C352 is one mono multi-track mix repeated across the 4 tracks of a cassette multi-track recorder. The inherent variations in cassette speed caused the tracks to slowly drift apart. Random Musics was released on cassette only in 1984 by Unlikely Records with the catalogue number URT83. Recorded in December 1983 and January 1984, Music Without Edges was a further exploration of the ideas and processes utilised on Random Musics. The title track was the closest I came to music without obvious beginnings or ends to the notes and without any rhythmic element, implied or stated, other than the pulsing apparent in the chords and dischords. Much like the beat notes that are the stock in trade of piano tuners (and guitar tuners too). Music Without Edges was released on cassette only in 1984 by Unlikely Records with the catalogue number URT85. A Short Delay was recorded in 1983/4 at the same time as the preceding Music Without Edges, this was my third album of ‘random musics’. Indeed, The Down Pipe on this album consists of random notes in a major key. It was intended to create a sense of calm and resolution at the end of the series. A Short Delay was released on cassette only by Unlikely Records in 1984 with the catalogue number URT86. These pieces are now gathered together here in the same order as on the original cassette releases. I still find this 'music' strangely compelling and hope you do too. The original three albums can be heard, in their entirety, on the Unlikely Recordings YouTube channel. Robert Cox. URHQ November 2018

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Robert Cox b, key, mar, g, *1953 composed by, programmed by, album by

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