Metal Machine Trio
Encyclopedia
Metal Machine Trio is a group founded in 2008 by Lou Reed
, Ulrich Krieger
and Sarth Calhoun
.
The group plays free improvised music, touching on various genres from free rock, free jazz, minimal music, noise, electronica, to ambient.
, which was considered one of the most provoking rock albums ever. The soundscapes of this dense, abstract, controversial album serve as a reference point for Metal Machine Trio’s improvisations. The noisy, abstract music of the trio counteracts the expectations of Reeds regular audience for song based rock music. The official flyer for the New York Blender Theatre stated: “No songs. No vocals.”
MM3’s music has an eclectic approach to improvisation including ambient drones, electronic sounds, noise music
, aggressive free playing, heavy distortion on guitar and saxophone, extended feedback
passages, Raga
like drones, for which The Velvet Underground
were famous, and occasional Rhythm and blues
and Heavy Metal
reminiscence.
With MM3 Reed continues to cultivate his avant-garde side in a group setting. Other avant-garde outputs he ventured into since the 2000s include his improvisational meetings with John Zorn
, who was surprise guest artists at the second night at Blender Theater, Laurie Anderson
in their duo ‚Yellow Pony’, and his electronic ambient drone release Hudson River Wind Meditations
.
The media reception of MM3 generally considers Reed tapping into a different part of his creative energy again, that for many years only did hold a place at the fringe of his rock output, reclaiming a part of his „musical legacy that has been neglected for too long“ .
Reed found musical partners in Ulrich Krieger on electric saxophone and Sarth Calhoun on various electronics. Krieger, who is professor for composition and experimental sound practices at the California Institute of the Arts
, brings with him experience as a performer of contemporary composed music, Free improvisation
, Experimental Rock
and Noise. Beside writing original electronic and chamber music, he had arranged Metal Machine Music for classical chamber ensemble in 2002.
Sarth Calhoun produces electronic soundscapes and processes his fellow performers in real time. He uses the electronic controller Continuum Fingerboard and the Kyma
Workstation. He is member of the band Lucibel Crater.
The group premiered at REDCAT
, part of the Disney Concert Hall Complex in downtown Los Angeles, California
on October 2 and 3, 2008, under the title "Unclassified: Lou Reed and Ulrich Krieger". A live double CD of these shows, entitled The Creation of the Universe
, was released December 22, 2008 on Reed's own label Best Seat in the House. The group played further shows at the New York Blender Theater at Gramercy on April 23 and 24, 2009.
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, Ulrich Krieger
Ulrich Krieger
Ulrich Krieger is a German contemporary composer, performer, improviser and experimental rock musician based in Los Angeles....
and Sarth Calhoun
Sarth Calhoun
Sarth Calhoun is an electronic musician from Brooklyn, NY.He is a member of Lucibel Crater along with Leah Coloff and Paul Chuffo. He is also a member of Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio, along with Lou Reed and Ulrich Krieger. He was previously a member of Number19.He plays continuum fingerboard and...
.
The group plays free improvised music, touching on various genres from free rock, free jazz, minimal music, noise, electronica, to ambient.
History
The name of the group refers to Reed’s 1975 feedback album Metal Machine MusicMetal Machine Music
Metal Machine Music, subtitled *The Amine β Ring, is the fifth solo album by Lou Reed. It was originally released as a double album by RCA Records in 1975...
, which was considered one of the most provoking rock albums ever. The soundscapes of this dense, abstract, controversial album serve as a reference point for Metal Machine Trio’s improvisations. The noisy, abstract music of the trio counteracts the expectations of Reeds regular audience for song based rock music. The official flyer for the New York Blender Theatre stated: “No songs. No vocals.”
MM3’s music has an eclectic approach to improvisation including ambient drones, electronic sounds, noise music
Noise music
Noise music is a term used to describe varieties of avant-garde music and sound art that may use elements such as cacophony, dissonance, atonality, noise, indeterminacy, and repetition in their realization. Noise music can feature distortion, various types of acoustically or electronically...
, aggressive free playing, heavy distortion on guitar and saxophone, extended feedback
Feedback
Feedback describes the situation when output from an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or occurrences of the same Feedback describes the situation when output from (or information about the result of) an event or phenomenon in the past will influence an occurrence or...
passages, Raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
like drones, for which The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
were famous, and occasional Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and Heavy Metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
reminiscence.
With MM3 Reed continues to cultivate his avant-garde side in a group setting. Other avant-garde outputs he ventured into since the 2000s include his improvisational meetings with John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
, who was surprise guest artists at the second night at Blender Theater, Laurie Anderson
Laurie Anderson
Laura Phillips "Laurie" Anderson is an American experimental performance artist, composer and musician who plays violin and keyboards and sings in a variety of experimental music and art rock styles. Initially trained as a sculptor, Anderson did her first performance-art piece in the late 1960s...
in their duo ‚Yellow Pony’, and his electronic ambient drone release Hudson River Wind Meditations
Hudson River Wind Meditations
Hudson River Wind Meditations is the twentieth solo album by Lou Reed, a collection of meditational music on the Sounds True record label. It is a departure from his regular rock output. It is named for one of New York City's key features, the Hudson River. It is inner music to relax the body, mind...
.
The media reception of MM3 generally considers Reed tapping into a different part of his creative energy again, that for many years only did hold a place at the fringe of his rock output, reclaiming a part of his „musical legacy that has been neglected for too long“ .
Reed found musical partners in Ulrich Krieger on electric saxophone and Sarth Calhoun on various electronics. Krieger, who is professor for composition and experimental sound practices at the California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
, brings with him experience as a performer of contemporary composed music, Free improvisation
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
, Experimental Rock
Experimental rock
Experimental rock or avant-garde rock is a type of music based on rock which experiments with the basic elements of the genre, or which pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique....
and Noise. Beside writing original electronic and chamber music, he had arranged Metal Machine Music for classical chamber ensemble in 2002.
Sarth Calhoun produces electronic soundscapes and processes his fellow performers in real time. He uses the electronic controller Continuum Fingerboard and the Kyma
Kyma (sound design language)
Kyma is a visual programming language for sound design used by musicians, researchers, and sound designers. In Kyma, a user programs a multiprocessor DSP by graphically connecting modules on the screen of a Macintosh or Windows computer.-Background:...
Workstation. He is member of the band Lucibel Crater.
The group premiered at REDCAT
REDCAT
Opened November 2003, REDCAT is a contemporary arts center that is an extension of CalArts campus, and serves as the professional presenting arm of the Institute...
, part of the Disney Concert Hall Complex in downtown Los Angeles, California
on October 2 and 3, 2008, under the title "Unclassified: Lou Reed and Ulrich Krieger". A live double CD of these shows, entitled The Creation of the Universe
The Creation of the Universe
The Creation of the Universe is Lou Reed's Metal Machine Trio's first album. Metal Machine Trio is Lou Reed's band that was formed in 2008 with Ulrich Krieger and Sarth Calhoun to play music inspired by Reed's 1975 album Metal Machine Music. The first concerts of the group were on October 2 and 3,...
, was released December 22, 2008 on Reed's own label Best Seat in the House. The group played further shows at the New York Blender Theater at Gramercy on April 23 and 24, 2009.
Band members
- Lou Reed - guitar, electronics
- Ulrich Krieger - tenor saxophone, live-electronics
- Sarth Calhoun - fingerboard continuum, live processing