The Wachsmann / Hutchinson duo has existed since the 1980’s. It grew out of the influential Chamberpot ensemble that started in the early 70’s, and which recorded on Bead Records. Since then the duo has been performing in a wide variety of venues and at times in extended groups.

The music in this recording is taken from three London concerts. The six tracks contain music that is wide ranging, provocative, haunting often with juxtapositions of unlikely and seemingly unreconcilable elements that include the tonal, the abstract, the absurd, the funny, and the sublime. Sometimes with stunning disparity the music tells an unusual story.

Both musicians are concerned with live electronics as a spontaneous and fluent extension of their musical intents – be it with different approaches.

Philipp Wachsmann’s electronics began with two contact mics on the violin and later introduced self made circuits such as ring modulation. Later he added further analogue and then digital transformation as they became available. His electronics complement, extend and feed his acoustic playing from the use of simple sound reinforcement to the dazzling and complex use of signal processing (and manipulation), with the acoustic violin remaining at the heart of it.

Matthew Hutchinson began primarily as an acoustic pianist but later relied increasingly on electric piano due to the lack of suitable pianos at many venues. His work on electric piano led naturally to the additions of transformations and to extend sound generation (namely synthesisers). He produces sounds in such a way that his electronically generated sources often gain the sensitivity and type of presence more normally associated with acoustic instruments. 

Recordings by Tim Fletcher

Cover and graphics by Catherine Hope-Jones