Australian Ross Bolleter's new disc features five compositions. Four of them are solo works: "Unfinished Business" for ruined piano; "Under Rookwood" for double bass; "Labyrinth Tango" for accordion; and "Piano Dreaming" for ruined pianola. "That Time (Simulplay II)" is for a duo of prepared piano and double bass. Of course, with Ross, this thumbnail description tells not much of the story. So we'll let Ross say a few words. Step on down.
"During the drought that never ended at Nallan Sheep Station I confess to recording on the Ruined Piano at night. I'd hide in the freezing shed crouched under the piano waiting for Dave to turn off the TV, switch off the generator and go to bed. Straight after, I would drag up an oil drum, feel the broken teeth of the Pianola under my fingers, then play con bravura passione for the applause of millions of cicadas through the shivery shuddery graveyard shift."
Unfinished Business (Winter 1987) for Glenys, Amanda and Julian; created on a ruined piano in the Murchison Goldfields 700 kilometers north east of Perth, Western Australiaa; recorded at Nallan Sheep Station, July 1987 by a Marantz Superscope; initial mastering at Goodshit Studio, September 1987. Under Rookwood (1995-6, 1998-9) for Susan Murphy; recorded and mixed at Sound Mine Studio, July 1995; re-mixed and edited at Sound Mine Studios, December 1998-January 1999. That Time (Simulplay II) (1989) for Tos Mahoney; presented by Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts as part of Artrage 1989. Labyrinth Tango (1992) for Eric Harrison; improvised on the run at the PICA (Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts) Night Out '92; unknown recording engineer; recorded left channel only on a TDK 'D' tape. Piano Dreaming (1987, 1993, 1998-9) for Rob and Janet Muir; recorded at Nallan Sheep Station, July 1987; mechanism sounds recorded in August 1993; two outdoor performances recorded in Rob Muir's backyard under the bamboos in December 1998; mixed, edited and produced at Sound Mine Studios, December 1998-January 1999. Mastered at Sound Mine Studios, North Perth, September 1998-February 1999. This is a WARPS production - WARPS: World Association for Ruined Piano Studios. This CD can equally well be played beginning with the last track and proceeding sequentially to the first
