I think this is one of the first things I recorded. It’s the first track on the 8.81 – 1.83 cassette.
This was done in my bedroom at my parents’ house in Lakewood, CA in 1981. The title is taken from an Oblique Strategies card, as I was fixated on Eno’s “Discreet Music” at the time.
The found recordings were obtained by hanging a mic outside the window.
Found some more stuff.
Groceries* is an R. Stevie Moore cover.
Damn, this tape is hissy.
Mark Griffey interviewed me earlier this year for his ongoing Ultravillage project. While some aspects of the conversation seem a bit, um, exaggerated — I attempted to tone down certain portions after Mark graciously offered to have me fact-check — it’s flattering and more than a little overwhelming to see all this in print. And hey, there’s an embarrassing period photo to top it all off. </humblebrag>
Funharm?
Funharm was a low-fidelity home recording project that existed primarily from 1981 through 1988. Most of the tracks consisted of improvised synth, guitar, and cheap rhythm machine, recorded straight to cassette, then overdubbed on a modified cassette deck.
Funharm issued two 90-minute cassettes that covered the first three years. For now, the 8.81 – 1.83 and Segments cassettes can be gotten via Discogs, and cassettes, .mp3s, FLACs and other formats can be obtained on Bandcamp.
Other older material is currently being located, edited, and cleaned up (but not too much). New music is being fussed over, as well. News regarding subsequent tracks and releases will be posted here.
If you’d like to buy stuff, need more information, or just want to chat, you can reach me at paul [at] funharm [dot] com.
Thanks for checking in.