RICHARD FRANCIS/BRUCE RUSSELL

Bruce Russell has an MA in Political Studies, and works as an information designer. He has previously worked in the field of archives management, during which time he ran the National Radio sound archive. As a sound artist Russell is known mainly for his involvement in New Zealand's longest-running improvisational 'post-rock' group, the Dead C., although he also works in the field of radiophonic composition, and records as a solo artist and with the trio A Handful of Dust. He performs with electric guitar, electronic devices and analogue tapes. Bruce also runs the internationally respected record label Corpus Hermeticum.Richard Francis (b. 1977) is representing the younger generation of NZ musicians, working mainly with electronics and noise matters. Auckland based sound artist, he is active for the last 16 years composing and improvising, releasing sound work on CD/LP, performing live concerts and producing sound installations. He uses recordings of acoustic and electronic sounds, a tone generator, analogue electronics and computer to produce sound works. He has released solo and collaborative albums on a number of international and local record labels including Korm Plastics, Monochrome Vision, Drone Records, Scarcelight, Digitalis Industries, Last Visible Dog, CPP and his own record label CMR. Recent published collaborative CDs have been with Jason Kahn (USA) and Francisco Lopez (Spain). He has performed live concerts at Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Adam Art Gallery, De Affair Festival, Tuned City Festival, Issue Project Room etc. From 2003-2006 Francis co-operated ACROMA, an organization that coordinated a series of experimental music events in Auckland hosting local and visiting experimental sound artists. From 2004-2007 Francis was a member of the Alt.Music committee - New Zealands long running experimental music festival and performance series, and from 2005-06 served on the board of the Audio Foundation. This album is a collection of their collaborations in different modes. Three parts of "Garage" are their showcase of mail music exchange, the "Undead" piece is the justaposition of two solo sets from 2009, and "Live" is recorded during the concert at The Physics Room, Christchurch. Francis plays modular synthesizer and computer, and Russell uses guitar, tapes and clavioline (the old synthesizer like instrument invented in 1947). Limited edition of 500 copies in special packaging - custom made of textured paper, assembled by hand. Different surface tones and textures available: cream, vellum, pearl, verge, diamond white etc. Comes with two photos of modern buildings.(label info)