Satellite Stutter
It has been a few years since I've reviewed work(s) by Clay. I believe it was back in th' early days of the Olympia Experimental Music Festival that I first reviewed him. At any rate, th' title pretty much tells all... synth/sample structured improv that will (both) annoy & amaze you! This is NOT music for the timid, or uninitiated... don't be expecting "sweet nothings", or "grand orchestrals". OTOH, if your ears have a sense of adventure, you'll find this excursion into pandemonium most enjoyable. It reminds me (in spots) of some of th' late-night adventures we used to have in grape-growing country (North East, PA), with the shortwave radio... fading in/out/between stations & makin' our OWN forms of music. Many of the movements/rhythms are in a robotic vein (like a vacuum cleaner gone NUTZ), with little relationship to melody or harmony, but if you listen deeply, you'll find a strange set of harmonics that you've never heard before. I enjoyed this one a lot - it gets a HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those listeners who aren't afraid of a sonic challenge. Contact him via his SITE, or via snail to the label, at Artifact Recordings, 1374 Francisco Street, Berkeley, CA 94702

Recent Works
This was (originally) a submission for the 1998 Experimental Music Festival, & got a (perfunctory) review (by Kramtones) in issue # 32, but I decided (after listening back through it again) that it just HAD to be reviewed for th' 'zine!  It's one of the first vocal electronic loop things I've heard that had enough "content" to merit a second (& now third/fourth) listen.  Subtle is the keyword here... compositions that require close attention, but provide rewards that may not be (sonically) recognized for days, months, years!  Some would view this as a disturbing set of sonics, but I found it to be a VERY intriguing listen! The vox fade out into a space journey that will haunt & mystify your mind. Many of these pieces also (appear to) have video components associated with them, & we would LOVE to see/hear the whole work(s), Clay.  Be sure & send them our way when you've assembled them, eh?  This gets a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, but only for those with high degrees of "bold" in their blood!

Recent Works
The five pieces of music on this CD are completely experimental. He controls computers in real-time sound processing similar to 20th century composers Steve Reich, Carl Stone or maybe even Charles Dodge of which you may be more familiar. Instant sound collage. "Brenda's Truthful Hanging(1998)" is a structured improvisation using three different stories about law enforcement as sound sources. Segments andphrases from the stories are randomly selected and processed in real-time. "Run On Sentence (1997)" is a duet (?) with bassist Todd Sickafoose improvising against a magnetic tape. The tape was created from bass samples processed in Soundhack and Pro Tools. A video was created in Adobe Premiere of processed images of signs and billboards.In performance the bassist is centered in front of the video projection. Through the use of an envelope follower, the amplitude of the instrument controls a spot light which allows Todd to control the intensity of the projected images. "Brenda Improvisation (1998)" is aspontaneous improv/variation on sources from the first piece. "Jerry Deals (1998)"  is the result of using the Supercollider software synthesis programming environment. And "Torquewrenches (1995)" which again makes use of text, is centered around a poem by Kevin Opstedal called 'Night Sounds'. Each line of the text was processed in Soundhack and infinitely regenerated into a continually evolving sound environment.  This kind of artist is exactly what I'm looking for in a participant in The Experimental Music Festival. An obvious excellent choice. Way Cool!

Recent Works
Clay's name came to me first when I subscribed to the LEV-list he is maintaining at Calarts. In a way he illustrates the multidisciplinary state of the arts. He describes himself as a composer and video artist, but to me that seems an underestimation. He is truly a digital artist, with a deep technological and practical knowledge of what creativity with computers and electronic devices is about. It is a pity I could include only his music. If you ever get the chance, go and see one of his performances!