White Out (band)
Encyclopedia
White Out is a two piece experimental music group from New York
that formed in winter 1995, whose aim is to create
"an incendiary new music". The bands core members are Tom Surgal and Lin Culbertson, but they often work with other musicians, most notably renowned producer/musician/filmmaker Jim O'Rourke
on two albums.
The first of their albums, Red Shift
, came out in 1998 on Sonic Youth
frontman Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace! label. Moore has collaborated with the band in the live arena and been a long-time supporter. Shift was a collaboration with David Nuss, long time member of experimental New York group No-Neck Blues Band
. It was described as "son-of-a-Bitches Brew" in a complimentary review in Alternative Press.
Their second album, Drunken Little Mass, came out in 2000 (on the same label), and featured another renowned collaborator in the shape of Grammy Award winning rock renaissance man Jim O'Rourke
. This time their work was described by XLR8R as "an improvised intergalactic escapade into the nether regions of the universe... a universe of chaos, tension and beauty."
2005 saw a move to London based ATP Recordings
for a third full length release, China Is Near
, their most acclaimed set to date. O'Rourke
returned for this release, and was joined by virtuoso percussionist and frequent John Zorn
collaborator William Winant. One review stated, "China speaks in an alien tongue that nonetheless conveys wonder and horror in equal measure... any discussion of truly adventurous music today must include White Out", and another "Noise as a genre is a bit too reductive and Improv too paradoxically pedantic to describe what's truly going on here, but aficionados of either of those scenes will find more than enough to love." Pitchfork Media gave it a 7.5 rating and noted the "astonishing variety of percussive textures" whilst also praising the album's "molten, form-shifting splendor."
Other comrades in instrumental arms over the years have included ex-Minuteman
Mike Watt
, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and current Wilco
member Nels Cline
, and DJ Olive
. White Out has performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties
(in America in 2002 and the UK in 2007), CMJ and SKIF II festivals. They were also guests of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble and have gigged from coast to coast and in Europe.
2008 performances have included a March performance at The Stone in their home town of New York (a venue whose musical director is currently John Zorn
, with collaborator Thurston Moore
and one at No Fun Fest (also in New York) in May with Carlos Giffoni and C. Spencer Yeh.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
that formed in winter 1995, whose aim is to create
"an incendiary new music". The bands core members are Tom Surgal and Lin Culbertson, but they often work with other musicians, most notably renowned producer/musician/filmmaker Jim O'Rourke
Jim O'Rourke (musician)
Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
on two albums.
Biography
Soon after they formed, the highly charged "freakout" style of the group's early live shows quickly established their reputation as ones to watch. Using a uniquely diverse arsenal of instruments (including analog synthesizers, autoharp, flute, drums, gongs, bells, chains, etc.), they attempted to develop a radically new and fluid sound, and to this end decided on an open-ended invitation to other like minded musicians to join them both live and on record.The first of their albums, Red Shift
Red shift
-Science:* Redshift, the increase of wavelength of detected electromagnetic radiation with respect to the original wavelength of the emission* Red shift, an informal term for a bathochromic shift...
, came out in 1998 on Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
frontman Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace! label. Moore has collaborated with the band in the live arena and been a long-time supporter. Shift was a collaboration with David Nuss, long time member of experimental New York group No-Neck Blues Band
No-Neck Blues Band
The No-Neck Blues Band, also known as NNCK, is a seven-member free-form improvisational musical collective from New York City. Formed in 1992, the original band was of eight members , and has practiced weekly in a space in Harlem since...
. It was described as "son-of-a-Bitches Brew" in a complimentary review in Alternative Press.
Their second album, Drunken Little Mass, came out in 2000 (on the same label), and featured another renowned collaborator in the shape of Grammy Award winning rock renaissance man Jim O'Rourke
Jim O'Rourke (musician)
Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
. This time their work was described by XLR8R as "an improvised intergalactic escapade into the nether regions of the universe... a universe of chaos, tension and beauty."
2005 saw a move to London based ATP Recordings
ATP Recordings
ATP Recordings is a record label that was started in 2001 by London concert promoter Barry Hogan of Foundation/All Tomorrow's Parties. It was originally created to bring out a compilation cd after the Tortoise-curated All Tomorrow's Parties event...
for a third full length release, China Is Near
China is Near
China is Near is a 1967 Italian drama film written and directed by Marco Bellocchio. It is a satirical movie about the struggle for political power...
, their most acclaimed set to date. O'Rourke
O'Rourke
The O'Rourkes were the historic rulers of Breifne.O'Rourke may refer to several different people:-People:* Andrew O'Rourke, judge and politician from New York State* Beto O'Rourke , American entrepreneur and civic leader...
returned for this release, and was joined by virtuoso percussionist and frequent John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
collaborator William Winant. One review stated, "China speaks in an alien tongue that nonetheless conveys wonder and horror in equal measure... any discussion of truly adventurous music today must include White Out", and another "Noise as a genre is a bit too reductive and Improv too paradoxically pedantic to describe what's truly going on here, but aficionados of either of those scenes will find more than enough to love." Pitchfork Media gave it a 7.5 rating and noted the "astonishing variety of percussive textures" whilst also praising the album's "molten, form-shifting splendor."
Other comrades in instrumental arms over the years have included ex-Minuteman
Minutemen (band)
Minutemen were an American hardcore punk band formed in San Pedro, California in 1980. Composed of guitarist D. Boon, bassist Mike Watt and drummer George Hurley, Minutemen recorded four albums and eight EPs before Boon's death in an automobile accident in December 1985...
Mike Watt
Mike Watt
Michael David Watt is an American bassist, singer and songwriter.He is best known for co-founding the rock bands Minutemen, dos, and Firehose; , he is also the bassist for the reunited Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen...
, acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and current Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
member Nels Cline
Nels Cline
Nels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
, and DJ Olive
DJ Olive
DJ Olive is an American disc jockey and turntablist active in free improvisation, jazz and illbient music. He is often credited with coining the latter term....
. White Out has performed at the All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties (music festival)
All Tomorrow's Parties is a music festival which takes place at Camber Sands holiday camp in East Sussex and Butlin's holiday camp in Minehead, Somerset, England....
(in America in 2002 and the UK in 2007), CMJ and SKIF II festivals. They were also guests of the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble and have gigged from coast to coast and in Europe.
2008 performances have included a March performance at The Stone in their home town of New York (a venue whose musical director is currently John Zorn
John Zorn
John Zorn is an American avant-garde composer, arranger, record producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist. Zorn is a prolific artist: he has hundreds of album credits as performer, composer, or producer...
, with collaborator Thurston Moore
Thurston Moore
Thurston Joseph Moore is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label...
and one at No Fun Fest (also in New York) in May with Carlos Giffoni and C. Spencer Yeh.
Albums
- Red ShiftRed shift-Science:* Redshift, the increase of wavelength of detected electromagnetic radiation with respect to the original wavelength of the emission* Red shift, an informal term for a bathochromic shift...
(with David Nuss of NNCK) (Ecstatic Peace, 1998) - Drunken Little Mass (with Jim O'Rourke) (Ecstatic Peace, 2000)
- China Is NearChina is NearChina is Near is a 1967 Italian drama film written and directed by Marco Bellocchio. It is a satirical movie about the struggle for political power...
(with Jim O'Rourke and William Winant) (ATP Recordings, 2005) - Senso (with Jim O'Rourke and Thurston Moore) (Ecstatic Peace, 2009)