SH[eye]NWelcome to the complex duplex simplexity which is SH[eye]N—duplex, in that it is the collaboration of two musicians; simplex, in that our playing merges instinctively into a synchronized unity; and complex … well, just give it a listen! Our primary modus operandi is improvisation. The works presented here are one-take instrumental excursions performed by the two of us without rehearsal or overdubs, recorded live, directly to 2-track. While in this mode, we can safely guarantee that we have never played anything the same way twice, preferring to create our music on the knife-edge of the moment. That being said, we also on occasion delve into the creative possibilities of the multi-track studio environment. Hence we include a bonus track, “Demon Wind,” based on a riff which emerged during one of our extemporaneous sessions, but which became organized with lyrics, Bill’s vocals, and copious overdubs in order to produce a very different kind of sound painting. We hope you will enjoy the result of our collaboration—Bill Biersach: StickRalph Loynachan: BatterieBIO:Bill, a native Californian, is a Senior Lecturer in Composition at the USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles. He studied Electronic Music under Frederick Lesemann who had just introduced his experimental Synthesizer Techniques course at USC in the early seventies, in conjunction with Paul Beaver at his legendary Parasound Studio in Hollywood. Eventually Bill would establish himself as a teacher and share an office with his professor. His course on the Beatles has drawn national attention, and there are invariably waiting lists for his seminars on iconic figures in popular music. He has been exploring the possibilities of the Stick since 1986. The Railboard, the model on which he currently performs, is the latest in Emmett Chapman’s ever-evolving series of instruments. Bill uses it both as a stereophonic tapping instrument, and as a controller for multiple channels of synthesizers and processors.SH[eye]N was born in 2014, when Bill and Ralph met while waiting in line to see Geoff Emerick give a presentation on the making of Sgt. Pepper. Ralph, originally from Quebec, Canada, introduced himself that evening as a “third generation percussionist and mixed-media artist.” At age 12, as an honorary member of the Montreal Musicians Union, Ralph accompanied his great uncle, Lenny Rubin, with his orchestra. This opportunity energized his ongoing interest in rock and jazz performance, as did playing congas with Allen Toussaint in Florida, and experimental synthesized improvisation with Allen Strange and Lou Harrison at San Jose State. A lifetime of performance later, Ralph has adopted a wide berth of eclectic influences ranging from Afro-Cuban to Zappa.QUOTABLE QUOTES:Rock music goes hand in hand with a history of rebellion; however, form does not always evolve as quickly as theme. Such is the frustration of the fire-breathing poet and the creative soul: the predictability of formula and repetition-- to feel both the stagnancy and the pull of boundaries in a genre built on pushing them away. There are exceptions, of course, but surprises are few and far between. SH[eye]N is one of them. --Christina Molloy, Musicologist, NYU We crawl to the mountaintop, only to find out that wisdom cannot be communicated—it can only be lived. So too with the music of SH[eye]N There is not much point in trying to categorize it. Just sit back and listen, let it go to work on you, and you will know you are alive. —JaBaba Music—the shaman’s rattle that both scares the ghosts away, and stirs them up. SH[eye]N’s music stirs them up. —John Somers Blackman You guys are crazy! —Tricia Tahara, Vocalist The music just blew me away! I was so impressed with its free form and its...FlexibilityMany voicesCool rhythmsCultural & genre diversityAwesome richness & energySo filmic!Conveys mood so powerfullyWith the freedom of Phillip Glass, Miles Davis, Jacques Coursil, Coltrane, Charlie Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor etc.An art form in itself here, Bill! WOW!!! What a kick!! —Tobin Bell, Actor: Tootsie, The Firm, Ruby, Saw, Manson Family Vacation