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VISIBLE SOUND - Nikola Tesla's Mattergy

Format: CD Label & Cat.Number: Soleilmoon Recordings - SOL 203 CD Release Year: 2025 Note: reworkings of archive recordings by C.M. VON HAUSSWOLFF and MAURICIO REYES: a "TESLA COIL" (1990) recorded on tour with PHAUSS + HAFLER TRIO in a laboratory in Seattle, and "The Mexico Tapes" (1973), capturings of NIKOLA TESLA's arrangements to experiment with sounds via turbines and wireless resonant electric circuits, for Canal 4 / Mexico City TV -- now resulting in two phantastic "industrial drone" pieces, resembling old H30 !!! Price (incl. 19% VAT): €15.00 More Info Catalog number SOL 203 CD • UPC 753907790320 CD in Digipak • Weight: 2 oz / 56 gm THE CCD2 LAB In 1990, CM von Hausswolff, while on a tour in the United States with Karkowski/Bilting, PHAUSS, and The Hafler Trio, visited Dale Travous’ CCD2 Laboratory located in the basement of the Kalberer Hotel Supply building in Seattle. Travous, who had a keen interest in the scientific and artistic contributions of Nikola Tesla, had constructed a large Tesla coil in his laboratory. During this visit, CM von Hausswolff recorded a demonstration of the coil, and the resulting sound was incorporated into PHAUSS’ composition, "Nothing But The Truth," which was released on compact disc in 1991 by the Anckarström label in Gothenburg, Sweden, and later re-released in 2022 by Room40 in Brisbane, Australia. This meeting with Travous also led to a collaboration involving The Hafler Trio/PHAUSS and Annie Sprinkle, aimed at advocating for NATO's withdrawal from Iceland. The project utilized two Megavolt Tesla Transmitters, which included four Hewlett Packard function generators, a laser modulator, an SW receiver, and metal runes, culminating in a video and a series of photographs taken by Arthur S. Aubry. The sounds produced by these Tesla coils have been integrated into this production. VISIBLE SOUND: The Mexico Tapes In 1973, the Federal Electrical Commission in Mexico City was involved in the production of a television program for Canal 4 (Channel 4) designed to highlight Nikola Tesla’s sound experiments with turbines and wireless resonant electric circuits. This initiative was named “Visible Sound.” Ultimately, due to concerns regarding low viewership, the decision was made not to air the show. Since then, it has been classified as “Lost Media,” archived within annals of the now-defunct Canal 4 in Mexico City. During the sound experiments, members of the Commission employed early synthesizers and circuit boards to capture and manipulate the vibrations produced by these devices. Fast forward to 2024, Telekinett successfully obtained these important recordings, which had been preserved on magnetic tape by a former employee who had worked on their optimization and mastering (Mr. “______” wishes to remain anonymous). These recordings have since been creatively repurposed by Mauricio Reyes and Carl Michael von Hausswolff, resulting in this potent sound research project: “VISIBLE SOUND: Nikola Tesla’s Mattergy.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "You may not have heard of the group Visible Sound before, but it's a duo with Carl Michael von Hausswolff and Mauricio Reyes. Their name comes from a Mexican TV program, "designed to highlight Nikola Tesla’s sound experiments with turbines and wireless resonant electric circuits. This initiative was named “Visible Sound.” Ultimately, due to concerns regarding low viewership, the decision was made not to air the show. Since then, it has been classified as “Lost Media,” archived within the annals of the now-defunct Canal 4 in Mexico City. During the sound experiments, members of the Commission employed early synthesisers and circuit boards to capture and manipulate the vibrations produced by these devices." Recordings made for this TV program made their way to Von Hauswolff and Reyes, who created two lengthy pieces of music. For Hauswolff, it's not the first encounter with Nikolai Tesla's coils, as he worked with them on a project with The Hafler Trio, Annie Sprinkle and PHAUSS, Von Hauswolff's duo at the time. Recordings from that project are also used in this work. To stay with the Tesla theme, this music sparkles and buzzes electric in two long pieces, clocking at almost 67 minutes. A lot is going on, unlike some of Von Hauswolff's other work, which is more on the minimalist side. Every nook and cranny on this album is filled with sound, mostly abstract sounds, but an occasional vice pops up, and at some point, birds and insects. Sometimes these sounds are long form, but there are some instances in which the music is cut short and almost rhythmic element pops up, but, as with the rest, the music keeps moving and one section flows seemingly with great ease into the next. I don't know if their treatments are all computer-based, or maybe there is some kind of analogue treatment; I doubt that, but can't say why. The best point of reference I can point to is early 90s music by The Hafler Trio, the same kind of electronic treatments and collage approach, even when Visible Sound take a more radical approach in treatments and very few moments of spacious quietness. Not music to sit by and relax, but something to play loud and drown yourself in." [FdW/Vital Weekly]