Plunderphonics is known for its use
of digital sampling and manipulation techniques, which allow artists to create
new compositions from existing recordings. This was pioneered by composer John
Oswald who uses different samples to create his own songs. Similar to mashups,
a technique that combines two similar songs, Oswald used sounds that did not
originate in songs. This is recognizable in the first sounds of his album 69
Plunderphonics 96, in which he uses a sound that is very similar to the startup
sounds of apple computers. I think he altered the sound to change its pitch and
gradually changes the synchronization of the different notes within the chord.
This gets replaced by a voice that could have originated from a TV show or
advertisement. The song really starts with a voice screaming, “Power”, the
instruments start playing and the word “Power” gets accompanied by different
phrases rhythmically. The percussions lead the rhythm of this song. A speech that could have originated from a TV
prayer session arises. This passionate but heavenly speech gets accompanied by
rock and roll style music- drums and e-guitars. Maybe a juxtaposition to the
prayer speech or underlining the fact that the person talks very passionately
and that this fits more to rock and roll than to a holy mass. The next song
starts with percussions that sound like an engine starting. At first, the
rhythm is kind of random but normalizes and The-Beetles-like singing gets
introduced. Then, a “normal” singing part disrupts the slightly chaotic rhythm,
but this gets cut off almost immediately by an undefinable pattern, a mixture
of drums, voices, and sound effects. A scream introduces a more traditional
part with sounds that could have originated from an organ. The singing voices
seem to be a compilation of famous 60s/70s bands and singers. I think I
recognized The Beetles, Queens, Michael Jackson, and Elvis Presley. An
interesting way to experience music and a great example of how to use already-established
pieces of art and create something new and original. With the help of lyrics,
Oswald was capable to give new meaning to the songs and create compelling and
well-composed songs.
Sarah Kumar Dr. Bernd Herzogenrath The Future of (American) Music 06 Mar. 2023 Listening Report on John Oswald: Plexure According to John Oswald, “[a] plunderphone is a recognizable sonic quote, using the actual sound of something familiar which has already been recorded” (Lecture Slides 18). However, only if the source stays recognizable can it be called plunderphonics. In his album Plexure , several songs are played back and mixed together, thus creating a new sound. This is interesting because while the excerpts of songs that are used are recognizable or at least sound familiar to some degree, played backwards and mashed up as they are in Plexure , they create a new sound. Like on the cover of the album, on which a collage making up a man can be seen, the mixing of different songs played backwards gives a new feeling to something known. The way the songs are mixed makes them unintelligible. The meaning of the words of the original recordings are not able to be compr...
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