Oramix

A few weeks back I came across The Science Museum's Oramix competition - the challenge was to create a new piece out of samples of Daphne Oram's work. Having nothing better to do I ended up constructing something out of a couple of short samples of what sounded like a zither which had been sped up massively and soaked with tape echo. It took me a few hours and I posted it on the relevant Soundcloud page and forgot all about it. I didn't think it was up to much really, but I never do.



Last week I got an email from the Science Museum and this is what it said.


Dear Peter,

The results are in and after adding up the scores it turned out we had a ‘photo finish’ on our hands. Unfortunately you didn’t win, but we would like to give Orbit a special mention, because it still had an impressive overall score and Brian Eno called it “very engaging, intricate and complex in mood. I wanted this to go on and on.” We think that’s still a pretty amazing result. Of course we understand that you wanted to win OraMIX, but the competition was incredibly tough. We want you to know that we think you submitted a great track.


Which is all very lovely. Now I looked up this Brian Eno chap on the internet and apparently he's very famous. I think he likes my track because it sounds like one of his. Ahem.

More here. The winning track is very lovely btw.

5 comments:

Sarah said...

The planets of Marsh and Eno are aligning...
AMAZING.

Colin said...

Is this your closest brush with Brain One? The first adjective that popped into my head when listening to your track was 'effulgent', but that turns out to mean 'shining brightly' which it does, but doesn't quite capture it. Your Orbit makes me think of the glow of sunlight in a copper bowl on a hot day. I agree with St. John le Baptiste de la Salle that it should go on for much longer. More please!

Peter said...

hi Colin - sorry, always a bit tardy on picking up on comments. no, i did meet Brain One before in the street in Ladbroke Grove and chatted to him a bit. He had a graphic equaliser in a tartan shopping bag.
Glad you like the tune and i liked your description of it which makes it sound a lot better than it is (or at least better than i think it is, in the absence of an objective truth!)...

blah blip said...

Wanted to dislike it, but it was lovely - reminded of a hot Radox bath after a hard days hill walking.

Anonymous said...

I liked yours best Pete (Pete Best?)

burning dog

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