Realms by Michael Kaiser

Realms is music for solo guitar and drone. All Realms are connected. Realms is a one-way journey. There is only before and after Realms.
Will you take the risk?

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Created solely with electric guitar and a granular synthesizer, Realms is the debut solo release from guitarist Michael Kaiser. Listened separately or as a whole, Realmsis a seven-song documentation of an evolving drone, with each piece performed live to create random interactions, culminating in an album that evokes a sense of both kinetic, glacial soundscapes and volatile motion. The pieces are a merger of improvisation and deliberate structure, with shimmering harmonics and vast swirls of tonalities evoking earlier minimalist players like Tony Conrad, Henry Flynt, and La Monte Young, or even the Sun City Girls at their most spatial.
Since his teen years in late-‘80s Northeast Florida, Kaiser has been a discerning participant in the experimental/noise/psych underground. As a second guitarist and counterpoint to Neil Hagerty’s electric excursion, Kaiser was a touring and recording member of Royal Trux (1992-1994), including performances in the states and the UK, at Lollapalooza, and appearing on that band’s celebrated 1993 release, Cats and Dogs (Drag City).
After his tenure with the Trux, he then devoted years studying Indian music, including intensive private lessons on Vina (Carnatic) and self-study of Sitar (Hindustani Classical). As a bass guitarist, Kaiser collaborated with Jacksonville, Florida drone-rock band Jon Todd; including a 1999 appearance on the Martin Bisi-produced split Jon Todd/Fin Fang Foom 10” release (Stripmine Recordings.)

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Technical Details

Realms tuning:
D2-38
A2-21
D3-28
F3-15
A3+28
E4+41

Realms is comprised of two instruments, electric guitar with effects and a granular synthesizer providing an evolving drone.

Method: For this album I detuned my guitar to a random chord as a way to challenge myself to do things I wouldn’t normally do. I kept the same settings on my guitar throughout so all pieces would feel connected. Everything was improvised and recorded in one take. I recorded over twenty tracks in this session and selected the best for you.

Recorded with a 1979 Guild S300-D guitar, EarthQuaker Devices pedals, Ernie Balls strings, Jim Dunlop Prime Tone pick and Fluss granular synth by Bram Bos.

A musician since the mid 80's.
Former guitarist for Royal Trux who played on their album Cats and Dogs. Former Bassist for Jon Todd. Now making Realms.

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