Concerto for Allsorts: Various and Sundry
Greg Headley
1997-1999

A variety of music captured on a four-track cassette recorder (on “permanent” loan from Linc Wheeler) in a small Los Angeles apartment, northwest section of Hollywood to be exact, sometimes with the windows open so as to capture that Southern California evening vibe. A close listen will reveal slamming doors, buzzing helicopters, and passing cars; sometimes intended and sometimes not. Various and sundry.

Sunday, Ambience
Blues for William Burroughs
Revolving
Open to Interpretation
Trembling
180 Degrees
Burning palm trees, water, and wine
Breathing, not working
A Relief Map
Sunday, Isolated
Following
Hold at Eye Level
All Distractions Fall Away

There is a thematic arch to the music. Although these pieces, and many more, were written and recorded over three years, each new composition and recording was a continuation of the earlier work. Ideas were revisited and reworked and experiments from earlier sessions were adapted and conducted anew (given the limited equipment and means this was partly by necessity). Some of the great French musique concrete pioneers: Luc Ferrari, Pierre Henry, and Francois Bayle in particular, were, conceptually, an influence on this music though this is not often reflected directly.

An aside: 4AD Records were interested in some of this music for a time. Discussions ensued and, as will happen, nothing came of it. Nice people though.