The Caribou & Moose Variations

The basis for this collage is an actual 1940s-era recording of an anonymous man, describing his ill-fated caribou & moose hunting trip in Alaska. Over the course of a very hypnotic, droning narrative, it slowly becomes apparent that the man has become hopelessly lost in the wilderness. This tale is alternately enhanced and/or obfuscated by an ongoing flow of vivid, abstract sound-scapes and bizarre sound bites. As the story starts to both ravel and un-ravel, so too does the broadcast itself, as the countless sound elements all twist about each other in a flowing, dreamlike haze. Featuring yours truly on mixing board, field recordings, turntables, found media, assorted musical instruments, random objects, electronic processing and other evil gadgetry.

Partially composed and partially improvised live on Sonarchy Radio, KEXP-FM Seattle, WA in 2004 at Jack Straw Foundation. Rebroadcast on the The Acousmatic Theater Hour on WFMU-FM Jersey City in April 2009.

Part One

Our hero arrives in Alaska and things quickly start to go awry.

Part Two

Concern deepens as our Caribou-hunting protagonist realizes that he may be in over his head.