Quid Pro Quagga

Running Time: 6:27

Released On: "Monolithic Blocks" - Various Artists (85 tracks)

Label: Camembert Électrique

Release Date: 30th March 2022

Format: Download

Buy Link: Bandcamp

Serendipity and the joyous sonic creations of Michael Ridge,

aka Zebra Mu, not to mention the man behind Quagga Curious Sounds, pictured performing live here at Gringo's in Norwich.

We'd wanted to do something for Yann Pillas' latest compilation project for a while, but we had nothing in our ideas folder that really suited the particular noise concept. Then Michael posted this wonderful video one Monday afternoon;

"Battered metal tray played with a junk metal tone arm."

That's a doctored still from it in the track graphic, looks pretty cool, doesn't it? Oh, and the sounds that emanated from it, like the lid of a Martian cylinder slowly unscrewing on Horsell Common. I looked to my right and saw the tears of joy leaking from Skit's eyes, it was like he had ascended to atonal heaven, and I knew then that he wanted to play with it as much as I did.

"Ooh, I'm sampling that!" I posted, supporting blatant theft.

And we did, recording it in all its glory, cutting chunks and snippets alike, and toying with them mercilessly, as is our way. The structure of the piece was inspired by the title of the project itself, producing pieces in blocks, intersected with silences, amplifying the noise effect when it cuts in. And thus we had our finished work. But would Mr. Mu approve?

"Ha ha love it!! Awesome stuff, I don't mind whatsoever!"

"Santa nice list." Said Skit.

P.S. We owe Michael a further debt for having a label starting with the letter Q, coz like we needed Kill Putin! for a K, we were stuck for one of them for our A-Z of the Magic Bullet too!

o

LINK: https://michaelridge.wordpress.com

JUMP CUT JIVE