Displaced Meanings: 8 1/2 Bits

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In 2009 Damian Marhulets wrote his graduation thesis titled „From play back machine to music instrument: Studies on the history of composing with the turntable“. Shortly afterwards he began his new solo project Displaced Meanings, in which he occupied himself with the possibilities of the turntable at various levels. His major interest lie particularly in the new kinds of possibilities offered by digital technology. Thus he uses for instance the Time Control Vinly System „Ms. Pinky“, which enables communication between the vinyl and audio software Max/MSP, thereby opening up space for sound manipulation. In place of a typical DJ setup with two turntables Damian works only with one turntable extended, however, through other electronic instruments or effect machines and self programmed instruments. The turntable is considered here as a musical instrument, with which one can concentrate on hidden details in trusted musical objects and through which new structural formations and possibilities for meaning can be formed.

The current piece ”Displaced Meanings: 8 ½ Bits“ treats eight-bit games from Atari playing consoles. The Atari ROM’s are read by emulation programmes, the run of the game and extreme glitches – like transformations of played-back music are controlled in real-time. The music itself is based on various improvisation structures and plays either with appropriate associations or suddenly takes on a quite different direction and in this way attempts to produce totally new directions and associations with the games.