Total time: 62:37

April-May 2016 Mount Mitchell, TN

Cover drawing by Christopher Short

Played on the Guitartronics rig - new three module approach

A fascinating narrative told in sound from the perspective of a wandering butterfly. Listen and imagine yourself shrinking down into a microcosmic world filled with lush soundscapes while floating above strange and beautiful landscapes.

This is a story of a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis as it begins to explore the world on newly created wings, floating ethereally from giant blossoms to wondrous streams of luminescent ambiance. This tale is told in bold textural colors taking one on a sonic journey to unknown territories where simple shadows can become some lurking thing ready to pounce, yet as we fly closer, the shadows fall away, transforming into unexpected vistas of pure beauty.

For this collection I was interested in creating impressionistic sound paintings that had a more light and positive vibe, an influx of soothing energy and one that creates a space for reflective states of being.

My approach was to improvise in the moment and make an intimate music. At the same time I wanted to continue to explore melodic forms infused into the soundscape as well as continue my investigations in combining various forms of electronic/ambient music. These explorations resulted for me, realms which were simultaneously new and strange, yet with still filled with pure fluidic beauty.

Some of the inspiration for this project came from my recent listening to early electronic music. Pioneers such as Delia Derbyshire, Daphne Oram, Vladimir Ussachevsky, Raymond Scott and Pierre Schaeffer.
In those early pieces I found a sense of wonder that came through the composers themselves. Infused in this album was to return to earlier forms of ambiance, to revisit them and regain that sense of wonder, that sheer joy in the sound painting using this particular palette of colors.

When things happen during improvisation/process/looping, you have to deal with the music coming back at you in some way in, I find the best way is to go with what happens in the moment...As Jackson Pollock once said "I don't use the accident. I deny the accident." This approach for me yields a music that is fresh and dynamic. Taking a stance that what happens is what was meant to happen at that given moment, it is in many ways like life. We have to deal with the circumstances we find ourselves in and hopefully deal with them in a positive way. I find the music on this album, does this well and has that magic something where things came together almost effortlessly. I hope you will find this sentiment as well and may it bring you joy.

Happy journeys - Christopher