Uncle Nobody Productions
Bret Ellerton
"All appearances and sound vibrations are like an illusion, a mirage, or a reflection; they are substances without the marks of reality. The mind that cognizes illusion is also like space; without center or boundary, it is beyond intellectual conception." -Savari
Bret Ellerton has worked in the field of music for many years now in a variety of contexts. His work ranges from experimental ambient soundscapes, phonography and film soundtracks, to collaborative ensemble work, as well as music for children. His ambient work aims to explore the intersection between mind and sound, deep listening, and appreciation for nonconceptual direct experience. Bret studied briefly with filmaker Stan Brakhage and was deeply inspired by his notion of 'sense as muse' - taking the inspiration for ones art directly from ones immediate sense experience.
Bret was also a founding member of the space rock group Maximum Coherence, which recorded three full length CD's self released under thier label In-Phase Records, before dissolving in 2003. They also created music for a series of short films that was performed live for the Northwest Film Forum's event titled 'Balance and Motion' in Seattle Washington. Bret has contiued to work with some members of Maxco in another project titled Climbing Mt Fuji.
Current projects are listed below, these include the Sound Dialogue Series. This is a collaberative effort involving two people in a sound exchange that mimics conversation. This proceeds by one person sending a short recorded work to the other person who then responds with another recorded work inspired by the first sound piece. This then goes back and forth, each work responding to the other preceeding works. There are certain rules and perameters which the sound dialogue participants follow.
-Audio samples below... click on image to go to specific pages and listening examples.
Sound Dialogue Series Volume 1 is a collaberation between Bret Ellerton and composer Michael Andrew Doherty. This work involves tonal music, ambient soundscape, and phonography. Both Bret and Michael explore elements of space in order to create a sonic experience that fosters a balance between the recorded work and the naturally present sounds of the immediate environment. See also www.myspace.com/bretellerton as well as www.michaeladoherty.com. The work is currently in process.
Sound Dialogue Series Volume 2 involves Bret Ellerton and Trevor Dutton. This work makes use of various electronic and acoustic instruments and sound generating devices. Currently in process.
Sound Dialogue Series Volume 3 involves Bret Ellerton and Michael Young. Electronic Dark Science Fiction sounding music. Currently in process.
Sound Dialogue Series Volume 4 between Bret Ellerton and Lucas Hilbert. Hear some of Lucas' music at www.myspace.com/strangerelevator. Currently in process
Ninny Cow Tea - 58 really short songs with lyrics by 3 to 5 year old children. 100% of the proceeds go to benefit New Discovery School.
Available now at www.cdbaby.com/ninnycow
Paradox Project - soundtracks for film maker Seth Paradox. Includes work for a film without dialogue in the vein of early german expressionistic horror, H.P. Lovecraft, La Jete and A Man Escaped among others. Also includes work for a short film evoking the qualities of the five elements and buddha wisdoms. Features performance by wind instrument player Michael Andrew Doherty www.michaeladoherty.com, vocalist Sonya Shaw, and drummer Mike Plympton.
The Volunteer Park Water Tower Observatory Project - A project organized by Robb Kunz of the Audible Semaphore Group www.audiblesemaphore.org. This involves various people choosing a particular viewing window in the Volunteer Park water tower in Seattle Washington and composing a short piece to mesh with the view. Bret's piece makes use of phonographic recordings at the water tower as well as metal bowl, harp, and acoustic guitar recordings.
Sound Dialog One - Bret Ellerton and Michael A Doherty Part One - Bret Ellerton Title: Grey sky, Wet roads, Fall Colored Fields, And Electricity Description: Recorded guitars on September 10, 2005. Recorded AM radio static and manipulated it with reverbs, other effects, and on board eq Thor’s day October 20, 2005.
Sound Dialog One - Bret Ellerton and Michael A Doherty Part Two - Michael A Doherty Title: Wet Sky, Forest, A Voice Description: Phonographic rain piece from forest floor near Chapel Hill, N.C. Nov 24, 2005. Tilaphone w/fx, dhol(drum), lap harp, and duduk, Recorded Dec 2005.
Sound Dialog One - Bret Ellerton and Michael A Doherty Part Three - Bret Ellerton Title: Alleyways Hold Hidden Beauty, The Pulse Of A City Description: Ambient sound recordings of four different alleyways in Seattle, Washington -mid January 2006 - manipulated rhythmically via computer. Hand drums, xylophone, sequential circuits six track, and reintroduction of some chords from part one – Recorded late January 2006.
Sound Dialog One - Bret Ellerton and Michael A Doherty Part Four - Michael a Doherty Title: On a Snowy Day, Elements of Sun-Drenched Desert and Rain-Soaked Forest Description: Phonographic elements: Rain piece from forest floor near Chapel Hill, N.C., a piece recorded on the ruins of a late mid-Pueblo period site in Spring of 2006 in central New Mexico, and a recording of cicadas, crickets, and other insects in Denver, Summer 2006. Turkish ney, tuning forks, hand drums, dhol, pitched tile fragments, Tilaphone, and bass duduk. Recorded November 29, 2006. The part is open after the 5 minute mark.
Sound Dialog Two - Bret Ellerton and Trevor Dutton Part One- Bret Ellerton Title: Awash in the Sense Fields Description: Various household appliances like microwave ovens, digital cameras, water fountains, and washing machines (hence the pun-like title) recorded and processed via computer along with other synthesizer forms added. Phonographic recordings made in Kyoto, Japan during Sakura festivities April 2004. Recording completed April 13, 2005. Status on part one: Closed
Dialog Two - Bret Ellerton and Trevor Dutton Part Two- Trevor Dutton Title: Iridium Rain Description: The synths were run through an analog filter to give the upper register an organic lush creaminess, and ultra beef in the bass. The three jolts that occur toward the middle and end were a manually triggered envelope that opened up the cutoff and resonance of the filter on the bass track. The metallic sounds were accomplished by striking and scraping a spiral coiled steel sculpture turned upside down, which had a wonderfully resonant quality. Most of the subtle panned effects were the result of several digital and analog delays on this track that were interacting on one another and manipulated in real time. The sprinkling track was done by pouring small finish nails onto the same steel sculpture. And finally there was a volume swelling track of cymbal samples that were tuned an octave or two up, driven by a random arpeggiator, and run through a step LFO on the analog filter. Status on part two: Closed
Sound Dialog Two - Bret Ellerton and Trevor Dutton Part Three - Bret Ellerton Title: Distant Wind Description: Recording of Fischer Price children’s music box/record player step at a time, reorganized, and processed via computadora. Acoustic guitar accents – background conversation purposefully included, digital camera internal noise via contact microphone then processed via artificial intelligence. Phonographic recordings of crowd at the Broadway Bound children’s production of Annie at the Moore Theatre – Jan 2007, as well as general ambience of Pill Hill, Seattle WA Jan 2007 via microtrack recorder. Tibetan bells and generic jingle bells. Recording completed January 25, 2007. Status on part three: Closed
Sound Dialog Two - Bret Ellerton and Trevor Dutton Part Four - Trevor Dutton Title – Ludicrous Description: The main track is an improvised pad patch on the Roland V Synth playing moody drawn out chords. There were occasional accent effects applied to this after recording using a Korg KP3 Kaoss Pad. About halfway through and continuing more or less to the end is an animalistic growling/squelchy sound that was the result of running the same V Synth track through a Sherman filterbank, whose 'tracking' function was failing to sync with the pitch of the chords and hence the complanatory dissonance. And last but not least there were a few other momentary effect sounds added with the V Synth for subtletly.
Sound Dialog 3 - Bret Ellerton and Michael Young Part One: Bret Ellerton Title: Sublingual Description: Recorded April and early May 2006. Use of various found sound objects including a hostile answering machine message, and other previously recorded voice parts. Guitar: processed minimally and extensively via computer or digital and analog means. Other instruments include: Sequential Circuits Six Track analog synth, various soft synths, Wind Wand, Drum of the Great Dragon Thunder Proclamation of Dharma (courtesy of the Seattle Shambhala Center).
Sound Dialog 4 - Bret Ellerton and Lucas Hilbert PART ONE - Bret Ellerton Title: Emergent Part Description: Includes calimba, acoustic and electric guitars, cymbals, various hand drums, glockenspiel, and sequential circuits six track synth. Finished recording October 15, 2006.
Origionally intended as a collaberation with Mr Doherty. He, however, chose to add silence as his contribution to the piece. Performed by Bret Ellerton Spontaneous composition/recording of an oil storage drum. Metal mixing bowls, bowed acoustic guitar, and some minor editing and sound manipulation via computer - Spring 2005