“Indigo Pool” is the first song from my 1991 DIY cassette album ōo, in my lo-fi, high-concept early period. The song was composed as it was recorded, layer by layer, beginning with the rhythmic pattern in 11/8 played on two empty plastic water cooler bottles anchored by an abandoned ride cymbal I found in the cluttered basement of the apartment I was living in at the time. Next, I added the synth patterns and fades — all live to recording without programming, software assists or editing — creating a spacey, minimalist, Lydian mode texture. I also worked without notation, which was typical for me at the time as a self-taught musician who played by ear.
The text was an obscure communication to myself and fellow artists, in a rugged, childlike vocal performance. I still made songs the same way I had as a teenager, in that I didn’t rehearse beyond the testing of word sounds and vocal ranges (which usually doubled as a recording sound check), and made as few takes as possible. Once I had the general idea captured, I moved on and called it a tune, wobbly bits and all.
Composed and recorded November 1991, remixed April 1992
4-track cassette recorder, Yahama DX-27, percussion, voice
Cassette mixdown transferred to digital 2017, unmastered
Photo: cassette inlay designed by the composer
Music and composer’s notes copyright Bruce A. Russell 2021
EL MAHBOOB 