Oral Cavity

Recorded between 1994-1996, Oral Cavity is a compendium of vicious little mantras inspired by Erik Satie’s Vexations and musique d’ameublment, Luigi Russolo’s L’arte dei rumori (Art of Noise), the spirit of Dada (more Huelsenbeck and Tsara, than Schwitters and Ball). There are hints of John Cage (chance operations, The Fontana Mix). Brion Gysin (permutational poems) and Steve Reich/Philip Glass (repetition as a form of change). This project harnesses recording technologies (multi-track recording, digital delays, voice processors, etc.) to poetic and musical conceits (rhythm, texture, sound/noise/music, onomatopoeia, speech, particles, phonology, etc.)

Text – sound texts were developed prior to each recording session, all performances and repetitive phrases are in real time, and with the exceptions of the tracks On Dissecting the Larynx and Stasis, no tape loops are used in this production.

Poems and Music: W. Mark Sutherland

Voice and Guitars: W. Mark Sutherland
Guitars and Vocal Treatments: Robert Sutherland
Drums: Tony Miele

Track Listing:

1. The Death Rattle of Luigi Russalo (2:47)
2. On Dissecting the Larynx (1:37)
3. I’ve Nothing to Say… (3:17)
4. Audio Orgy (1:00)
5. From Stasis to Mutability Part I (0:33)
6. Memories (3:27)
7. Mouthpiece (1:19)
8. Word Matter (2:58)
9. Surrealism (1:17)
10. Ear Drum (1:52)
11. Frozen Motion (4:39)
12. A Complete Reversal of Opinions (0:25)
13. Aural Sea (1:30)
14. Dizzy Spells (2:01)
15. Expensive Vowels (0:15)
16. Burroughs (6:02)
17. Hiroshima (1:41)
18. Echo (1:55)
19. Shadow Voices (1:21)
20. Pugilists (0:52)
21. Delirium (2:21)
22. Artaud (4:12)
23. Nervous Systems (0:37)
24. Germ Intervals (0:44)
25. From Stasis to Mutability Part II (3:33)
26. Event Horizon (3:08)