
Feralcatscan is science fiction, a romantic walk through a dystopian wonderland, that strange array of lights hovering in the twilight, the mad scientist caressing peculiar mechanical finery, the sound of countless worlds falling into oblivion.
Using mostly obsolete and reverse engineered technology, this mercurial music ensemble connects seemingly different disciplines of art, science, and spirituality, with a delicate application the absurd. The result is that of chaos surrendering, regrouping, and then revolting.
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The role of this device has evolved over time, from a tone generator, to a voltage controlled oscillator, and when connected to other circuit-bent devices, via cables in the back, a complex logic filter-- used to compose real-time cascading rhythms.
Base Six
This promotional item offered by Psoraisis Connections was found at a thrift store in Newport News for $2. It produces 6 different environments, including a pier scene, rain forest, bird song, sea wave, stream, and wind chimes.
A pitch bend and shaping distortion were added to expand its functionality. If that weren't enough, when the distortion is at its maximum setting, the device transforms into a versatile sweeping square wave oscillator-- this must be reset by turning the unit off.
Exterminator
Originally a Texas Instruments Magic Wand Speak & Learn, this toy was found at thrift store in Syracuse for $1. Its intended purpose is to read books with special barcodes that trigger phonemes to generate words. Since there were no compatible books at the thrift store and the toy failed to respond to all number of barcodes, the functionality was intentionally altered to spit out phoneme sequences.
The design of the piece was inspired by the Daleks, an alien menance from Doctor Who. The brass balls were put in place to give it the look of Dalek technology and to access various points on the board, causing different glitches and easily accomodating alligator clips, used to connect the toy to other devices.
Seņor Robot
Formerly a Playskool Talking Alphabet Soup, found at a thrift store in San Francisco-- the board was removed and now resides in a timer switch from a massage chair. The knob forces the unit to glitch in a variety of ways. It also seems to generate enough RF noise to interfere with other circuit-bent devices. Seņor Robot is, indeed, a world class nonsense generator.
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| 18 August 2006 | Williamsburg Library Theatre Williamsburg VA |
The Peninsula Experimental Arts Society presents Khate, Controlled Dissonance, Projexorcism, Consumption Experiment, Barkona Rova, Hindu Pez, Damion Champ, and feralcatscan |
| 26 May 2006 | Over the Edge Berkeley CA |
Negativland's infamous radio show, featuring Ninah, Das, Khate, Univac, and feralcatscan Hosted by Izzy Isn't |
| 22 May 2006 | Downtown Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA |
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| 16 October 2005 | Art Works Richmond VA |
3rd Annual 804 Noise Fest |
| 19 August 2005 | Nanci Raygun Richmond VA |
Get Bent 2005 A circuit-bent music showcase featuring Khate, Projexorcism, Controlled Dissonance, The Silence Bureau, and feralcatscan. |
| 29 April 2005 | Williamsburg Library Theatre Williamsburg VA |
Another collaborative effort involving Khate, Projexorcism, and feralcatscan, but this time we recorded it, sort of. Available here. ![]() |
| 19 March 2005 | The Wizard Lounge Hickory NC |
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| 17 March 2005 | The Milestone Club Charlotte NC |
With Khate, Projexorcism, and Clang Quartet. |
| 2-3 October 2004 | Art Works Richmond VA |
2nd Annual 804 Noise Fest![]() |
| 6 August 2004 | Phoebus VA |
It's sort of a blur. |
| 6 July 2004 | Art Works Richmond VA |
With Birds in the Meadow, and Incite from Hamburg, Germany. |
| 27 May 2004 | Bickett Gallery Raliegh NC |
919 Noise Show
With Subscape Annex, Clang Quartet, and Khate. |
| 22 May 2004 | Nanci Raygun Richmond VA |
Ambient Live 2K4 |
| 14 September 2003 |
Richmond VA |
1st Annual 804 Noise Fest![]() feralcatscan meets Khate. |
| 28 November 2001 |
Richmond VA |
The 1st feralcatscan performance. |