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Feel For Steel

by Daniel Berkman

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1.
Setting The Stage 09:40
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2.
The Blue Room 04:08
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3.
The Silver Room 02:12
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4.
Thread 05:38
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5.
Pivt 02:22
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6.
Teapotism 01:10
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7.
Feel For Steel 02:00
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8.
Sequoia Cepia 01:59
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9.
The Listening Room 05:58
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10.
Easy Road 01:49
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11.
Interfrenze 02:32
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12.
QuNeosity 08:36
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13.
Intelligent Life 05:52
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about

Originally called "Gravikora" to specify in the title the unique instrument I play on this album, I decided today to switch to the title to "Feel For Steel" for it seemed more evocative artistically.

The "Gravikora" is an adaptation of the "Gravikord" which is an adaptation of the West African harp/lute called the "kora". The "Gravikora" was designed to fit the needs of kora players in terms of tuning and feel. I suppose the album could have been called "Adaptaion". ;)

In 2010 I was experimenting with the Gravikora using my laptop to alter the sound of the instrument and to create a live looping system that needed very little hardware.
I used Sooperlooper as a software looper and Native Instruments Guitar Rig for my multi-effects. Guitar Rig also had a dedicated foot controller which was helpful for switching patches.
With this rig I was able to create sounds that were barely outside the realm of my imagination and I was able to do this on the fly.
Everything on the album is improvised and recorded live!

"Feel For Steel" has been sitting on my hard drive for literally more than a decade and upon listening with fresh ears 13 years later, I found it fit beautifully with my existing discography.

Influenced by electronic music artists Autechre, I explored the more glitchy electronic element here, focusing on the cold, metallic quality of the Gravikora in contrast to the warm, woody characteristics of the traditional kora. Sometimes some beautiful warmth shines through.

I hope you enjoy "Feel For Steel" as much as I enjoyed making it.

-Daniel Berkman (April 7, 2023)

credits

released April 7, 2023

Al music composed and performed live and improvised by
Daniel Berkman
Instruments:
Gravikora, laptop
Mixed and mastered by
Daniel Berkman
Artwork by Daniel Berkman
Original photograph by
Natalia Perez

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Daniel Berkman San Francisco, California

Daniel Berkman is a Bay Area electronic musician, composer, multi-instrumentalist, producer, looper and innovator of the Kora (a 21-stringed harp-lute from West Africa) and it's modern counterpart, the Gravikord.
Daniel composes for dance, film, instrumental, vocal and also has recordings under his electronic music moniker Colfax.
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