Musician is in the loop (From Penarth Times)

Musician is in the loop

2:00pm Thursday 5th November 2009 in News By Phil Tibballs

A MUSICIAN from Penarth has won rave reviews for his performance at a festival in California.

David Cooper Orton, of Station Road, played guitar at the 2009 International Live Looping Festival in San Jose last month.

The festival celebrates a diverse mix of approaches from a cross section of musicians who use different technologies, including digital and analogue, to capture music and sound.

Samples are then ‘looped’ to produce shifting textures and patterns.

David, 54, said: "In my case the sound source is the electric guitar - but the human voice, flugel horn, kalimba, bells, drums, flutes and all manner of other instruments were used by more than 50 musicians participating in the five-day event.

"Technically speaking, looping is a way of producing music, but the style of music varies from one performer to another.

"My interest in using technology stems from the early 70s when I first heard the music of Fripp and Eno, which in turn led me to innovators in the field such as Terry Riley," he explained.

"Having initially experimented with tape recorders and echo units, the last 10 years have seen major developments in the production of affordable digital equipment built specifically to facilitate looping.

"I had a genuinely brilliant time during my stay in California."

He regularly performs at Penarth restaurant Sugo, on Stanwell Road, and is next appearing there on Monday (November 9).

"I'm always on the look-out for new venues," added David, who works at Cardiff University.

"Art galleries, libraries and churches have all provided suitable locations for my type of music.

"I’d be really interested to hear from anyone would like me to play."

David’s International Live Looping Festival concerts can be seen at www.ustream.tv/recorded/2374936 To contact him, email: david.c.orton@googlemail.com