''On the Other Ocean'' is the debut studio album by American composer

David Behrman David Behrman (born August 16, 1937) is an American composer and a pioneer of computer music. In the early 1960s he was the producer of Columbia Records' ''Music of Our Time'' series, which included the first recording of Terry Riley's ''In C''. ...

, released in 1978 by Lovely Music, Ltd. Considered a pioneering work in the genre of

computer music Computer music is the application of computing technology in music composition, to help human composers create new music or to have computers independently create music, such as with algorithmic composition programs. It includes the theory and ...

, the album pairs computers with live players.

Background and recording

"On the Other Ocean" was recorded on September 18, 1977 at the Recording Studio, Center for Contemporary Music,

Mills College Mills College at Northeastern University is a private college in Oakland, California and part of Northeastern University's global university system. Mills College was founded as the Young Ladies Seminary in 1852 in Benicia, California; it was ...

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...

. "Figure in a Clearing" was recorded on June 9, 1977 at the Electronic Music Studio,

State University of New York at Albany The State University of New York at Albany, commonly referred to as the University at Albany, UAlbany or SUNY Albany, is a public research university with campuses in Albany, Rensselaer, and Guilderland, New York. Founded in 1844, it is one ...

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York C ...

Release

The album was reissued by Lovely Music in 1996 on CD and again on vinyl on February 1, 2019.

Critical reception

In a retrospective review, Andy Beta of ''

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'' said, "Over 40 years after its initial release, the composer's pioneering work pairing computers with live players feels not only prescient but also refreshingly optimistic." Nilan Perera of '' Exclaim!'' praised the record, saying, "What both pieces excel in is a rich, organic, complexity that on the surface may be considered "ambient," but eschews that convention in the most artful way. This recording has achieved landmark status in

New Music New music may refer to: Musical styles and movements Pre-20th century * Ars nova, musical style in 14th-century France and the Low Countries * '' Le nuove musiche'', collection of monody by Giulio Caccini * New German School, music style in late 1 ...

and it's easy to hear why."

Accolades

Legacy and influence

An excerpt of "On the Other Ocean" was featured on '' Late Night Tales: Belle and Sebastian Vol. II''. a 2012 compilation album by Scottish band Belle and Sebastian. On April 16, 2017,

Robin Pecknold Robin Noel Pecknold (born March 30, 1986) is an American singer-songwriter, who serves as the principal songwriter and vocalist for indie folk band Fleet Foxes, with whom he has recorded four studio albums. He is known for his distinct bariteno ...

Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes is an American indie folk band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2006. The band consists of Robin Pecknold (vocals, guitar), Skyler Skjelset (guitar, mandolin, backing vocals), Casey Wescott (keyboards, mandolin, backing vocals), ...

selected "On the Other Ocean" in his "Bedtime Mix" on

Phil Taggart Philip Taggart (born 10 June 1986) is a Northern Irish DJ and radio presenter on BBC Radio Ulster. Early life Philly Taggart was born in Derry but was raised in Drumragh, a townland on the outskirts of Omagh in County Tyrone. He attended the ...

BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...

. American choreographer Molissa Fenley has used "On the Other Ocean" and "Figure in a Clearing" in her choreography work.

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes. *

– composition, electronics * Arthur Stidfole – bassoon * "Blue" Gene Tyranny – engineering *

Maggi Payne Maggi ( or ) is an international brand of seasonings, instant soups, and noodles that originated in Switzerland in the late 19th century. The Maggi company was acquired by Nestlé in 1947. History Early history Julius Maggi (1846–1912 ...

– flute * David Gibson – cello * Richard Lainhart – engineering * Ariel Peeri – jacket design

References

{{Authority control 1978 debut albums David Behrman albums Lovely Music albums Minimalistic compositions 1977 compositions