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Here is a preview version of a track from an upcoming ‘Richard J Valeo’ album to be released later this year. probably some time after the summer. This will only be available to listen to for a limited time, so check it out while you can.
Label: Io Records
Catalog Number: iod.001 & iod.003
Release Date: March/April 2009
Format: Digital
The Devolution Series’, initially released partially in 2001, is a universe created by Richard J Valeo where machines speak to each other, and we get to listen to them as they think and play. Utilizing only field recordings and non-audio computer files files as audio sources, Valeo explores what sounds the computer itself makes when married to the organic world. With time stretching, convolution and pitching as the main methods of sound processing, he creates a truly ‘digital landscape’, a place that can only exist inside of computers, that is both organic and strangely familiar.
Designed to create an emotive sonic genome through the marrying of the organic and digital sound universes, ‘The Devolution Series’ creates a ‘digital sonic landscape’ that can only exist inside of the computer. Listening to this sonic universe is much like listening to the sounds of machines becoming sentient, their inner thoughts, and their dialogues with each other.
By labeling the compositions with numbers rather than titles, it disconnects the listener from any frame of reference for the sounds and allows the listener to simply experience the music.
Label: Io Records
Catalog Number: iod.002
Release Date: March 2009
Format: Digital
Hardware Excursions Volume One:
The Hardware Excursions is a series of compositions composed using only harware. Excursion One and Excursion Two are completely improvised and done with out sequencers and use only an Oberheim OB-1, a Korg Monopoly, a clock modified Ibanez D-1000 digital delay and an Alesis Midiverb as sound sources. The concept behind this performance, we well as all of these ‘Excursions’ is to create a meditative space where the listener can let go of concrete ideas of sound sources and become one with the sounds and get inside their own head.
With this series of releases, ‘Devolutions’, Valeo creates a universe where machines speak to each other, and we get to listen to them as they think and play. Utilizing only field recordings and non-audio computer files files as audio sources, Valeo explores what sounds the computer itself makes when married to the organic world. With time stretching, convolution and pitching as the main methods of sound creation he creates a truly ‘digital landscape’, a place that can only exist inside of computers, that is both organic and strangely familiar.
Beginning the series with 2 long play releases, followed by an EP, ‘Devolutions’ takes us on a computer aided journey through a contemplative digital landscape that can best be described at intimate and personal. The processes developed during the creation of these initial compositions in 2000 and 2001 form the foundation for his signature sound design style still present in all of his compositions today.
Boomkat review:
“After last week’s Hardware Excursions, RJ Valeo sustains his experimental outlook with this selection of masterfully realized micro-drones. The interchange between extreme high frequencies and deep, steady-handed industrial tones on ‘Construct 05′ immediately brings to mind Richard Chartier’s highly disciplined sound world, but these compositions also move towards more extrovert territory, harbouring shadows of half-melodies and flourishes of fractured circuitry. These more exploratory releases find Valeo in glorious form - let’s hope that he continues to pursue this beatless direction for a good while longer yet…”
Tracks like this don’t happen too often, they are rather special and I used to just keep them for myself. Having a site like this makes it really easy to share these little one-off concept pieces with people and I am happy to let this ‘cat out of the bag’. As with all the limited time download tracks this one will only be available for limited amount of time, so grab it while the cat is out and about.
It was late, around 4am and I had just finished working on the music for this track. I knew I wanted to add something to keep the song moving along, some vocals of some sort, and the phrase ‘And that was his first mistake” popped into my mind. I thought about it for a minute and decided that I was going to talk about this guy named “Johnny”. I wasn’t sure what I what else I was going to say but I had the first sentance in my head. I hit record and just went for it. I ended up being able to do the whole thing in just one take, ad-libbing it totally off the cuff. I didn’t go back and do any overdubs, just a few edits so that some of the vocals would appear to come from a different direction. I didn’t edit any of the rhythms or word placements.
While recording it was *really hard* to keep from laughing. I finsihed, hit stop and totally lost it. I don’t know if anyone else will find it comical, or enjoyable, but I figured with this internet thing and a blog I could just put it out there and let it have a life of it’s own. I hope you enjoy ‘Johnny’s Mistake’.
New Local Link: transelectronic link to johnnys mistake
Sendspace Link: http://www.sendspace.com/file/gvxu8g
I am in the process of mastering some of my back catalog, getting ready to release it and I came across one of my favorite tracks from 1995. I just had to post it on the site. It will only be available to download for free for a short time so grab it while you can. It is from the upcoming “Basement Sessions 1994 - 1996″ to be released in February of this year on Transelectronic.net. Happy New Year!
Artist: RJ Valeo
Title:Sunrise
Catalog Number: trans.003
Type: Digital LP
Release Date: 08 December 2008
Duration: 60 minutes +
Purchase: 
Originally released in Jan 1997 as “Transelectronic Theory - Sunrise”. Sunrise was recorded on the floor of my bedroom studio from September - November of 1996.
Looking back at this release, and listening to it again, I realized how one of the tracks was just out of place, so just like Lucas would have done, I took the opportunity to replace the track with one that was better suited from the same time period. The new track replaces the old one at the second to last place in the original track lineup. In addition I have included 1 additional track from the same time period. I would have included it initially, but I was limited to 60 minute cassettes and the songs simply didn’t fit, thus making this the definitive “Sunrise” release.
This release used hardware for all of the sounds. The partial gear list is: Korg Monopoly, Roland Juno 106, Roland S-550, Roland R-70, Roland TR 909, Korg Pandora, Oberheim Matrix 1000, Oberheim OB-1, Yamaha SY-22, Yamaha TX81Z, Alesis Midiverb and a few other pieces of gear.
All of the songs were done in the “performance to DAT” methodology, in which I would get all of my parts together and do a live performance of the song and capture it on DAT for the final version. So, in a simple sense all of these are “live takes” in the studio. The object of this release was to capture the feeling of a sunrise in sound - that magical moment when the sun shows itself for the first time in a day, and I think it managed to pull it off. I have put this release on my iPod and it seems to work well for a subway ride, or for some other activity that you can simply “be in the moment” for.
Purchase release here:
I am proud to announce that one of my compositions from the “Days EP” for the Modyfier blog was selected for inclusion in the October edition of the UK’s venerable “The Wire” magazine. It is currently available at Other Music, Kim’s Video, and other places imported music magazines are sold. It is the one with Richie Hawtin on the cover.
Here is the little blurb they posted about me and my track.
07 Richard J Valeo Monday Night
From Days (IO)
Since 2001, Brooklyn’s Richard J Valeo has worked up his rhythmic fragmentary Techno under a variety of aliases including Transelectronic Theory, Isomer Transition and plain old RJ Valeo. Following his recent September album on Type Records, Days appears on his own imprint IO.
