‘The Strange Mechanism’: a term for the effect whereby music triggers a trance state in the listener or dancer (attributed to ethnomusicologist, Gilbert Rouget).
Established in 2000 by ABC Audio Arts Producer Christopher Williams, The Strange Mechanism Studio is configured as a analogue/digital hybrid sound studio built around a DAW for recording and editing, and an analogue console with outboard processors for tracking, mixing and mastering. It consists of a control room/electronic music studio and a tracking room suitable for vocals and single acoustic instruments. Williams is passionate about analogue sound and is committed to creating and mixing music outside the box.
It is purposed for electronic music composition and production, audio post-production, sound design, and sonic arts production. It also functions as a rehearsal space for Williams’ electroacoustic ensemble.
Williams began his audio producing career during the the tape era at the ABC Audio Arts Department in Sydney, where he worked on SSL E-Series Consoles, Studer 24-track tape machines, and the Fairlight II platform. This culminated in the commissioning, recording, and producing of the historic 90 -min work Testimony, with music by Sandy Evans and libretto by Pultizer Prize-winning jazz poet Yusef Komunyakaa for ABC Classic FM (CD release by WUP). Featuring a veritable who’s-who of the Sydney post-bop scene (34 musicians and singers), Testimony was later performed by the Australian Art Orchestra across three major arts festivals. Williams’ was also awarded a Prix Italia for his production Rita’s Lullaby.
Work developed in The Strange Mechanism Studio has been nominated for the Prix Italia three times (including a special commendation for sound design), and the Karl Sczuka Prize. Williams’ was also awarded a Soundscape Composition prize by ZKM, Karslruhe for Salt Dance. Many ABC Audio Arts productions for Classic FM and Radio National were both post-produced and had music composed by Williams at the studio. In 2019, Williams hosted German composer and sound artist Johannes Sistermanns for an extended studio collaboration culminating in a public performance at The Crease, and a nomination for the Karl Sczuka Prize for Sounds Feed Back. Williams has also co-produced international collaborations with Prix Italia award-winners Andreas Ammer and FM Einheit (of Einstürzende Neubauten) and Sony Award-winner Klaus Buhlert (Another Room Music, Berlin). Williams’ works have been heard in many public radio broadcasts, art galleries, museums, and public spaces. A number of these are held in sonic arts collections and archives.
