Dayton City Paper

Sound Soundbytes: Chris Brannon

By Paul Barbatano
Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Electronic music has something of a tricky past. Critics and fans alike have always rode the fence regarding what could or should be considered actual electronic music and also what could or should be deemed worthwhile and lasting.

Greats such as Brian Eno, Kraftwerk, Can, and Steve Reich all made a name for themselves as part of an electronic elite, using electronic elements to create and shape rhythms, textures, and patterns into a new paradigm. The other side of the fence is occupied by countless DJs who pass off their wares as the "next big thing," but rarely ever inspire or charm the public the way Eno or Reich once did.

Dayton transplant Chris Brannon has thrown his hat into the electronically-minded ring with the self-release of his second LP, The Searching. The LP is entirely instrumental and finds Brannon experimenting, manipulating, and ultimately creating electronic odes that whistle and sizzle.

Brannon's CD is one that won't immediately grab the trend-seekers. It is a subtly shimmering disc that displays Brannon's clear knack for rhythm and texture and allows for swirls of color and light prominently featured in nearly every song. The songs aren't gritty or difficult, but rather inspired and mellow. Many tracks will remind the listener of electric pioneers such as Kraftwerk and more recent artists such as Zero 7 or jazz purveyors, St. Germain.

The music immediately brings to mind snow-covered alps and bluesy sunsets. You may not be able to afford a trip to the tropics, but Brannon wants you to feel like you're already there. Brannon suggests that his music breeds creativity.

"I first became interested in composing electronic music in the early 1980s," Brannon quipped. "My first computer was a Commodore 64, which I purchased for $200, paid for by mowing lawns and shoveling snow when I was 11 years old."

Brannon wasn't necessarily an ace from the beginning, but it definitely sounds like he had a plan of action ready to go.

"I wasn't really composing music, but programming it," Brannon said. "I would write software in a programming language called BASIC. My programs were essentially a series of detailed instructions, directing the computer's sound chip to play various notes and sound effects. Everything had to be meticulously programmed by hand via the keyboard. Compared to what I use today, including hardware synthesizers, software synthesizers, and electronic drums, it appears quite primitive."

Brannon hopes The Searching will help get his name out.

"I want my music to be an experience for the listener," he said. "A journey that will take them places they may not have had the opportunity of experiencing before, or to places that they may never have even considered exploring."

Brannon said he isn’t equipped yet to tour, but he would relish the chance to head out on the road with a full band in tow.

"Currently, I’m a studio artist but I think performing electronica in a live setting would really serve to push the genre forward," he said "It's amazing to me how DJs capture a crowd's imagination and take them to beautiful heights by spinning a new landscape of sound based on other artists' music. I think it would be amazing to take this concept to the next level by performing my original electronica in a live setting with a band. I also have no apprehension of playing in a live setting."

Brannon also mentions that he wouldn't mind a larger publicity machine behind him, and a record company to keep him grounded.