User:Colonythree/sandbox

Colony Three is the electronic and experimental music project of Brian Dickson. In his studio, Dickson writes, records and produces all of the project's music using a variety of hardware synthesizers, software instruments, and a 5-piece drum kit. The synthesizers and drums are recorded via a 12-channel mixer, a multi-track tape unit or directly to a digital audio workstation.

Colony Three's debut album, Ergosphere was released in March 2018. The album consisted of instrumental electronic compositions ranging from ambient to experimental.

Sandy Parker of Rave and Roll described the album as “a remarkable journey” and that “Ergosphere is as timeless as space itself”. Colony Three’s compositions are based on the concept of visualization, both as a creative source and an outcome for the listener. Brian Dickson also uses the concept of “purposeful limitation” by incorporating analog instruments (drums, piano, guitar strings), vintage multi-track recording equipment and effects processing reminiscent of early electronic music recordings. Most tracks are considered progressive electronic or ambient. In 2020, Colony Three began also began an exciting audio/visual collaboration with Rob Stuart of Electronic Dream Factory, releasing a new audio/visual track monthly.

Musical Style
In an interview with Sandy Parker of Rave and Roll, Dickson explained that his music often starts as a visualization, usually inspired by an event, a photograph or memory. His goal is to take the listener on a journey, and he sometimes incorporates sound effects, subtle echo/reverberation and transitions to achieve this. Dickson also uses audio samples that ultimately inspired the track, such as Delia Derbyshire speaking on the song titled "D Squared", or a piece from Anne Sexton's poem "The Division of Parts" used on his song titled "Low Cloud".

Dickson utilizes the concept of "purposeful limitation" in his recordings, often restricting himself to the use of 10 or less tracks per song. In an interview with Rob Stuart during an interview on NYTheSpirit, Dickson and Stuart ruminated on how limiting often inspires one to be more creative in other forms, such as song structure and use of effects for ambience or dramatic effect. For example, the recording techniques for his song "D Squared" were limited to those found in the 1960s.

Dickson's studio equipment consists of a Yamaha SY-22, Roland W-30, Roland DX-7, Arturia MatrixBrute, Mackie ProFX 12-channel mixer, Fostex 4-track tape recorder, a Pearl Export drum kit, and Logic Pro X.

Influences
Dickson's music is heavily influenced by late 1970s and 1980's electronic music, including Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, The Alan Parsons Project, John Carpenter, and Kraftwerk. He is partial to instrumental music that he considers organic in nature and it "evolves throughout the song" and "takes me away". He recalls that his very first introduction was in hearing the song Popcorn by Hot Butter, which was the very first album that he purchased and solidified his passion for melodic synthesizer sequencing that is so predominant in his own music.

Discography

 * Ergosphere (2019)
 * Great Plains (Single) (2019)
 * Prefix (2020)