Robert Turman / John Wiese – Solid State of Time

What our staff has to say: “Turman+Wiese is an unbeatable combo. Lush slow moving synthesis… Seriously incredible and mandatory. Jams for your next k-hole.” – Alex

Robert Turman is an American sound artist best known for his innovative and experimental work in the field of ambient and minimalism. Beginning in the mid/late-1970s, Turman became involved in the world of experimental music, being particularly drawn to the work of minimalist composers such as Steve Reich and Terry Riley, and began to experiment with tape loops and other forms of sound manipulation.

Turman’s first solo release, the cassette album “Flux” (1981), is a landmark in ambient and minimalism. Consisting of slowly repeating and evolving sounds, created using a combination of tape loops, piano, electronics, and other instruments, the album is praised for its innovation and atmosphere. It remains a cult classic among experimental music aficionados.
Over the next years, Turman continued to record, culminating in the collection “Chapter Eleven”, an 8x cassette boxset recorded 1977–87 and reissued as a 4x CD set in 2020 by Hanson Records and Helicopter. These recordings further established Turman’s reputation as a monumental figure, and helped to inspire a new generation of experimentation. Remaining a considerable influence, Turman has always been committed to the spirit of exploration that has characterized his work from the beginning. He can be heard in the work of countless artists working in the field of experimental music, and his legacy as a pioneer of experimental music is assured. He currently lives in Oberlin, Ohio.

John Wiese is a sound artist and composer based in Cleveland, Ohio and Los Angeles, California. He is known for his unique and innovative approach to sound and his ability to create complex, layered compositions that blur all boundaries.

Wiese’s early recordings incorporated elements of cut-up/collage, musique concrete, and electronics. He often used unconventional sources to create chaotic, improvised compositions. As he developed as a composer and performer, Wiese began to incorporate more electronic and processed elements into his work, creating intricate, multilayered works that retained the rawness, precision, and complexity.

Turman and Wiese’s approach to composition is both experimental and post-improvisational. Building on a particular sound or texture, and using a variety of modifications to the sound, a process of constant experimentation and exploration into new possibilities allows their collaboration to evolve and develop in unexpected ways throughout. Together, they continue to create immersive and otherworldly paths that challenge our perceptions of space, time, and reality.