Chris Meloche

Biography

Canadian composer Chris Meloche has been writing music for electro-acoustic and multimedia performance since the early '80s, releasing only a portion of that work on small-run cassettes and, more recently, experimental ambient labels. Although his formal training has been limited, Meloche has pursued independent study of Stockhausen, Reich, Cage, Riley, and Subotnick, as well as Throbbing Gristle, Can, Brian Eno and Tangerine Dream. His compositions tend toward the more textural, experimental side of ambient electronics, incorporating elements of the lived environment in sprawling compositions often several hours in length. In 1982, Meloche formed M104 with Werner Albert, the pair performing live and composing for silent film accompaniment. More recently, Meloche has focused on his solo work through commissioned works supported by the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council, with works for radio performance and broadcast comprising the bulk of his activities. Often exceeding several hours in length, some of those works have begun to appear (albeit in condensed form) on CD, most notably through the Frankfurt-based Fax label (Recurring Dreams of the Urban Myth and Wireless) and Silent Records (Distant Rituals). Meloche is also a founding member of the Canadian Electroacoustic Community and the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, and hosts the weekly electronic music show Wired for Sound from his home in Ontario. ~ Sean Cooper, All Music Guide