this is a one-take recording, via two microphones direct to digital with no processing of any kind, thus, an accurate reproduction of the sound coming directly from the instrument. one EBow stays on the same string the entire time, while the other is moved from string to string. the strings are damped and stretched to get different pitches and harmonics. the wire ties visible behind the EBows are pinching the string spacing to that of a guitar, to allow the EBows to sit more securely.

the instrument is a Chinese long zither, an older relative of the Japanese Koto.

there are four tracks here, three of which use EBow.

the two drones are a mix of microphone and the electric kalimba pickup. there is no other processing; the ringing and throbbing are the result of the interaction between the EBow and various modes of vibration of the kalimba tines.

the "drum&bass" were produced by tapping down on the kalimba tines with my fingertips, sometimes releasing immediately, sometimes pressing or dragging along the tine.

the "lead" sound is played on a single tine. i am pressing the tine behind the EBow, and rolling my fingertip to change pitch.

the instrument is a jury-rigged electric kalimba, or thumb piano. the tines are from the brushes of street cleaning machines, picked up from the gutters of various cities. the stand/clamp was built to hold wooden daxophone keys, some of which are visible in the background.