In biology, the key word is common in discussions of morphological development and growth in plants and animals, and in references to reproduction.
The concepts of generative art and (programmed) computer art were assimilated right from the start. With the recent appearance of art using methods drawn from A-Life, as used in the community concerned, has acquired biological overtones.
One or both of those meanings is/are sometimes explicitly stressed by self-styled generative artists whose work focusses on emergence, self-organization, and/or evolution.
Automatonism is the name of both the modular synthesiser in Pure Data and the creative output of its developer, Johan Eriksson. A PhD student at Birmingham Conservatoire, UK, Eriksson works at the intersection of composition, performance and instrument design.
His research explores new ways of making music with modular synths by highlighting the partnership between human and the automaton.
His first modular project, Xodular, arrived during a new wave of interest in modular synthesis and gained notable popularity for a freeware instrument.
Automatonism builds on Xodular, adding more modules and features for greater performability and expressiveness, while also encouraging players to delve into the making of generative algorithms.
"Pd is a visual programming language created by Miller Puckette, who was the original developer of Max when he was at IRCAM. Over the years, Max has grown into a rich ecosystem of libraries and external objects, with its core program and API maintained by Cycling ‘74, a company recently purchased by Ableton. Pd is superficially similar to Max, but Pd is an open source project, so there are now tons of extensions available beyond its original code. It’s also really cool in that it runs on just about any platform — Windows, GNU/Linux, Android, iOS, and of course macOS."
- John Baccigaluppi
credits
released June 14, 2023
All sounds made with modular patch / Automatonism in Pure Data
Field recordings intertwine with hushed acoustics and gentle ambience to create songs that are hypnotic and immersive. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 13, 2020
Shards of static & distortion crash against disarmingly beautiful piano & synth melodies on this riveting new record from Carbon and Prose. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 30, 2022
“Subtle Tantra” by Arket features hypnotic and intricate electronic compositions that explore meditative and introspective realms. Bandcamp New & Notable May 21, 2023
Haunting EBM from Stephen Hindman of The Golden Filter that moves from atmospheric minimalism to throbbing dance numbers. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 13, 2020
Ontario act Autotectonic offers up 10 stunning experimental tracks, fusing drone, power electronics & noise into a gripping whole. Bandcamp New & Notable May 16, 2020