| Profile: Saul Stokes | |
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Performing on custom designed, hand-built synthesizers and modern sampling technology, Foundry recording artist Saul Stokes creates sonic landscapes somewhere between the floating textures of Vintage Spacemusic and the focused rhythms of Modern Ambient.
With a number of albums to his credit and represented on several compilations, Saul Stokes is recognized as one of the leading voices in modern Electronic Music. Described as "fresh and inventive," Stokes brings together elements of Space, Ambient, Industrial and Intelligent-Techno, forging a sound all his own. An avid concert performer, Stokes' performances often begin at a point of reference familiar to most and gradually lead the audience far out into the sonic universe. |
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For Stokes, the immediacy of the live setting is the best medium for bringing out his talent for creating floating spacemusic. Using unique, self designed and constructed electronic instruments, Stokes effortlessly conjures up completely improvised electronic soundscapes.
Within the focused envirnonment of the studio, Stokes concentrates on his signature intricate and ever evolving electronic rhythms. With each new studio piece, Stokes discovers new capabilities he and his equipment are capable of. |
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 | On 12 December 1998 and again on 4 March 2000, Saul Stokes performed at The Gatherings Concert Series in Philadelphia. These were his first concerts ever on the east coast of the USA and demonstrated his interest in sound shaping, improvisation and sonic invention. Stokes takes an unconventional approach to music. Every sound at these concerts came from electronic instruments built by Stokes himself. This unique palette of sounds and Stokes' individual vision, results in music that is refreshingly original. |
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Stokes returned to Philadelphia on 25 March 2006 for another performance at The Gatherings Concert Series. Following this concert, Stokes played on into the night on the 03.26.06 broadcast of STAR'S END. An excerpt of the on-air concert appears on the STAR'S END 30th Anniversary Anthology CD.
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STAR'S END 30th Anniversary Anthology CD
To mark 30 years of continuous broadcast of STAR'S END, WXPN is releasing the STAR'S END 30th Anniversary Anthology CD. This double CD contains over 120 minutes of live music from 12 renowned artists. The unique performances were culled from on-air in-studio radio concerts by some of our community's greatest talents. Included on the disc are previously unreleased live selections donated by: The Ministry of Inside Things, Orbital Decay, Ian Boddy, AirSculpture, Radio Massacre International, Robert Rich, Rudy Adrian, Jonn Serrie, Jeff Pearce, Saul Stokes and Steve Roach. STAR'S END 30th Anniversary CD Anthology On several occasions Saul Stokes has performed live at The Gatherings Concert Series in Philadelphia, followed by a live to air radio concert on STAR'S END. | |
Saul Stokes Performing Live In-Studio on the 11.17.13 Broadcast of STAR'S END
Photos by Jeff Towne
Saul Stokes Performing Live In-Studio on the 03.26.06 Broadcast of STAR'S END Photos by Jeff Towne
Saul Stokes, Charles Cohen and Mike Hopkins, Live In-Studio on the 12.13.98 broadcast of STAR'S END In addition to being interviewed on STAR'S END several times, Saul Stokes has also collaborated live with Vir Unis on the 03.05.00 broadcast. |
Saul Stokes Performing Live In-Studio on the 04.19.09 Broadcast of STAR'S END
Review : Zo Pilots by Saul Stokes
"Zo Pilots is the second release for Saul Stokes on the Hypnos label and carries on where he left off with Washed In Mercury. You have similar sonic terrains being traversed, that same industrial feel, at times pulse driven, long pieces which explore for the better part the darker side of his electronic music. It still reminds me of music I might have listened to in the late seventies or early eighties, not that this is a criticism, for there is a genuine rawness to Stokes's creative output that is quite pleasing. The pieces are mostly developed over long periods of time and for the better part there is no distinct sense of melody as a lot of this is improvised. When it does come it kind of takes you by surprise almost, because our western way of hearing has taught us to listen to melody, rhythm and harmony within music itself.
Saul Stokes has done a lot of work with this particular release, and it shows in the quality of the recording. I also believe his best is yet to come. Be that as it may this is unique and original in its own ways and Stokes deserves to have more of an audience for his sound worlds. Another fine release for Hypnos."
--Hans Stoeve, host of POWERSPOT on 2RES, FM 89.7, NSW Australia | |
Review : Washed in Mercury by Saul Stokes
"A great journey has come full circle with Saul Stokes' debut experimentation Washed In Mercury. His independent magic of spiraling uncanny synths is not only pleasing to the ear, but to the mind itself. A uniquely developed piece, Stokes has ventured into the realm of the uncharted with his imagination as the only true guide. The tracks average roughly nine minutes, as if developed to tell a tale of Stokes' wondrous journeys to the netherworld.
In concept, the style is succinct and from a divine mind at work. Tracks like "Kasei" and "Deep in the Grass" stand high above the clouds as sounds crescendo in among the mountain tops, filtering through the hill and dales to the base of the valley, where our imaginations only begin to suspect what really lies 'out there.' "
--DIGITAL ARTIFACT magazine
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