The Seattle Digital Orchestra

SDO is an exercise in music technology.  Unlike many bands trying to go ‘vintage’ with their sound by recording with older equipment using old techniques, which is a very worthy way of enhancing the creative process, SDO does this by stretching new technologies (which ironically is also a less expensive way of doing things).

The name Seattle Digital Orchestra is an admission that computers and synthesizers are doing a lot of the heavy lifting, something that is not necessarily beneficial in the age of analog revisionist snob nostalgia, but is honest.  Probably due to a counter productive reactive tendency, a choice has been made to double down on new technology, who knows what will happen with the inevitable pendulum swings back and everyone loves digital, maybe this will become an analog synthesizer orchestra.  But will it really matter when everyone listens on iPod buds or through YouTube?

Regardless, all four albums are a snapshot of where the creators were in life, and also a snapshot of what technology could do at the time.  Electronic music ages notoriously bad due to this last point unless the songcraft is worthy.  However, lost in all this techno-babble is that the actual hope of anyone involved in creating these albums is that the songs and music written will transcend the technology that allowed their creation.  A good song will always belie antiquated recording technology.