Nick Didkovsky is a guitarist, composer, and music software programmer. He founded the rock band Doctor Nerve in 1983, the metal bands Häßliche Luftmasken and Vomit Fist in 2011 and 2013 respectively, the free metal guitar duo CHORD in 2018, and is a member of the Fred Frith Guitar Quartet.
Now I Do This by Nick Didkovsky, BandCamp, 2021 on #neuguitars #blog
Now I Do This | Nick Didkovsky | Doctor Nerve (bandcamp.com)
Early experimental compositions using prepared guitar, electronics, homemade instruments, tape manipulation… some of the freakiest, most staunchly don’t-care-who-likes-this music I’ve ever made!
“Now I Do This” was my first solo record, released on vinyl in 1982. About half of this material was created at The MacColl Studio for Electronic Music at Brown University, where Gerald “Shep” Shapiro was my instructor and mentor. After graduation, I acquired a Scully four track tape deck, and produced the rest of these pieces at home or at The Creative Music Studio with this glorious machine. All I have left of the Scully today is the splicing block, alas.
Thanks to Chuck Vrtacek who led the way with his first solo record when we were roommates in 1981/82. I followed in his footsteps with Now I Do This.
Special thanks to Ben Shapiro for lending me his Otari 1/4″ tape deck, for his guidance throughout the tape baking and restoration process, and for declicking and depopping the few tracks that didn’t survive the aging tape, and were instead transferred from virgin vinyl.
Now, for the first time since 1982, you hear this!
Physical CD at www.punosmusic.com/nowidothis
credits
released November 20, 2021
Nick Didkovsky – prepared electric guitar, tape, electronics, percussion, ARP2600, Synclavier, voice, contact mics, homemade nail violin, electric spring harp.
Original album art by Tom Marsan.
Two of the bonus tracks were performed by ensembles, as listed below.
Mokele Mbembe
Nick Didkovsky – prepared guitar
Ann Sheldon – cello
Mark Glaza – clarinet
Leo Ciesa – percussion
Recorded live to four track tape in Studio A at The Creative Music Studio, Woodstock, NY in 1981.
Chanedra
Nick Didkovsky – electric guitar, electric bass, alto recorder, percussion
Pat Eastman – piano
John Roulat – drums
Recorded at MacColl Studio For Electronic Music, Brown University in 1980
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