If, Bwana
If, Bwana was born on New Year\'s Eve 1984, making music that has swung between fairly spontaneous studio constructions and more process-oriented composition. Al Margolis has been an activist in the 1980s American cassette underground through his cassette label Sound of Pig Music; was co-founder of experimental music label Pogus Productions, which he continues to run. Active under the name If, Bwana since 1984, making music that has swung between fairly spontaneous studio constructions and more process-oriented composition.
The Ice Moons
Five minimalist pieces by Al Margolis' If, Bwana, built from baritone saxophone, alto clarinet, hammered dulcimer, cello, violin and voice, modulated and looped into cosmic soundscapes and drones. Limited to 400 copies.
Dry Lungs II (LP)
Second volume of Placebo Records's series of international compilations of very diverse experimental music, released in 1986 and featuring Croiners, Jeff Greinke, Randy Greif, Monochrome Bleu, Tim Story, Controlled Bleeding, Severed Heads, If Bwana, …
Bird Brain Bath
The operating name of New Yorker Al Margolis, If, Bwana were a constant presence in the cassette days. This new record, Bird Brain Bath (Klanggalerie 7") is a wonderfully creaky slab of experimental noise high jinks. One side is entitled "Bird Brain"…
Breathing
1996 release ** "In deference to this age of “environmental consciousness”, “Breathing”, says the insert, is “recycled and/or scavenged” pieces that once inhabited another form. The composer is Al Margolis, who appears on electronics, tapes, effects,…
Unknown Legacies
Nazlo Records presents Unknown Legacies by If, Bwana and Emerge. Transparent recycled tapes and 2-sided printed j-card edition of 40.
Listen (Hear) Look (See)
Another "surprise" box especially conceived and made for our "sound-related" series. The reflection made by If, Bwana/Al Margolis (as the two faces of the same artist) are upon the concept of communication in art. What is the role of the artist and w…
Thirty
Originally released as a 3 CDr set on Inyrdisk to commemorate 30 years of If, Bwana, and now available on manufactured CDs, this triple disc gracefully spans 3 and 1/4 hours of riveting musique concrète and refined experimentation from Al Margolis. …
Red One
After the last If, Bwana (Al Margolis) release on Pogus the large-scale double cd E (and Sometimes Why), this brand new If, Bwana recording is a little more intimate. This release consists of six smaller works for one or at most two instruments - wit…
Tripping India
Consisting of 3 compositions, Tripping India is the 3rd If, Bwana release on Pogus. On this recording If, Bwana is joined by, among others, Paul Marotta (Styrenes/Electric Eels/Mirrors) on 3 Out of 4 Ain't Bad, a conceptual work for 3 different piani…
E (and E (And Sometimes Why) why)
Three years of work, and the first time Al Margolis wrote for another ensemble instead of for his own tape. Trio Scordatura is Elisabeth Smalt on viola d'amore, Alfrun Schmid on voice and Bob Gilmore on keyboard and laptop.
Adhesives and grout
Korm Plastics is proud to present the eigtheenth release in the Brombron series. Originally a co-production between Staalplaat and Extrapool, it is now hosted by co-curator Frans de Waard. In the year 2000 Frans de Waard and Extrapool started the Bro…
Favorite encores
A split CD of works by Noah Creshevsky (4 tracks) and If, Bwana (3 tracks). While on the face of it this may seem a somewhat odd pairing, the pieces recorded here comment on and highlight each other. And an aural adventure is indeed in the offing. Tr…
Fire Chorus
Fire Chorus is a work of “construction”. If, Bwana (alias, or, as you prefer, “personification”, of Al Margolis), presents a sound form starting from the concept of “perception”. His concept of electroacoustic music doesn’t belong to the idea of “app…
I, Angelica
Sounding like an archaic echo, If, Bwana could be the title of a Bob Hope-Bing Crosby vehicle that never got made. A little investigation reveals it as the oddly worded cover for Al Margolis, who is perhaps better known as a tireless activist in the …
BWANA, Rex xhu ping
If, Bwana alias Al Margolis figure de la scène expérimentale new-yorkaise et boss de Pogus. Compositions pour bandes, voix, électronique... Franc, déterminé et tenu. Avec Al Margolis (bandes, clarinette etc), Laura Biagi (voix), Dan Andreana (voix, b…