David Chesworth

The Unattended Serge 1978 / Five Evolutionary Things 1979 is a revelatory document of Australian electronic music, capturing a young David Chesworth at the dawn of his creative journey. At just 20 years old, Chesworth was granted access to the massive Serge modular synthesizer housed at La Trobe University’s electronic studio in Melbourne—a rare privilege at a time when such instruments were the domain of a select avant-garde.
On the A-side, The Unattended Serge 1978 features four tracks that showcase Chesworth’s playful yet methodical approach to the Serge. Rich bass, pirouetting blips, and arcing sinewaves evolve from self-sustaining patches, creating a sense of naive joy and minimalist invention.

The B-side, Five Evolutionary Things 1979, offers a more probing, spaced-out suite, with wild pulses and an almost eldritch atmosphere. The music here is both probing and atmospheric, recalling the filmic work of Mike Ratledge and the exploratory ethos of early electronic pioneers.
This LP is more than a historical curiosity; it is a vital piece of the puzzle that is Australian experimental music. Chesworth would go on to co-found Essendon Airport, a group that bridged minimalism, post-punk, and pop, and later become an award-winning composer and sound artist. The Unattended Serge 1978 / Five Evolutionary Things 1979 stands as a testament to his restless curiosity and the fertile ground of late-70s Melbourne.