The Sound of New England Experimental

"The Sound of New England Experimental" is a deep dive into the region’s rich and varied underground of sonic exploration. This playlist pieces together a wide spectrum of artists working in noise, drone, electronic improvisation, and avant-garde composition, reflecting decades of boundary-pushing music that thrives in intimate venues, DIY spaces, and academic circles across New England. From the minimal processing of Keith Fullerton Whitman to the physical intensity of Evicshen, and the balloon-based compositions of Judy Dunaway, each track represents a different angle of the region’s experimental lineage.

There’s a strong emphasis on texture and process here—the mechanical pulses of Container and the slow feedback wash of Eleh sit alongside field recordings, modular synths, and cut-up vocal scatterings. Jason Lescalleet appears in multiple collaborations, grounding the playlist in the visceral, hands-on tape manipulation that’s become emblematic of the local scene. With contributions from legends like Alvin Lucier and cult figures like Emil Beaulieau, as well as newer experimenters like ISABELLA and Harmonizer, this collection sketches out an idiosyncratic but tightly interwoven map of New England sonic art.