Peace Bells is a glimpse into the multi-layered world of artist and musician Elliot Bergman. The cassette, reissued by Leaving Records, was recorded over a weekend at the Felix Art Fair in Los Angeles, in the booth of Shane Campbell Gallery. Over the course of several days, Bergman gave durational performances utilizing his collection of self-made instruments, which he looped and layered into the music you have on this tape. For the past 15 years, Bergman has been building amplified variations on the African Mbira, which he refers to as Metal Tongues. He has also been making Peace Bells, from melted guns and bullet casings. Using this rich collection of instruments as source material, he builds looping and layered soundscapes that evoke comparisons to Moondog, Reich, Bertoia, Eno and Konono No. 1. These rhythmic and otherworldly textures range from minimal and meditative to driving and danceable.
Elliot Bergman is a musician and visual artist that lives in Los Angeles. After studying Jazz, Composition, and Gamelan music at the University of Michigan, he has been an active part of the creative music scenes in Brooklyn and Chicago while touring extensively with groups including Wild Belle, NOMO, Iron and Wine, and His Name is Alive.
