The Musical Electronics Library (M.E.L.) is once again happy to present the return of “Office Ambience” – a series in which artists are invited to perform in the Audio Foundation’s office space using pieces from the M.E.L. catalogue (https://mel.myturn.com/library/inventory/browse). Come down for a look and a listen, perhaps ask a few questions, and browse the M.E.L. collection.

On the 13th of May M.E.L. is thrilled to host legendary Wellington improvisor Simon O’Rorke

Simon O’Rorke discovered improvised music while a student in London. After emigrating to New Zealand, from 1992 he formed free improv ensembles in Wellington, at a time when activity in the genre appeared to be otherwise non-existent in the city. Simon’s openness to collaboration and his singular approach to spontaneous music making influenced a generation of New Zealand improvisors, his playing sessions becoming somewhat a right of passage for younger musicians exploring free improviastion.

Since the improv scene took off in the1990’s, O’Rorke has collaborated with many of New Zealand’s leading improvisors. Originally a bass guitarist, he has specialised in percussion since 1997 and then, from 2010, synthesizers and software instruments.
O’Rorke has recently started to create software electronic works with a sequencing/composition application he is developing. Against the Tyranny of 4, the resulting work that has been published so far, can be found alongside collaborative improvisations at https://soundcloud.com/simonor.