Residing in Philadelphia, this composer gained recognition chiefly via his onstage synthesizer recitals utilizing vintage Buchla gear, his compositions created for dance productions and theatrical works, along with his joint musical projects. Starting in 1976, Charles Cohen took up the uncommon Buchla Music Easel synthesizer, eventually earning acclaim as an expert on it. His spontaneous creations, whether captured live or recorded, radiated energy and delight, spanning from puzzling abstract explorations to more inviting tuneful selections. In common with fellow composer-performers, Cohen regarded live shows as the authentic musical encounter, gracing countless electronic music spots and experimental festivals with his presence. Yet it was the German experimental techno imprint Morphine Records that elevated Cohen's output to wider awareness by issuing much of his vast body of work on vinyl and compact disc for the initial occasion. During 2013, vinyl editions appeared of his cassette Music for Dance and Theater from that same year, alongside Group Motion featuring two lengthy pieces dating back to 1989, and The Middle Distance compiling various efforts from the seventies and eighties. These three albums came out together as the double CD A Retrospective in 2014, complete with additional tracks. Morphine put out Brother I Prove You Wrong in 2015, consisting of a double LP containing fresh compositions. On September 29, 2017, Cohen passed away due to natural causes.
