Max Eilbacher

Baltimore serves as home base for composer, intermedia artist, and performer Max Eilbacher. Solo projects draw upon electro-acoustic methods together with process-driven computer music, while also embracing the spontaneous ethos of the American noise underground. Unpredictable collages integrate modular synthesis, generative programs, field recordings, and found sounds. Spectrum Spools issued the 2013 solo album Red Anxiety Tracers; NNA Tapes released Schizophrenia as Architecture in 2016. Additional partnerships include bass and electronics duties in the avant-rock quartet Horse Lords as well as frequent work with the conceptual electronic duo Matmos.

In the late 2000s Eilbacher performed violin and saxophone inside the psychedelic rock group Teeth Mountain and took part in the actionist-inspired experimental outfit Needle Gun. Horse Lords formed in 2010 when he joined saxophonist Andrew Bernstein, guitarist Owen Gardner, and drummer Sam Haberman. The ensemble employs hand-modified instruments, plays in just intonation, and explores microtonal harmonies alongside algorithmic techniques. Their self-titled debut arrived in 2012, after which the quartet maintained an active schedule of touring and releasing full-lengths and mixtapes.

After earlier limited cassettes and CD-Rs, Red Anxiety Tracers marked Eilbacher’s first proper solo LP on Spectrum Spools in 2013. That year he also contributed to Matmos’ The Marriage of True Minds and sustained ongoing performance and recording work with the duo. Fogged Records put out the second solo album, Subtle Scatter, in 2015. NNA Tapes issued Schizophrenia as Architecture the following year. SEF III, a project shared with Alex Moskos and Duncan Moore, appeared on Ehse Records in 2016; a second SEF III album followed two years later. Anòmia, the Spanish label, released Here a Peak, There an Abyss in 2020 after further cassette and CD-R output. Portraits GRM, the joint imprint of Editions Mego and INA GRM, issued the split LP containing his composition Metabolist Meter (Foster, Cottin, Caetani, and a Fly) alongside work by Lucy Railton.