Biography
Formed as a duo in 1993, Transient v Resident brings together Martin Archer on synthesizers, electronics, amplified objects, and woodwind with Chris Bywater on synthesizers, electronics, amplified objects, and guitar. That year Archer chose to dissolve his saxophone quartet Hornweb and step away from the jazz world. Electronics soon occupied his attention, and TvR numbered among the fresh projects that followed. Whereas Archer’s solo recordings arise from prolonged studio work, TvR alone among his activities moves into live performance. The duo’s music further distinguishes itself from his solo output by drawing more heavily on the language of the ’70s German synthesists. Its range shifts from experimental electronics to ambient dub to sound installations according to the demands of each performance setting. Since its launch in 1993, Transient v Resident has issued the studio albums Electrical Shroud (1997) and Medulla (2001) along with a succession of live CD-Rs, all appearing on Archer’s Discus label.