From Aural Innovations #19 (April 2002)
A true veteran of the indie sound art and electronic music scene, Hal McGee has been mining the possibilties of sound for 20 years. From his earliest collage experimentations with Viscera, and on to his electronic solo electronic explorations as Dog As Master and his many collaborations with other artists, Hal has produced a body of work that is essential listening for anyone interested in the sound and electronic avant-garde. Electronics, field recordings, words... anything that constitutes SOUND... are the ingredients for Hal's sonic sculptures. His music isn't for the car stereo, but instead requires a more active, and certainly attentive, role on the part of the listener, who benefits most from the experience when the sounds are savored and slowly digested over repeated listens.
In addition to creating his aural art, Hal was a key figure on the tape networking scene in the 1980's, his Cause and Effect mail order catalog being a source for a huge number of homemade cassette releases, and featured early recording by Nurse With Wound, Controlled Bleeding, and Robert Rich among others. Hal also published the short-lived Electronic Cottage magazine in the late 80's - early 90's.
The first link below leads to an overview of many of Hal's CD's, both solo and collaborations, from over the years. Next is an in-depth interview with Hal. So read on... and then take the plunge yourself!
For more information you can email Hal McGee at haltapes1@aol.com.
Visit the Haltapes CD shop at: http://www.ebaystores.com/haltapes.