{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/62bc729dcf1ab400126c1e1b/6a931747cb03bea43de8ce30?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Martin Bisi: Forty-Five Years of Sonic Murder","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/62bc729dcf1ab400126c1e1b/1788024321458-0bc62ee9-681d-4ad2-8d4e-7f87cb19ccfd.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>This week we're putting <em>The Tonearm</em>'s needle on producer and engineer <strong>Martin Bisi</strong>.</p><p>Bisi has run BC Studio out of the Gowanus section of Brooklyn since 1981, recording Sonic Youth, Swans, Herbie Hancock's \"Rockit,\" and countless others.</p><p>We discussed his new album, <em>Dancing On The Power Lines</em>, his ongoing community activism, the changing landscape of New York's music scene, and so much more. It’s a good one.</p><p>(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Martin Bisi's <em>Dancing On The Power Lines</em>)</p><p>—</p><h2><strong>Dig Deeper</strong></h2><p><strong>Artist and Album:</strong></p><ul><li>Visit Martin Bisi at <a href=\"https://www.martinbisi.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">martinbisi.com</a> and follow on <a href=\"http://youtube.com/user/iammartinbisi\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube</a> and <a href=\"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Martin-Bisi/10025408974\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook</a></li><li>Purchase <em>Dancing On The Power Lines</em> from <a href=\"https://martin-bisi.bandcamp.com/album/dancing-on-the-power-lines\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Bandcamp</a> or <a href=\"https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/dancing-on-the-power-lines-martin-bisi/jepcflz4rpi6q\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Qobuz</a> and listen on your <a href=\"https://album.link/i/6770869836\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">streaming platform of choice</a></li><li><a href=\"https://sites.google.com/bcstudiobk.com/home\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">BC Studio</a> — established 1981, Gowanus, Brooklyn</li><li>Previous release: <a href=\"https://martin-bisi.bandcamp.com/album/your-ultimate-urban-fantasy\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Your Ultimate Urban Fantasy</em></a> EP (2024)</li><li><a href=\"https://bc35anniversary.bandcamp.com/album/bc35-the-35-year-anniversary-of-bc-studio\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>BC35: The 35 Year Anniversary of BC Studio</em></a></li></ul><p><strong>Live:</strong></p><ul><li>The Martin Bisi Ensemble plays <a href=\"https://www.surewecan.org/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Sure We Can</a> recycling center in Brooklyn, Sunday, September 13, 3–7 pm</li></ul><p><strong>Collaborators:</strong></p><ul><li><a href=\"https://noraalmeida.com/home/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Nora Almeida</a> — writer, performance artist, and activist who wrote about half the lyrics on the album, including \"CubeSmart Sunset\"</li><li>Almeida's <a href=\"https://noraalmeida.com/laststreet/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Last Street End in Gowanus</a> (2021), the public artwork behind the street-end conversation</li><li><a href=\"https://sleepinggiantglossolalia.bandcamp.com/album/martin-bisi-collective-the-last-street-end-of-gowanus-by-the-autonomous-people-of-gowanus\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Last Street End of Gowanus by the Autonomous People of Gowanus</em></a> — Martin Bisi Collective, on Sleeping Giant Glossolalia</li><li>Joan Hacker (voice, synth)</li><li><a href=\"https://diegoferri.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Diego Ferri</a> (bass, baritone guitar) and Oliver Rivera Drew (drums), the Berlin chapter of Bisi's band</li></ul><p><strong>Gowanus:</strong></p><ul><li><a href=\"https://www.voiceofgowanus.org/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Voice of Gowanus</a> — the all-volunteer group Bisi belongs to, advocating for a cleanup fully protective of human health</li><li><a href=\"https://www.artsgowanus.org/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Arts Gowanus</a> — the arts advocacy organization he says conceded they hadn't thought about music</li><li><a href=\"https://www.gowanusdredgers.org/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club</a> — Lawrence Peryer's old paddling club</li><li><a href=\"https://powerhousearts.org/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Powerhouse Arts</a> — the converted power plant at 322 Third Avenue</li></ul><p><strong>Venues:</strong></p><ul><li><a href=\"https://www.lowlandsbar.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Lowlands</a> — 543 Third Avenue, live music Mondays and Tuesdays</li><li><a href=\"https://mamatriedbk.com/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Mama Tried</a>, Brooklyn</li><li><a href=\"https://www.brooklynvegan.com/max-fish-on-orchard-has-closed-due-to-covid-looking-for-new-location/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Max Fish</a>, formerly of Ludlow Street</li></ul><p><strong>Musical References:</strong></p><ul><li><a href=\"https://genreisdeath.bandcamp.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Genre Is Death</a> — the Brooklyn duo Bisi recorded at BC Studio</li><li><a href=\"https://bachtrack.com/review-branca-bloor-hallucination-city-lincoln-center-new-york-june-2026\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Glenn Branca's Symphony No. 13 (Hallucination City) for 100 Guitars</a> — reviewed after its June 12, 2026 performance at David Geffen Hall, conducted by Reg Bloor, the first New York performance since the 2001 premiere at World Trade Center Plaza</li><li><a href=\"https://podcast.thetonearm.com/kevin-sun-emotion-technique-and-the-language-of-jazz/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Kevin Sun on <em>The Tonearm Podcast</em></a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.herbiehancock.com/2015/04/20/feature-the-making-of-rockit/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Herbie Hancock, \"Rockit,\" and Grand Mixer D.ST</a></li><li><a href=\"https://tapeop.com/interviews/51/martin-bisi\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Martin Bisi: NYC Producer &amp; Sonic Youth Engineer - Tape Op</a></li></ul><p><strong>Documentary:</strong></p><ul><li><a href=\"https://soundandchaos.vhx.tv/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Sound and Chaos: The Story of BC Studio</em></a> — directed by Sara Leavitt and Ryan C. Douglass</li></ul><p>—</p><ul><li>Dig into this episode's complete show notes at <a href=\"https://www.podcast.thetonearm.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">podcast.thetonearm.com</a></li></ul><p>—</p><p>• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate <em>The Tonearm</em> ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.</p><p> • Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of <em>The Tonearm</em> in your podcast app of choice.</p><p> • Looking for more? Visit <a href=\"https://podcast.thetonearm.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">podcast.thetonearm.com</a> for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the <em>Talk Of The Tonearm</em> email newsletter. You can also follow us on <a href=\"https://bsky.app/profile/thetonearm.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Bluesky</a>, <a href=\"https://social.lol/@thetonearm\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Mastodon</a>, <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/@TheTonearm\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">YouTube</a>, and <a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-tonearm/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">LinkedIn</a>.</p><p> • Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, <em>The Tonearm</em>! → <a href=\"https://www.thetonearm.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">thetonearm.com</a></p>","author_name":"Lawrence Peryer"}