After researching Rusollo's noise machines I wanted to make some resonating devices that would modify another acoustic signal. I began looking for readymade objects and deicide that something like a metal dustbin would do the job. In order to experiment with the dimensions of the object I began working in sheet steel and produced a series of what are essentially steel drums. The visual aspect of these is just a product of construction and the fact that it was the first time I have tried wielding. On reflection there is a relationship to the steam machines in their simple form. I added legs for practical reasons, but their irregular construction and patina give them a zoomorphic quality, like the steam machines.

Developing work from these came from exploring them. The first obvious thing to do is hit them and through repeated rapid beating, like a snare roll, the percussive element shifts and reveals the resonant tone. By moving around the surface of the drum the tone has different qualities. Thus the idea for a piece involving multiples exploring this element arose. Rubbing them with half a rubber ball on a chopstick created an interesting effect which suggested another piece.

Exploring further I went back to my ideas for the "grinders" and began adapting some of them by adding a grinding wheel. In someway it becomes like a record-player, the metal spikes as styluses playing the surface of the steel. This process also leaves interesting concentric circular marks. The sound produce is probably the most challenging yet, louder than the "poly-squealer" and really piercing, that sort of sound that makes your temples throb, recordings just don't really match up.