fiffdimension*, from Aotearoa / New Zealand, is an umbrella name for music and video projects
by Dave Edwards (aka Dave Black) and collaborators, from 1850s–1990s–2000s–2010s–present
Try these compilations for starters, or click on the years for more detail:
1997-2005
“Rough outsider folk-blues mysteries, dissonant rock textures, electric and acoustic improvisations… Edwards strikes me as one of the most overlooked musicians from the fertile lands of New Zealand and if you need a fresh start this might very well be the place.” – The Broken Face
vol1 – Taranaki and Wellington DIY acoustic and electric postpunk – songs, spoken word and instrumental improvisations from the early phase of my gloriously unsuccessful career.
This was outsider music as in self taught – I’d never studied music at school, never played in a band, refused to play cover songs, didn’t know any scales etc – but composing anyway. I thought conceptually more than melodically, used unconventional (often non-diatonic) chord patterns, and brought in elements of free jazz and avant-garde influences.
2005-2012
“Experimental and avant-garde…. There is a clear passion, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries… This will challenge your perceptions of what constitutes music and open the mind to new possibilities of sounds that surround us – muzic.net.nz“
vol2 – made in New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Mongolia, and Japan
I left New Zealand for a big OE of living and working in other Asia-Pacific countries, and my music took on new sounds and influences as a result.
2012-2018
“The 20 song album covers traditional Javanese and Balinese gamelan, Asia-Pacific folk music, free jazz, and free noise…. If you have an open inquiring mind and love hearing a variety of sound, this is excellent. – muzic.net.nz“
vol3 – made in New Zealand, Western Australia, Fiji, Indonesia and Okinawa
The return journey, an island-hopping Odyssey back via different parts of Asia and the Pacific.
2019
Now based in the Wairarapa, I returned to playing solo acoustic.
2020
Ruasagavulu – by Dave Black & Snake Beings
Made in Suva: Indo-Fijian tropical devotional instrumentals for keyboards, ukulele, dholak, duduk, harmonicas, DIY kitchen gamelan, and video. This was one of the last in-person international collaborations from before the world ended.
“So easy to get totally lost in this music, recommend for helping with your inner peace” – Andi Verse
and
Poems & Lyrics by John Collie (1856),
words written in Scotland in 1856, by my great-great-grandfather and played with his other descendants.
“If aught can claim a spirit’s admiration, Sure it must be this beautiful creation.” – John Collie (1834-1893)
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John Collie’s poem ‘Solitude‘ also features on
Psi-solation: a global compilation of music made in lockdown
“Something about this global pandemic is inspiring people to create and/or curate art on a massive scale…. and this compilation, being offered for free/name-yr-price, is indeed M A S S I V E.” – Howard Seltzer
Thanks to
My various collaborators including (in no particular order)
Collaborators
Mike Kingston (cello, acoustic guitar, charango), Dr Emit Snake-Beings (vocal, percussion, flute, electronics), Paul Winstanley (fretless bass, turntables), Simon Sweetman (percussion), Nigel Patterson (hammond organ), Cylvi M (shakuhachi, percussion), Simon O’Rorke (percussion, synthesiser), Francesca Mountfort (cello), Jeff Henderson (clarinet), Blair Latham (alto sax), Sam Prebble (violin, percussion), Chris Palmer (electric guitar), Chris O’Connor (drums), Antony Milton (violin, keyboards), Campbell Kneale (electric guitar, synth), Frey (laptop), Dean Brown (drums), Nat da Hatt (electric guitar, keyboards), Hayden Gifkins (electric guitar), Ryan Prebble (tone generator), Matthew Thornicroft (electric guitar), Cylvi M (vocal, field recordings, percussion, shakuhachi), Blair Latham (bass clarinet), Chris Prosser (violin), Julie Bevan (acoustic guitar), the Digitator (electric drums, keyboards & loops), and more…
Thank you all!
10/01/2015 at 2:15 am
hello,
found the name of Totara Jack claimed as you ancestor, curious ” who are you, how are you related to him????
My name is Andrew McEwen, farming in the Manawatu, Totara Jack belongs to my Mums’s family tree, he was my 2nd Great Grandfather, he had a son Thomas Edwards, who also had a son Leonard Edward Edwards, who was my granddad on my mum’s side, her dad.
Just curious, because seen you got some old photos in your collage, of Totara jack, his son Thomas Edward and his wife Philadelphia Benge, who are some of the others in the photos?? Cheers Andrew