Portal by George Chua and Dharma

George and Dharma have been active in the Singapore underground music scene since the early 90s. Although having admired each other’s work through the years, Portal marks their first collaboration which was recorded live in 2016 at a practice studio in preparation for their debut gig. With some editing and overdubs (tracks 3, 5 and 7), George on modular synth and Dharma on prepared and conventional guitar whip and churn up a sonic experience that invites one to a world beyond a derelict portal that holds the gateway to submerged archetypes, future antecedents and possibly, transcendence.

Dharma is the guitarist from Singapore avant rock band The Observatory and also presents his work as a solo improviser and in different configurations with other improvisers. The approach in his playing incorporates extended techniques with various preparations and effects, resulting in percussive and textural sonics that go beyond what one would expect of the instrument.