This is a true blast from the past and proof that social algorithms can in fact be manipulated. As I’ve been scouring the interwebs for artistic inspiration, more and more fringe forms of expression are being served to me because that is what I tend to look for. I’ve discovered that I can actually force my feeds to bring me the strange and original work that I enjoy. In a sense, turning how they target ads and content to my advantage.
Then, just the other night, a fantastic thing happened. A video came across my feed and I immediately recalled a decades-old memory of a street encounter in NYC. It was 1996 and I was strolling thru the Village when I came across a most curious site. In 2008, I’d recount the incident on my website.
What the hell is that? I stood dumbfounded on the corner of West 3rd and Broadway. There sat this guy. He strummed, scraped and slid metal rods and picks across strings strung on slabs of wood. He whacked bells and sang in this quirky tone that drew me in closer. I was mesmerized.
What I had witnessed was a musical mad scientist from Brooklyn named Bradford Reed and his brilliantly weird contraption called Pencilina. A magnificent bit of musical engineering, invented by Reed in the 1980s. It’s a double neck, three-bridge guitar of sorts. One neck has six strings tuned like a standard guitar. The other neck has four strings tuned like a bass. That’s where the ‘guitar’ similarities pretty much end.
Wedged under the strings of each neck are movable rods (the so-called third bridge). A wooden one for the guitar and a metal one for the bass. These rods create adjustable segments of pitch on each neck. Mounted on the outer frame are a fire bell, a doorbell and two brass telephone ringer bells. There are four built-in pickups. Two are contact mics in the bridges and the others are guitar pickups placed under the strings at the opposite end. The whole thing is played like a percussion instrument. I of course bought his CD at the time titled ‘Live! at Home’.
Listen to the track ‘Dreaming Man’ from ‘Live! at Home’ (released in 1996)
Fast forward to 2026 and Reed’s latest release titled ‘Petal Tones’. His setup and sound have certainly evolved over the years. While Pencilina is still the central character, the overall orchestration has expanded to include other instruments such as drums, musical saw, saxophone, keyboards, and more. The avant-garde foundation has been built upon resulting in a new ethereal and spiritual experience.
There’s a near thirty-year gap since first discovering his music thanks to the complexities of life and the relentless passage of time. This new release certainly is a complimentary extension to those early years. Once delightfully quirky and jarring, the sound has matured to be more thoughtful and inviting yet still challenging. There’s a sophistication supporting a meditative quality. Allowing the listener to get lost in tones and feel, unaware of the destination yet fully engulfed in the journey.
Watch the video for the song ‘Bass Intuition’.
Reed’s attention to the music’s architecture is impressive and refreshing. The new instruments accentuate without distraction. Reed has also worked to alter his mindset by rethinking his playing style and compositional approach. Switching from what he felt comfortable with to more unfamiliar methods. Whether that be which hand he used for playing a part, the size of the drums, or the less tangible thought process in building a piece.
As Reed himself puts it;
I let my monkey mind dissolve and disappear into the
patterns that came out of my body as I played.
Go, check out Bradford Reed’s newest release ‘Petal Tones’ on Bandcamp.
Here is a clip of Reed performing on Pencilina.
@pencilina1 Rhythm decisions 🪷Petal Tones🌻-> Bandcamp #pencilina #drumming #experimentalinstruments #custominstruments #rock
I’m so happy my new manipulation of the social algorithms lead me to this wonderful rediscovery. I’m happy to see that Bradford Reed is still putting out such amazing, creative music. It just goes to show that real music is out there, true artists are out there, and you can actually force the feeds to feed you what you want.
Bandcamp → bradfordreed.bandcamp.com
Linktree → linktr.ee/pencilina
TikTok → tiktok.com/@pencilina1
Instagram → instagram.com/pencilina1
Facebook → facebook.com/bradford.reed.7
Wikipedia → en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_Reed
Cheers!
Stephen
