The concept for In:Flux is an improvised, electroacoustic, ambient performance by jazz musician Gary Daley on accordion and composer/improviser Fiona Hill on electronics and gestural controllers. The improvised nature of the work lends itself to varying lengths: from a distilled 15 minute performance to an extended longform meditative experience of approximately 50 minutes. The longform evolution expands and develops themes from the shorter version, through a focus on the subtle nuances and timbres of the piano accordion - captured through amplification and transformed with live processing, looping, gestural manipulation and integration with a sonic palette from Fiona Hill’s personal field recording collection. The use of textural material alongside drone and breath-like resonances creates a sonic bed which gives ample room for structural variations, exploration of subtle details and improvisation on themes and motives.

The processing of the live and pre-recorded elements is manipulated through a combination of Ableton Live and MaxMSP objects and Genki Wave Rings as the primary gestural controllers, with a noisebox and bespoke instruments built in collaboration with sculptor Phil Spelman, incorporated to allow a very organic electronic performance to take place. The computer becomes truly another instrument to be ‘played’ by Fiona with gestural movement at the forefront. By integrating the live and electronic elements through this setup the work becomes a true improvisatory dialogue between performers, both having the ability to listen deeply and respond to each other in real time, creating a unique performance each time.

Initially devised for the Millions of Us/Now You Hear Us festivals (2021) and the Australasian Computer Music Conference (2021), further performances have been at 100 Clicks West and Johnston Street Jazz in 2023 and Local Edition in 2024. A recording of the project for release on the ELKWOOD label which has distribution through European High Resolution distributor NATIVE DSD with Craig Field is planned in the near future.