Transcendental Animal Numbers is the second entry in the Fiepblatter Catalogue series from Jan St. Werner of Mouse On Mars. This follows Blaze Colour Burn released earlier in 2013. Transcendental Animal Numbers was initially released on cassette in an editon of 150 for the world. The cassette was pro-dubbed on chrome tape and camewith a full color J-card and free download coupon.


Transcendental Animal Numbers is comprised of edited sounds mostly derived from computer algorithms. There are no intentional references to traditional ideas of tuning, meter or spectrum. Rather, there are unexpected shifts of sonic scales, sudden frequency modulations and extreme panoramic shifts that produce an unconventionally vivid density of acoustic information. The resulting compositions are arranged seamlessly and unpredictably as if they were field recordings of animals in the wilderness. The work is a representation of an acoustic organism although no sound is derived from any living creature or acoustic source, instead it is artificiality incorporating the irrational and unpredictable into a logical mathematical system to create a black box in which sound can scatter. Werner likens Transcendental Animal Numbers to Schrödinger’s “cat in a box” experiment that proves that quantum physics is the unpredictability of one particle simultaneously existing in various states.

Although cassette is the most antagonistic medium to present such digital material, its technical limitations seemed perfect for these pieces to come as two continuous 20 minute listening sessions. Werner’s Fiepblatter Catalogue is a series of genre-dismantling releases on Thrill Jockey that encompass electro-acoustic experimentation, algorithmic elements, scored music, digital signal processing, field recordings, improvisation, public performance and graphic works.