Amoeba
Biography
Amoeba was one of the results of a multi-decade on-again, off-again collaboration between multi-instrumentalist Rick Davies and ambient composer Robert Rich. The two first met in 1979 after Davies returned from a stretch in England and Spain. Throughout the '80s they would collaborate on several bands, including Quote Unquote and Urdu. To the union Davies brought a wealth of musical experience, the ability to play instruments ranging from winds, guitars, and synth to percussion, and an understanding of electronic music which had been deepened during his time editing Music Technology and Home & Studio Recording magazines.
Equally important were the contributions made by Robert Rich. In fact, though the two had collaborated previously to the making of the first Amoeba record, Rick Davies did not work on it. Instead Rich brough in Andrew McGowan, Dave Hahn and Matt Issacson. The album did not receive strong reviews and was available only in limited quantites. Rich was a highly experimental musician. He was one of the first people to work with micro-toned synthesizers, and had performed legendary "sleep concerts" where he played ambient, droning music from late evening until morning that was designed to be listened to by a sleeping audience.
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