Alan Lamb’s work involves the exploration of sound structures, neither musically "designed" nor of random occurrence. Such structures possess the properties of beauty, complexity and evocation of the emotional, the spiritual and the imaginary. On the whole, sound compositions arising from these aims are not intended to possess intellectual formalism.Alan uses Aeolian sound usually generated by long wires (e.g. telegraph wires) which are manipulated using mechanical devices to change parameters of the system. These systems are often designed with a sculptural aesthetic (e.g. Spring 8 Wire Installation, below). Other works make use of mechanical sound-making devices (e.g. tuned bicycle wheels) as sound sources for stochastic, chaotic, and nature-based movements through mechanical linkages and also Infinite Music Machines, designed to explore the more patterned and beautiful sounds derived from chaos. All his works are designed and built with a visual sculptural aesthetic.
