Dean Roberts (24 March 1975 – 10 August 2024) was a New Zealand musician and composer who worked with electroacoustic music, minimalism, free improvisation, song cycles and prog rock.[1] During the mid-1990s he was a member of the trio Thela with Rosy Parlane and Dion Workman. After Thela disbanded, Roberts recorded three solo albums under the name White Winged Moth, followed by a series of releases under his own name.

Along with Martin Brandlmayr and Werner Dafeldecker Roberts was a member of experimental trio Autistic Daughters when he lived in Italy.[2][3]

He also recorded with Eugene Chadbourne and Thurston Moore.[4]

He graduated from Elam School of Fine Arts' Intermedia department and later taught time-based arts there.[1][5]

Roberts died on 10 August 2024, at the age of 49.[6][7]

Solo discography

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White Winged Moth

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  • I Can See Inside Your House LP [Poon Village, 1996)
  • Silo Blanket LP (Formacentric, 1997)
  • Ribbon Arcade LP (Formacentric, 1998)

Dean Roberts

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  • Moth Park LP (Formacentric, 1998)
  • All Cracked Medias LP (Mille Plateaux, 1999)
  • And the Black Moths Play the Grand Cinema LP (Mille Plateaux, 2000)
  • Aluminium LP (Erstwhile Records, 2001)
  • Be Mine Tonight LP (Kranky, 2003)
  • Jealously and Diamond LP (Kranky, 2004)
  • Uneasy Flowers LP (Kranky, 2008)
  • Not Fire LP (Erstwhile, 2020)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Composer Workshop: Dean Roberts". Te Kōkī New Zealand School of Music. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  2. ^ Phares, Heather. "Biography: Autistic Daughters". Allmusic. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  3. ^ Hodge, Mac (2001). "Dean Roberts - international improviser". New Zealand Musician. 9 (6): 46–48.
  4. ^ Couture, François. "Guitar Festival Summer 1999". allmusic.com. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  5. ^ "Media art". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  6. ^ Lawson, Michael (15 August 2024). "Dean Roberts, experimental musician and composer, dies aged 49". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Dean Roberts (24 March 1975–10 August 2024)". The Wire.
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