Toop was a music writer, broadcaster and a member of the London Musicians Collective with a particular interest in ethnic percussion and homemade wind instruments.[2] Eastley was a kinetic sculptor who had created unusual new instruments such as the Centriphone and a Hydraphone.[2] Toop and Eastley used these instruments to create the album.
The album was one of the first four releases on Eno's Obscure Records when they were simultaneously released in a limited edition of 2,000 copies each on December 5, 1975. This release had the catalogue number Obscure no.4. In common with most of the releases on Obscure it was produced by Brian Eno.
Track listing and personnel
Side A
No.
Title
Writer(s)
Length
1.
"Hydrophone"
Max Eastley
8:59
2.
"Metallophone"
Max Eastley
7:02
3.
"The Centriphone"
Max Eastley
4:48
4.
"Elastic Aerophone / Centriphone"
Max Eastley
4:56
Side B
No.
Title
Writer(s)
Length
1.
"Do The Bathosphere"
David Toop
2:35
2.
"The Divination of the Bowhead Whale"
David Toop
16:42
3.
"The Chairs Story"
David Toop
3:30
Track B1
David Toop
The Cetaceans - Brian Eno, Chris Murno, Phil Jone
Track B2
David Toop - Guitar, bowed chordophone
Brian Eno - Bass
Paul Burwell - Bass drums, large lorry hub, 2-string fiddle
