Beholding the spectacle that is the Singing Saw Shadow Show can be a weightless, haunting, confusing, wondrous experience. As if the eerie onslaught of saws in unison isn't enough, the Saws at times perform in an illuminated fifteen-foot rotating tent known as the Grand Carousel that captures the projected shadows in a sumptuous and bewildering feast for the senses. In August, this nine-person collective will collaborate with Toronto experimentalist Polmo Polpo (aka Sandro Perri) in a one-off show at the Brigantine Room in the Harbourfront Centre. Pras Rajagopalan prodded the affable James Anderson of the SSSS for more information on this dizzying venture.

What precipitated your affinity for the saw as a musical instrument?

Growing up in Outport, Newfoundland, listening to gulls and whales and seals and waves and wind. It's not the sound of a saw, it's the sound of numerous singing saws playing together - it's another instrument to me.

Well James, I'd like to thank you (and all others concerned) for delighting our senses when you played Wavelength back in April. What do you have planned for the show at the Brigantine Room? Will the Grand Carousel be making a return?

The show will be like the Reveries, we'll be playing the instruments which generate sound from Sandro's mouth. I hope the Grand Carousel will come. Do you know what the Brigantine Room is like? There might be things to be done there as well.

Sandro Perri's playing with you guys? Have you collaborated with him before?

This isn't our show; it's equally the Singing Saws and Polmo Polpo. These answers are 1/9th of the opinions of the group. We toured Ontario last year with PP and Jon-Rae and the River.

How much is the direction of your improvisation directed by either you or any other members of the collective?

There will not be any improvising, everything is deliciously scripted and minutely choreographed.

What does each member of the group bring to your armada? How often does the lineup change?

Each member is required to bring love, ideas and patience. Some part of the group will change with every show, but it's mostly a mental process.

What were the circumstances that brought this particular collective in its current state together?

The pairing of SSSS and PP was proposed by Jonny Dovercourt with great enthusiasm, like I've never witnessed before.

What is this I hear about you guys producing an album of recorded music?

We're so excited about live performances that we haven't put much thought into recording an "album." We've made lots of field recordings, and recorded live shows, and make recordings in our homes. They haven't translated into things we think other folks would want for themselves. And when one makes an album, they'll probably tour, and then they'll want a record label to help, and they'd have to rehearse three times a week and then there are publicists and tour managers. We like to make music. If someone asks us to come to their town, we'll come, and we do.

By Pras Rajagopalan