Markus Popp is an alchemist.

Inasmuch as the majority of electronic music employs the services of drum machines, canned samples, synthesizers and turntables as sound sources, Popp (who records as

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Oval) is an anomaly. He turns anything — aside from those conventional elements — into music.

Yes, his music is abstract. So are his descriptions of that music.

"It's just my personal challenge to reconstruct this as — not music as concept or music as a category — but to reconstruct something from elements that in their isolated or original form would never be considered musical," explained Popp, speaking on the phone from his apartment, in Berlin.

On his 1996 debut, Systemisch, Popp pioneered the use of the digital glitch — a defect in the manufacturing of a CD that sonically resembles a "skip" — as a musical device. Just as a CD player continues to read a skipping or damaged disc, Popp, playing the role of alchemist, samples, processes and arranges these staticlike blips using self-designed computer software he's named Ovalprocess — as well as some commercially available software — shaping them into undulating rhythmic and melodic textures.

For listeners who require a thumping beat or a pretty melody, Oval's music can be a bit cryptic. Strangely enough, his fascinating assortment of shimmering hums and drones, effects static and cut-up samples are not nearly as thorny as they may seem. Popp's sonic sculptures have been hailed as some of the most beguiling and enjoyable experimental music created in the last decade.

His most recent album, named for his Ovalprocess software and released in July, marked a return to the warm but emotionally distant blanket of sounds that characterized Systemisch and 1994's Diskont 94, the records that solidified his reputation as a trailblazing producer. Highlights of Ovalprocess's unnamed tracks included tracks 3 (RealAudio excerpt) and 8 (RealAudio excerpt).

Everyone Can Be Oval

Originally intended for commercial distribution, it ended up making more sense for Popp — due to the complications of distributing software to the public — to release his Ovalprocess software in installation form. Both to illustrate the unique capabilities of the program and to make a comment on 21st century work environments, the art installation Popp has devised to display Ovalprocess is intended to convey what he hopes his recorded albums impart: "I'm mainly focused on commenting on certain aspects of work flow in digital-media productivity environments," he said.

The traveling exhibition, which he named Skotodesk, will be touring the United States beginning Friday in Chicago, as part of the World Music Festival there. It will then make stops in Los Angeles, Providence, R.I., San Francisco and New York over the next five months.

Separately, Oval will also be performing live on 24 North American dates, beginning Sept. 16 in Chicago. (See below for dates.)

Skotodesk consists of a fiberglass and metal sculpture encasing a Mac G4 computer equipped with the Ovalprocess software. Two separate screens and touch pads allow users to maneuver through the program, observing the way it processes and manipulates sounds. The terminals are also equipped with a video projector that allows the screen to be viewed by those other than the user.

"In the current version that I'm shipping to the United States, Skotodesk is like a work space for one person at a time," Popp explained. "There is a demonstration loop running which will explain all the available features. As soon as someone starts using it, the normal mode of operation begins."

Popp sees his role as akin to a filmmaker. His creative method involves arranging disconnected snippets into a string of sounds that ultimately make some sort of sense.

"With Oval, the focus is much more on the process as opposed to the final musical end product," Popp said. "The actual challenge in making this music is to render it appealing in a musical way."

Multimedia Musician

Brendan Fowler, a co-curator at New York's Alleged Gallery, where Skotodesk will be installed, said Popp's piece is admirable from both artistic and musical perspectives.

"Often, a musician's transition into the art arena or gallery space is difficult, sort of awkward," he said. "I think Popp can be looked at as not a musician so much as an electronic inventor. This is really as valid as any painting we've ever shown."

Indeed, this is not the first Oval art installation. In addition to his previous Wonton and Public Beta pieces, Popp is currently showing work at the Pompidou Center in Paris and has a permanent interactive terminal at Sony's Musicbox, the company's new technology/entertainment center in Berlin.

He also recently released a live EP by his side project Microstoria, his collaboration with Mouse on Mars' Jan St. Werner, with an album on the way. In addition, Popp is working on his follow-up to Ovalprocess, titled Commers, which also will be accompanied by an art component.

Skotodesk Installation Dates:

Sept. 15–30; Chicago, Ill.; Chicago Cultural Center (World Music Festival)

Oct. 14–28; Los Angeles, Calif.; Low Gallery

Nov. 1–7; Providence, R.I.; Brown University

Nov. 8–15; San Francisco, Calif.; Amoeba Music (Haight St. store)

Dec. 7–Jan. 15; New York, N.Y.; Alleged Gallery

Oval Tour Dates:

Sept. 16; Chicago, Ill.; Empty Bottle

Sept. 17; Cleveland, Ohio; Speak in Tongues

Sept. 18; Toronto, Ontario; Lee's Palace

Sept. 19; Ottawa, Ontario; Babylon

Sept. 20; Montreal, Quebec; Foufounes Electriques

Sept. 21; Princeton, N.J.; Terrace Club

Sept. 22; New York, N.Y.; Knitting Factory

Sept. 23; Annandale-on-Hudson; Bard College

Sept. 24; Philadelphia, Pa.; The Khyber

Sept. 25; Washington, D.C.; Metro Café

Sept. 26; Asheville, N.C.; Vincent's Ear

Sept. 27; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Go Rehearsal

Sept. 29; Columbus, Ohio; Ohio St. University

Sept. 30; Columbus, Ohio; Fire Exit

Oct. 5; Champaign, Ill.; Hi Dive

Oct. 6; Madison, Wis.; University of Wisconsin

Oct. 8; Minneapolis, Minn.; 400 Bar

Oct. 12; Los Angeles, Calif.; Spaceland

Oct. 13; San Francisco, Calif.; Bottom of the Hill

Oct. 14; San Francisco, Calif.; TBA

Oct. 17; Portland, Ore.; TBA

Oct. 18; Seattle, Wash.; Graceland

Oct. 19; Vancouver, British Columbia; TBA

Oct. 21; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Send and Receive Festival

Oct. 22; New York, N.Y.; CMJ