Infinite Number of Sounds (INS) were an American instrumental electro-rock/media-art performance group that formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 2000. Described by Pittsburgh Pulp as "the ultimate visual/musical experience", INS experimented with musical forms from breakbeat to barbershop, throwing down elaborate multimedia-style live performances, augmenting their music with projected digital video imagery, edited live to the beat.
INS performed their unique live program at art galleries, music, art and film festivals, bars, salon-style "Happenings", converted warehouse environments, and institutions like the the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the Toledo Museum of Art. INS shared the stage with renowned artists like ADD N to (X), Denali (Jade Tree), Town & Country (Thrill Jockey), Drums and Tuba (Righteous Babe), Midwest Product & Dykehouse (Ghostly International), Supersystem (Thrill Jockey, formerly El Guappo on Dischord), The Six Part Seven (Suicide Squeeze) and the Evolution Control Committee. Their music was most notably licensed to MTV, RCA, Discovery Channel, NASA, Energizer as well as several small indie films and commecials.
Infinite Number of Sounds toured as a four piece ensemble, Ron Tucker (Drums and Electronics), Matt Mansbach (Guitar and Electronics), David Mansbach (Bass and Electronics) and Brent Gummow (Video and Electronics) from 2000 to December 2006 and were joined by over 30 guest soloists and studio collaborators during that period. David Mansbach produced two albums for INS, Time Wants a Skeleton (2002) and Radio Whales (2005), before Matt left the band in December 2006. Ron Tucker moved to NYC in Spring 2007. Brent and David performed live as an electronic duo, then as a trio with Jeremy Aker (x-Basement Love Underground) between the years 2007 and 2009. They released INS's third and final album "The Island of Misfit Noise" at their 200th and final performance on Saturday, March 14, 2009.
David and Brent's DIY work ethic and collaborative spirit lead to heavy involvement with the local and regional creative community. They started Infinite Number of Sounds Recording Company (INS Rec. Co.) in 2000 and ExperimentalBehavior.com with Josh Smith of avant-garde jazz trio Birth, in 2003. They were also were active members of the ALL GO SIGNS collective movement.
Infinite Number of Sounds officially disbanded when Brent Gummow relocated to San Francisco in late March of 2009, although Infinite Number of Sounds Recording Company continues to expand and provide a digital release platform for a diverse pool of forward-thinking artists, musicians, and writers. David Mansbach continues to produce music for INS Rec. Co. and performs with avant-chamber group Trepanning Trio (www.trepanningtrio.com). Ron Tucker is currently making music with City Breathing (http://www.citybreathing.com/) out of Brooklyn, NY.
