Studio Approach Called Xenochrony

In Mix Magazine interview Zappa discussed studio approach called Xenochrony, "In this technique, various tracks from unrelated sources are randomly synchronized with each other to make a final composition with rhythmic relationships unachievable by other means."

Zappa named the approach "xenochrony" from the Greek words xeno (strange) and chrono (time).

Working in studio_1

On Zoot Allures track "Friendly Little Finger" the solo guitar and bass were taped in a dressing room on a 2-track Nagra and later put together with an unrelated drum track for a song called "TheOcean Is The Ultimate Solution" Further example can be "Rubber Shirt", which is a song on the Sheik Yerbouti album.

Here is the song:

Xenochrony has the capacity of simultaneously combining otherwise incongruent times, places and spaces, adding a different aspect to his tendency to self-reference.

Xenochronic concepts especially encourage the listener to involve with his music ‘vertically’: comparing particular sound objects to similar or identical practices that have happened somewhere else; thinking about the effect of what actually sounds like twentiethn century classical music to be composed by a rock musician; or pondering the result of two otherwise incongruous models or sounds that don’t belong together.

Enjoying in studio_2

Technique turned out to be an effective new compositional tool. FZ continued to utilize the approach on albums like Lumpy Gravy  and Joe’s Garage arguably representing the most fascinating example, where all of the guitar solos aside from ‘Watermelon in Easter Hay’ are moved from some other recordings.