// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the living system's attribute say? It's a cell-abration.

Some Attributes of a Living System
Studio album by Mnemonists
Released	1980
Recorded	October 1979 – February 1980
Studios	Pendragon (Fort Collins, CO)
Genres	Free improvisation, drone
Length	43:07
Label	Dys
Producer	William Sharp
Biota chronology
Mnemonist Orchestra (1979) Some Attributes of a Living System (1980) Horde (1981)

Some Attributes of a Living System is the second studio album by the free improvisation ensemble Mnemonist Orchestra, released in 1980 by Dys Records.

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Fragment 1"
2.	"Fragment 2"
3.	"Fragment 3"
4.	"Fragment 4"
5.	"Fragment 5"
6.	"Fragment 6"
7.	"Fragment 7"
8.	"Fragment 8"
9.	"Fragment 9"
10.	"Fragment 10"
11.	"Fragment 11"
12.	"Fragment 12"
13.	"Fragment 13"

Side two

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Fragment 14"
2.	"Fragment 15"
3.	"Fragment 16"
4.	"Fragment 17"
5.	"Fragment 18"
6.	"Fragment 19"
7.	"Fragment 20"
8.	"Fragment 21"
9.	"Fragment 22"

Personnel

Adapted from the Some Attributes of a Living System liner notes.

Mnemonists

• Mark Derbyshire – tape, electronics, engineering
• John Herdt – electric guitar, spoken word
• Torger Hougen – spoken word, percussion
• Hugh Ragin – trumpet, trombone, piccolo, percussion
• Steve Scholbe – alto saxophone, electric guitar, percussion, spoken word, arrangements (A10)
• William Sharp – piano, tape, electronics, percussion, spoken word, production, arrangements (A1, A2, A4, A5, A7, A10, A12, A13, B2, B3, B5–B9)
• Sara Thompson – double bass
• Randy Yeates – spoken word, percussion

Additional musicians

• Steve Bennett – acoustic guitar and electric guitar (A10, A13, B5)
• Renais Goddard – spoken word (B8)
• Kent Hotchkiss – spoken word (A2)
• Ruth Hougen – harp (B7)
• Melissa Katsimpalis – spoken word (A9, B8)
• Tom Katsimpalis – percussion, acoustic guitar (A1), spoken word (A9)
• Ken Lark – percussion, spoken word, drums (A4, A5)
• Mark Schulz – bass guitar (A4, A5, B7)

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United States	1980	Dys	LP	DYS 02

External links

• Some Attributes of a Living System at Discogs (list of releases)