Began producing and performing in the late 70s as synthesist, saxophonist and spoken word performer. Played with punk/soul group Private Lives (1979 - 1983) and fusion/impro outfit Lingo Babel (1985-1987). In the late 80s he formed the acoustic based White Punks on Hope and the jazz-punk trio, Return from Nowhere. Has composed numerous documentary soundtracks, conceived and produced interactive installations, both on and offline; published articles on independent media, generative music and radio art; and worked with pioneer community internet provider, Pegasus Networks.
He produced perhaps the first generative sound piece for Australian radio and internet in 1997, a collaboration with Stelarc, for The Listening Room (now off-air) and co-produced a series of live audio-video collaborations commencing in Melbourne in 1998 and culminating in a series of works for the the opening of the Taipei International Arts Festival in 2001. From 1997 - 1999 he co-founded, wrote, produced and performed with the Austrian based Electro-Pathological Consort and in 2005 Garton curated the innovative generative sound series, Frequency Post, for the Vienna based, KunstRadio.
Founder of Secession Records , an artist run label in collaboration with Ollie Olsen, Steve Law, DOODS and Future Eater. Currently Program Director at OPEN CHANNEL .
Also leads the " Terminal Quartet ", "Son of Science Ensemble" and performs minimalist dark ambience as "Lost Time Accident".
Garton's Podcast
Garton's Blog
Garton's Flickr