This piece was originally conceived as a soundtrack for an art gallery showing, entitled "Chaos is not Just a Theory." However, as things go, this never materialized in its initially desired form (paired DVD players set to random, playing the music in 5.1 surround).

In 2009 the music was reworked for stereo and released as a download called "Hades." In 2011 it was released on a limited CD called "The Rivers of Hades." This is the title that stuck, and in 2015 Klanggalerie reissued it again, collected with other soundtrack work from around this time (Strange Culture and Haeckel's Tale).

Acheron River
Cocytus River
Lethe River
Styx River
Phlegethon River

The Rivers of Hades was part of the music conceived as an aural art piece to accompany the release party of The Residents toy figures recently designed by Steve Cerio. The original music was conceived by Charles Bobuck to utilize two DVD players that were programmed to randomly play abstract bits of music. They would play 5.1 surround audio and each would play different things. The project (which required 12 speakers placed in a circle around the gallery) was entitled Chaos is not just a theory. In Greek mythology, Hades was a child of Chaos.

As these kinds of things go, it never quite worked out. The gallery never agreed to provide the sound system and some people felt it would be unpleasant for attending guests (correct) so by the time the toy release actually happened (there were several lengthy delays) interest had been lost and energy had moved into other projects.

Homer Flynn, Leigh Barbier, and Steve Cerio did attend and showed non-Residents art work. The cover art above is from the work shown by Mr. Flynn.

The Rivers of Hades was adapted by Charles Bobuck from part of the music written for Chaos is not just a theory especially for this release.