Combining aspects from classical, pop, jazz, and electronica in his works, Bates has created new possibilities of sound for the modern orchestra. The atmospheric Liquid Interface moves effortlessly through many spaces, evoking both the grand post-minimalism of composers like John Adams and the jazzy big-band feel of the musicals and noir films of the '40s and '50s. In the rambunctious “Chicago, 2012” movement of Alternative Energy, Bates’ electronics add stunning texture and color to the orchestra, pushing the range of sound far beyond what one would normally expect to hear in the concert hall.