Curious Ear Autumn 2019

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Mersey Floodplain Recording 1

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“trailing some idea of what radio or “field recording” really with people could be like (though of course the recording is in fact in an actual field a lot of the time) i made this test with my eldest son exploring the fields, ponds and lane which lie near our house. Its an area that is part of the flood plain of the River Mersey in Stretford, the meadow would have originally flooded in heavy rains but doesnt now due to flood defences built in the 70s; huge banks and sluice overflows into Sale Water Park. You can see the remains of some much older sluice gates and a pond which is part of the overflow system in the field we recorded in .”

New Music

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Some new sounds from Adam Fairhall on accordion, Michael Perrett on bass clarinet and me on mainly ebowed electric guitar

QUASI SPECTRAL ENGLISH FOLKSONG NOSTALGIA IMPROVISATION

“OH MY GOD WHAT A LOAD OF S##T SKEGNESS BUTLINS IS!!!”

“We visited Skegness Butlins in 2007 and it is the filthiest place I’ve ever been, it’s too expensive and poorly organised. My youngest son (11 years of age) actually cried at the end of our terrible first and last day trip to Butlins Skegness, he has never cried before from a day trip (any trip)!

We’ve been to some doosies in our time, but we always managed to have a good time at some point in the day at other disappointing attractions (usually boring museums) we didn’t even get a small amount of fun at Butlins Skegness.”

 

Initial Spring Incident (File under Thriller)

New album with long term sparring partner Richard Harrison out now digitally. This was recorded in rehearsal for our first ever duo gig together (we’ve done various trios alongside Richard Scott, Matt Wand and Dave Jackson over the years: Dave J has actually published a number of those trio sessions from Hotspur House around 2010/2011 here. 

Dusk out now!

A new CD with handprinted covers and a detail of artwork from a painting by Alexander Brealey Birchall is now out on Vernacular. Interesting for me as it explores recording quiet, end of the day, melodic improvisations, using lots of space: the kind of playing I did nearly everyday at this kind of dusk time but just as a private exercise. I realised though that sometimes very really great moments of music occur during this playing; so repeatedly recording these sessions over a couple of months this May & June has been really enjoyable; being able to capture some of these nice glistening moments.

Aliven Wool out now!

ALIVEN WOOL the new Historically Fucked album is now out on Heavy Petting! Probably the best one we did yet. We’re playing at TUSK Festival in October too. Before that you can see me and Greta from the band touring for a week in the North of England with Trinkhallen Tour Ruhr 10th-14th September.