Hello
As I sit here at my desk it’s currently 35 degrees Celsius and it seems the world is burning up all around us. It’s a most unsettling moment in time. Science fiction is rapidly becoming reality.
In rather cooler temperatures in mid-June I was back in Prague again to perform at Libeň Synagogue with the ensemble Klang Systematiek. With the audience seated all around us, we played Stockhausen’s EXPO in a witty playful way, based on a visual score, which we followed with Pauline Oliveros’ Primordial/Lift.
This work is also based on a visual score but with deep resonant frequencies vibrating through the body, so it’s very much a physical experience. Each of our shows has been recorded and there’s already conversation taking place regarding setting up a label to release each of these concerts in a new series. You’ll be the first to hear here when this happens!
Time for The Prophet
Time for a surprise new release. What began as a little studio playtime with a new software synth from the British company GForce developed into this neat little EP that’s free for everyone. Find The Prophet here.
I made a little demo online for social media and had a number of requests to make this track available, so you not only get that track, but also three additional tracks, all of which I made on the same day.
A little context – Few instruments have left such an indelible mark on modern music as the Sequential Prophet-5. You’ve heard it on countless recordings, from Michael Jackson’s Thriller album to Phil Collins, from Radiohead to Vangelis, Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, Gary Numan, Kraftwerk, oh the list goes on and on.
It was first introduced in 1978, and its seductively rich analogue warmth and unmistakable character helped define generations of sound. And now, decades later, it remains a benchmark of electronic instrument design, but the price unfortunately inhibits many of us having an opportunity to play with one.
So, it’s with this in mind that British software GForce partnered with Sequential to create the first official Prophet-5 software, and believe me, it’s a gem. I jokingly tagged the online demo as Boards of Scanner, and you’ll see what I mean. It’s all a little tongue in cheek, and hope you might enjoy them. It’s free so there’s no commitment!
Allen Ginsberg at 100
Some interesting literary connections for forthcoming concerts too. It’s 100 years ago that Allen Ginsberg was born. Ginsberg (1926-1997) was recognised as a poet, a provocateur and a cultural catalyst. Like some of the greatest writers he helped to redefine what poetry could even be, and in his hands, it became raw and musical, political and intimate, and most definitely uncompromisingly alive.
And so, I’m honoured to be one of the artists presenting their work at the South Bank Centre on Sunday 12 July for an evening that feels certain to go down in history. I’m performing an extended 30-minute version of my work ‘Elegy for Neal Cassady’ that I originally contributed to the album release ‘The Fall of America: A 50th Anniversary Musical Tribute,’ with a live film projection by Antonio Pagano.
Alongside you can expect performances from James ‘Mo’Wax’ Lavelle and award-winning producer Youth, the Raincoats Gina Birch, Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, acclaimed poet Anne Waldman, Tony Award-winning musician and writer Stew and many more. It looks set to be a unique event indeed, and will confirm how Ginsberg’s voice continues to reverberate around the world.
Allen Ginsberg at 100 takes places on 12 July at the South Bank Centre.
Interzone: Burroughs & Beats Rewired
And in September I’m taking part in an event celebrating American writer William S. Burroughs (1914-1997), and friend of Ginsberg. Long before sampling, remix culture and algorithmic disruption, Burroughs was cutting language apart and rebuilding it into something startlingly new. Armed with a pair of scissors and scalpel blade, Burroughs transformed writing into an act of sabotage and discovery.
Taking place at the Horse Hospital, the line-up is impressive, bringing together artists, writers and scholars inspired by his cut-up techniques, experimental spirit and uncompromising vision. I’ll be presenting new work, using extremely rare unreleased recordings of Burroughs, alongside Adi Newton of Clock DVA in his TAGc alias, Nova Ghost (John Gosling of PTV/Zos Kia), Isabelle De Jour and Jill Westwood, Graham Duff, Iain Sinclair, Barry Miles, Oliver Harris, Jack Sergeant and many more. It’s happening 4-6 September.
Hope to see you there! And yes, it’s being recorded, don’t worry. As Burroughs wrote – “The future leaks out through chance.”
EarSpace on Slack City Radio
EarSpace 37 played out over the airwaves in June. This time I offered some tasty freshly baked sonic delights from Clark, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Yu Su, The Field, Christina Kubisch, Kreidler, DJ Ojo, Geins’t Naït & Lø, Loula Yorke and many more.
We also slipped back in time to 1975 for some classic Kraftwerk and to 1992 for Balil and very early Aphex Twin, and in between found time to celebrate Cabaret Voltaire’s 50th anniversary. Listen back to this here and all the previous shows here.
I had a long and detailed conversation with British clarinet player Gareth Davis, who I work with in Klang Systematiek, chatting about curiosity, listening, collaboration, Stockhausen, Brian Eno, audience experience, and the possibilities that emerge when boundaries between genres, performers, and listeners dissolve. Have a read of the full article here.
I’m currently in conversation with a major contemporary art museum in Rome to install a unique adaptation of my 52 Spaces project, with a special performance on 8 October to accompany this. More on this in the next newsletter.
A Wealth of New Releases
As for future releases, I’m currently awaiting stock of a new double vinyl LP of my score to an installation in Turin last year, and a very limited 7” single in unique packaging, which will probably sell out very quickly. My new album collaboration with Ian Boddy will be out in September on DiN, so expect a full announcement for that soon.
And yes, the Nurse with Wound collaboration vinyl is on the way, finally! A very limited handful of art editions will be available soon at a higher price, with original handmade artwork, before the standard 2 LP edition goes on sale.
Future live dates are currently being confirmed in Munich, Brussels and Prague, so more on that soon too.
As ever, thanks for your support and have a great summer. I’m off for an ice cream!
Warmest wishes
Professor Scanner
LISTEN
Swans: Live Rope (Mute)
Cream: Wheels of Fire (UMR)
Kirk Barley: Arc (Marionette)
Arthur Lipsett: Soundtracks (Global A)
READ
Hit by News (Dox+)
Andrew Biswell: The Real Life of Anthony Burgess (Picador)
London in the Eighteenth Century (Atlantic Publishing)
Marcel Duchamp (The Museum of Modern Art)
WATCH
Sound of Falling: Mascha Schilinski
Personhood: Richard Jordan
Obsession: Curry Barker
Masters of the Universe: Travis Knight
