Hello
I’ve just returned from New York City which turned out to be an absolute blast.
‘Eno’ in New York City
I was invited to have a public conversation with film director Gary Hustwit about his new documentary on Brian Eno at the wonderful arthouse cinema Film Forum. It’s many years since I last visited Film Forum, and the second time I’ve seen the film, and this time it was an almost entirely different work. As some of you might know, this is a generative work, drawing on over 500+ hours of archival footage, so each screening takes a fresh approach and direction, reinventing itself at every viewing.
So, we chatted and answered questions to a capacity crowd, where much laughter was had and amusing stories exchanged. My favourite was from Eno’s gallerist Paul Stolper, in London, who had told me, just days before, about walking from Eno’s studio to his home one day recently. He asked how many routes he could take to get from one to another, and Eno responded 64! So, which route are we taking today, Paul asked, and Eno answered ‘29L!’ Does that suggest there is also a 29A, a 29B and so on?
The remainer of the trip was an adventure each day, meeting friends, visiting bookshops and galleries, and experiencing that kind of truly epic New York thunderstorm where your shoes are completely soaked through within 30 seconds, and the skies almost apocalyptic with intention! And within just 10 mins it looks like you’ve been swimming in the Hudson River, fully clothed.
The Berklee Sessions
Reviews are continuing to arrive for The Berklee Sessions and they are truly amazing. I am rather astounded, as I was honestly questioning whether to release this album or not. I feared it would alienate a large part of my audience, yet at the same time it has demonstrated that I refuse to be labelled and pigeon-holed.
The Wire Magazine wrote that “it hits the kind of open-ended all-consuming groove to be found in The Necks, Tortoise or Miles Davis: pulsating, circulating jazz patterns, bass bubbling through ring modulation and envelope filters.’ Whilst The Quietus wrote: “Pretty and soulful, that bridges jazz and space rock’s sensation of cosmic vastness with the relentless forward drive of krautrock.’
Thanks to everyone who has bought a copy of the CD and digital download, or listened on streaming services. You can pick up the album at my Bandcamp account, with an exclusive special live remix by American musician Richard Devine recorded in Boston in 2014. It’s the third release on my new Alltagsmusik label in 2024. Buy it here. And every purchase is accompanied by a signed postcard and stickers.
Spare Trousers and Favourite Knobs
To accompany the release, I made a few interviews in recent weeks. I had a chat with Martin Yam Moller, in a very playful conversation, where I was invited to choose my favourite knob on a machine amongst other things. I spoke about the concept of ‘retiring,’ and how Lemmy of Motörhead always advised to travel with a spare pair of trousers, and much more. You see, you can pick up Life Hacks in my interviews, you know!
It’s also an opportunity to take a peek inside my studio, and admire some of the sonic toys that bring me joy. It’s an Adult’s Only glimpse into synth porn! Read the article in full here.
I also chatted with Electricity Club, talking about the joy of waking up super early in the morning, systematic approaches to work, not overthinking projects and collaborations, the rewards of taking on projects that intimidate me, and being constantly inspired by new music. Read it in full here.
VSM IV Preset Fun
Every now and then I create presets and sounds for synthesiser and software companies. Most recently, I collaborated with the wonderful British company GForce on their VSM IV synth. Here’s a little interview I made regarding my work on this software. It’s a 2-minute read, which you can find here.
‘Split’ in Austria and Harry Smith in Italy
‘Split’ returns to the stage in August, at ImPulsTanz in Austria. It’s on a double bit with How To Be Us. Split is an award-winning dance that I scored for Australian choreographer Lucy Guerin. It’s a truly extraordinary work, and I encourage you to make the effort it to see it. As Lucy says, it’s about the balance of the female body, “so profoundly marked by commercialisation, exploitation, shame and shock.” The Austrian premiere takes place on 08 August 2024. Details here.
Last October 2023 I premiered a new project at the grand Cineteatro Don Bosco in Potenza, Italy for the MA/IN festival, based around the films of influential American maverick artist Harry Smith, which celebrated 100 years of his birth. I will be performing a version of this in the UK later this year, by the seaside, but more on that once it’s officially announced.
Future Live Shows
Speaking of which, a few new live shows have now been confirmed for the coming months. On 24 October, I will performing an entirely new commissioned work for Adrian Utley’s Drones for the Dark Months at St George’s Bristol, which looks set to be great fun. Then there is a full weekend of music for Switched On in Whitby in early November, where I’ll be performing a headline set.
The night also features the Spiralis Aurea Trio led by Stefano Pilia with Alessandra Novaga and Adrian Utley himself, and Bristol’s own JOW, featuring Pete Judge and James Gow. It looks set to be an evening of minimalist soundscapes and mediaeval composition.
On 23 November, I will be performing at Hymns for Robots in Lancaster, UK, alongside Gordon Chapman-Fox, who is better known by his playfully extensive artist name – Warrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan. This will be an all-day event and both Gordon and I will be presenting entirely new sets of music.
And lastly, on 11 December I will presenting my work at Centre Pompidou in Paris in Cinema 2, as part of their Video and after 2024 cycle. I will be showing films, playing music and chatting with Nicolas Ballet, curator for the New Media department of the Centre Pompidou. Tickets are free, but only available 3 weeks before the event, so keep a note in your diary if you intend to come along.
EarSpace First Birthday Party
I still can’t believe that my radio show, EarSpace on Slack City Radio, is now already a year already. It feels like only yesterday that it was still sleeping in its cot. Listen back to the first birthday party, where I bring you electronic music from the past, present and future, with a positive spirit, featuring new music from Drum & Lace, μ-Ziq, David Morley, Clock DVA, Splashgirl & Robert Aiki Aubrey Lowe.
We also go back in time to enjoy Plaid, Peter Zinovieff, Philip Jeck, The Threshold Houseboys Choir, and party like there’s no tomorrow with Basic Channel. Well, almost. Listen back to this latest episode, and all the other shows the past 12 months here.
Columns in ‘Reverb’
In early August, there will be announcement regarding this very unique art edition vinyl I have made in collaboration with the truly legendary artist and designer Ben Kelly (Hacienda, Vivienne Westwood and much more). It’s currently being exhibited as part of Reverb at 180 Strand in London.
I spent a day signing copies of this special viny edition, will be available through The Vinyl Factory. I’m super excited to hold a finished copy of this in my own hands!
The exhibition itself features work from Theaster Gates, Es Devlin, Caterina Barbieri, Stan Douglas, Virgil Abloh, Deller, William Kentridge, Carsten Nicolai and many more. Find all the info here.
Lots more stories and adventures next month! Wishing you a lovely August!
As ever, thanks for your support.
Warmest wishes
Professor Scanner
::: listen :::
The Threshold HouseBoys Choir: Amulet (Infinite Fog)
The Police: Synchronicity (UMR)
James Tenney: Postal Pieces (Blume)
Taylor Deupree: Sti.ll (Greyfade)
::: read :::
Philip K Dick: The Main in the High Castle (Penguin)
Inspire the Music 50 years of Roland (Bjooks)
Doug Aitken: Sleepwalkers: A Future Time Capsule (Princeton Architectural Press)
Duras/Godard Dialogues (The Film Desk)
::: watch :::
Le parfum vert: Nicolas Pariser
Bottoms: Emma Seligman
Kinds of Kindness: Yorgos Lanthimos
Longlegs: Oz Perkins
