The live sound and music performance is like no other medium for expression and unpredictability, frequently yielding interesting sonic results, both on, and off stage. Sound checks, sound failures, the misassigned patch, unintended playing outcomes, FX overloads, calibrations and pinnacles of performative exploration can all create sources for eclectic new material.
In this 4th edition of Explorations in Sound, Furthernoise editor and curator Roger Mills, has assembled a voluminous compilation of artists works based on the serendipitous outcomes of live performance. This includes raw audio of tuning up, happy accidents, sound check experiments, improvisations, studio out takes, or any other means in which new source material was generated by performative chance. The fact that the compilation is so large and varied, represents the enormity of performative scenarios and experiences, that performers have when things don't quite go according to plan. Some of the results have already been recognised for their inherent originality and have become source material for new works by the artists, and it is this idea that is the inspiration for the curatorial theme. As John Cage wrote about his aleatory composition Imaginary Landscape No. 4 "A ›mistake‹ is beside the point, for once anything happens it authentically is." - John Cage (1951).
Contributions come from an international group of musicians and sound artists who are all well known creative practitioners in their fields, responding to the call “What is the sound of live performance?”
Thanks to all contributing artists, and continued support from Furtherfield.org, the Furthernoise team and Arts Council England.
Curated by Roger Mills
Sleeve image and design Neil Jenkins
Produced January 2010.
All works licensed under Creative Commons license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 UK: England & Wales.
See this issues feature for artists statements of their process and design.
Dowload zip of all mp3s and cover pdf here
FNCD007
February 2011