Touch.30
Following the Touch.30 events of early December, we received various reviews and Fabio Lugaro and Peter Knight kindly allowed us access to their photographs of the Beaconsfield events. A summary can be found here.
And UK's Norman Records wrote about the Touch. 30 years and counting release:
"There are virtually no labels on this planet that are in my thoughts as much as Touch these days, I have releases in my collection by almost the entire current roster, strange news for a lad brought up feasting on various strains of indie pop and muscular guitar heroics. Perhaps my mind illicitly craved exotic textures and unnerving sound vistas over catchy riffs or punchy anthems, I know not exactly when the shift occurred but I am sure glad it did.
That they're celebrating three decades operating from the fringes of the experimental music world, gradually positioning themselves closer and closer until they now effortlessly navigate the bleeding heart at the centre. Such is the strength and power of Touch music that all the artists concerned can contribute exclusive pieces to this anniversary celebration and despite their apparent diversity, create a seamless collage of profound moods and atmosphere-laden evocation.
As an entry point to this quiet behemoth of a label, '30 Years & Counting' works incredibly well, a very satisfying mix of tactile field recordings, heady twilight ambience, sparse modern classical, decaying post-rock fallout and granular tonal hypnosis. This enviable line-up of practitioners are kings or queens of their particular musical outposts to my ears - these four lengthy segments feature all the players at some juncture or other, fine innovators such as Oren Ambarchi, Chris Watson, Biosphere, Jana Winderen, Bruce Gilbert, ELEH, C. Hausswolff, BJ Nilsen, Fennesz, Philip Jeck, Mika Vainio and the beautiful work of my current squeeze, Hildur Gudnadottir. Look at that plethora of talent and weep with joy. Then buy what you can afford of their back catalogue, you'll never look back."
A free download of Network 21, prepared by Jon Savage, which was presented as a free CDR, can be found here; and a recording of Autodigest's live performance at Beaconsfield can be heard here.
A big thank you to all those of you who came and contributed so much goodwill to what was for us a memorable event. We are looking for a recording of Mike Harding's reading of Simon Fisher Turner's SMS - does anyone have one? unfortunately our digital recorder failed with just that one piece… The rest of the performances were all recorded.
Reviews of the Touch. 30 years and counting release, which is now available as a FLAC download - along with other essential items from the Touch back catalogue which are out of print - can be found here. We seem to have struck a chord with this one…
Buy "Touch. 30 Years and Counting" [CD] in the TouchShop
Buy "Touch. 30 Years and Counting" [DLP] in the TouchShop
Buy "Touch. 30 Years and Counting" [FLAC] in the TouchShop
30.touch33.net
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