Touch’s Jon Wozencroft talks about record collecting and his own record collection in an interview with Record Collector magazine, out now. Wozencroft discusses his first ever record, his favourite and rarest vinyls, why he is a collector and what it means to him.

www.recordcollectormag.com

It’s not often we highlight a feature and review, but this one is spot on and worth bringing to your attention. Jana Winderen‘s extraordinary album, ‘Energy Field’, received this review… she has just been in Istanbul with The Morning Line and is now working on her ten-year installation for the Hamsun Centre in northern Norway…

Tokafi (Germany):

Icy audio sculptures: Plunges you into the depths of Arctic waters.
For her new album Energy Field, sound artist Jana Winderen crafted icy audio sculptures from field recordings taken in Greenland, Norway, and the Barents Sea north of Greenland and Russia. Using a portable recording setup, the Norwegian artist and curator collected glacier, fjord, and ocean sounds ranging from ambient wind textures to cracking ice, lulling rhythms of lapping waves, and the low-end frequencies of ominous thunder. She then layered and edited those sounds into three compositions that collectively constitute nearly an hour of surprisingly musical sound art. Constantly churning textures, hypnotic long-tone oscillations, and a powerful sense of compositional arc make Energy Field a captivating and highly listenable experience that plunges you into the haunting depths of Arctic waters.

In her artist statement, Winderen writes that “in the depths of the oceans there are invisible but audible soundscapes, about which we are largely ignorant, even though oceans cover 70% of our planet.” This certainly is apparent on Energy Field, which documents an alien world of sounds that could as easily be generated from dated synthesizers as from the natural sounds of the ocean. It’s amazing just how evocative some of these sounds are. In the final minutes of the album, the high-pitched mating calls of fish weave over sustained dissonances constructed from a combination of wind and underwater hum. The result is a spine-chilling amalgamation at least as strange as anything conjurable by modern electronic music. In “Isolation Measurement,” creaking and cracking glaciers create a fizzing stereo effect from which one seemingly perceives moments of rhythmic regularity. As underlying bass currents seep beneath the texture and the sounds of birds and crashing waves become increasingly apparent, the composition hints at a climax before disintegrating into quiet gurgling.

A compositional arc of tension and relief pervades the entire album. And while it’s difficult (and perhaps unimportant) to discern how much of it is intentional versus circumstantial, it makes for a highly musical result that’s far more engaging than your typical “field-recordings as sound art” gallery installations. Sustained oceanic chords with an endless array of overtones ebb and swell over ominous low-end rumblings to generate harmonic movement and stasis. Polyrhythms emerge from the juxtaposition of churning waves and trickling water. And despite constantly changing textures, environmental consistencies of sounds, chords, and rhythms establish thematic unity to create cohesive compositions as opposed to collage-like layerings of field recordings.

‘Energy Field’ is as powerful musically as it is impressive conceptually. Winderen’s unique sonic space of naturally alien sounds and juxtapositions draws you into the depths of an unknown underwater world and holds you there. [Hannis Brown]

You can read an interview with Jana Winderen in Tokafi here (in English). For further information, her website is www.janawinderen.com and you can buy “Energy Field” in the TouchShop.

Chris Watson’s Whispering in the Leaves is an extraordinary sound installation, using recordings and natural history broadcast to transport us to the far-flung, dense rainforests of South and Central America. Throughout the summer festival, Kew Garden’s Palm House will be diffused with the dawn and dusk choruses of the myriad of creatures native to these lush tropical landscapes. A highly sensory experience, Whispering in the Leaves is a remarkable demonstration of the power of sound to evoke inaccessible and captivating locations.

Whispering in the Leaves is a powerful sound work derived from Watson’s extensive archive of wildlife and on location recordings in Central and South America – habitats that host over half of the planet’s wildlife. Diffused through the tropical foliage of Kew Gardens’ iconic building the Palm House, the surround soundtrack of wildlife dawn and dusk choruses will be transmitted at hourly intervals throughout the day for 15-20 minute durations – the approximate time taken in the rainforest for the transitions from darkness into light, and from daylight to dark. The sound pieces feature the calls and voices of thousands of species, including the howls and shrieks of black howler and spider monkeys, the musicality of diverse birdsong and the shimmering and hissing of tree frogs and cicadas.

A highly sensory and captivating experience, Whispering in the Leaves is a remarkable demonstration of the power of sound recordings and natural history broadcast to transport us to far flung, inaccessible and often extraordinary locations.

Chris Watson will perform a live sound mix in which audio recording of a three or four-hour period across late afternoon, sunset and into the night will be compressed into around twenty minutes. Featuring recordings of a tropical thunderstorm and ending with the deep, lush sounds of the nocturnal insect chorus, the performance will create an intense auditory narrative for the audience.

Whispering in the Leaves is co-produced by Sound and Music & Forma. Originally commissioned by AV Festival 08.

www.whisperingintheleaves.org
www.chriswatson.net
www.soundandmusic.org
www.forma.org.uk
www.kew.org

This week sees live appearances from both Chris Watson and Philip Jeck in the capital.
On Tuesday 11th May, Philip Jeck is performing at The Luminaire in Kilburn. He is supporting Grails – an instrumental quartet from Portland, Oregon. For further information and tickets, click here.

At 7pm on Friday 14th at The National Gallery, Chris Watson will discuss the sounds of wildlife and weather in Constable’s “The Cornfield” and the changes in sound pollution since Constable’s time. He will end with a performance of the piece he has written in response to this painting for the new Sounds of the Gallery Tour. Admission free. For further information, visit www.nationalgallery.org.uk

SPOR is a festival in Aarhus, Denmark, for contemporary music and sound art. Its mission is to present national and international sound art and contemporary music of high quality. The festival should at the same time engage and stimulate debate by dealing with themes and issues that are crucial to our time.

This year’s festival sees performances by BJNilsen (The Invisible City live) and Jana Winderen (Energy Field live), a new work from Jacob Kirkegaard titled Bandera, and a Touch seminar.

The Touch afternoon seminar on 7th May 2010 sees speakers Mike Harding, Jana Winderen and BJNilsen discuss Touch, field recording, sound art and electronic music with moderators Rasmus Steffensen (Geiger) and Thomas Bjørnsten Kristensen (Aarhus University). Harding will give an historical introduction to the label and present the two artists through interviews and music. The seminar is initiated by SPOR and takes place in collaboration with Aarhus University, Geiger and SNYK

The evening of the 7th May features Touch Live – an “Electronic Night” featuring three of Touch’s Nordic artists. BJNilsen will present a special live version of his latest CD The Invisible City. Using recordings of tape recorders, computer, organ, acoustic guitar and field recordings from Japan, Portugal, Sweden… Jana Winderen will present “Energy Field Live”, a quadrophonic concert based on the recent Energy Field album. 
Jacob Kirkegaard is working with a scientific approach to real sounds, capturing unheard sounds from within a variety of environments. At SPOR he will perform a new piece Bandera (flag in Spanish) that consists of audio recordings of flagstaff masts, installed in front of the building ‘U. S. Interests Section’ in Havana, Cuba.

www.spor-festival.dk
www.bjnilsen.com
www.janawinderen.com
www.fonik.dk

Copenhagen’s CPH PIX is a feature film festival that aims to bring people together in Denmark’s capital to see good films from all over the world; original, thought-provoking, funny and controversial films that can’t be found in regular cinema programmes. This years festival, running from April 15-25th, features the involvement of three Touch-related artists.

BJNilsen will compose and perform an exclusive score for the newly restored Fritz Lang classic “Metropolis”. PIX will screen the film in Copenhagen’s and Scandinavia’s biggest cinema Imperial, in 7.1 surround sound. BJNilsen’s performance will include field recordings and improvisations. Click here for further info. Tickets for this performance are available online at www.kino.dk

Jacob Kirkegaard will perform together with Lydia Lunch the world premiere of their new piece “Forget to Breathe”. The concert will take place at the Marble Church in Copenhagen, as part of a double concert; second part being Diamanda Gálas’ performance of “Your Kisses are like Fire”. Click here for further info. Tickets for this performance are available online at www.cphpix.dk

Last but not least, Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson is participating in a debate on film music and specifically the sound of horror. He has recently scored Fridrik Thors film “Mama Gogo”, and the horror “Reykjavik Whale Watching Massacre” which we will screen. Jacob Kirkegaard will also participate in the debate; he has worked with sound effects for the Danish horror film “Kollegiet” (“The Dorm”). Click here for further info.

www.cphpix.dk
www.fonik.dk
www.bjnilsen.com

It is with great sadness that we hear of the death of Charlie Gillett. The nicest, kindest man, he was always very supportive of Touch, especially in the 80s and 90s when we released a series of World Music albums. He will be greatly missed.

An obituary can be read on www.guardian.co.uk
www.charliegillett.com

Tokafi have published an interview with Denis Blackham where he discusses mastering the recent Eleh CD and his working relationship with Touch.

Read the article on www.tokafi.com
www.skyemastering.com
www.eleh.org

Caught by the River, in association with Heavenly Recordings, is pleased to make available for the first time a collaboration between Chris Watson and the aptly named Doves. This is a remix that Chris has done of the song “Birds Flew Backwards” from Doves’ last album “Kingdom of Rust”.

This remix can be heard over at www.caughtbytheriver.net and, for one week only, downloaded at www.heavenlyrecordings.com

The Bubbly Blue and Green is a four-day festival of eclectic “water music” influenced by shipwrecks, rivers, waves and lighthouses. Housed in the halls of Kings Place, the festival runs from the 24th to 27th February 2010 and features Philip Jeck and Hildur Guðnadóttir amongst others…

Touch artist Philip Jeck is an awarding winning turntablist feted for collaborations with the likes of Gavin Bryars. Using dusty vinyl records and processed Dansette record players the Liverpudlian conjures a galaxy of poignant, immersive textures – not least on An Ark for the Listener, a new work inspired by Gerard Manley Hopkins’ poem The Wreck Of The Deutschland.

Promoters The Arctic Circle have uploaded “Ark Overture” to soundcloud.com – a rehearsal/work in progress of what to expect from Jeck at Kings Place.

Philip Jeck – Ark Overture by arcticcircle

In addition, they have interviewed Jeck for “The Bubbly Blue and Green – Day 1” podcast.

The Bubbly Blue and Green – Day 1 by arcticcircle
More info and tickets at www.kingsplace.co.uk
www.jointhecircle.net
www.philipjeck.com
www.hildurness.com

At Numusic 2009, The Wire’s Anne Hilde Neset conducted a series of live talks in front of an audience. The interviews were all recorded and broadcast on Resonance FM. Visit www.thewire.co.uk to hear an edited interview with Philip Jeck, discussing his work, influences and techniques…

Café Oto, London
December 7th, 20h00-23h00
NB – tickets are selling fast…

In performance: Philip Jeck (turntables), BJNilsen, Lawrence English.
BJNilsen will be premiering tracks from his forthcoming album, “The Invisible City”, which will be exclusively available for sale at this event, ahead of its official release in January 2010.

Picture © Dave Knapik

Atmospheres is a London-based festival featuring Touch artists and occasionally a guest or two. The first two were held at The Bedford Arms & The Museum of Garden History in 2007 and 2008.

www.cafeoto.co.uk

On Friday 30th October, Chris Watson and Simon Fisher Turner will be performing live at The National Gallery, London.

At 6pm, join James Heard (National Gallery Education) for a short talk about the reverses of Memling’s panels of Saint John the Baptist and Saint Lawrence, which formed the shutters for an altarpiece. These beautiful landscape scenes with nine cranes (the emblem of the Florentine patron) would have been enjoyed in contemplative silence when the altarpiece was closed between services. Then from 6.20pm – 6.50pm, Simon Fisher Turner performs his piece created in response to these panels for the new Sounds of the Gallery tour, followed by music inspired by their original church setting.

Between 7pm – 7.30pm, Chris Watson will discuss the sounds of wildlife and weather in The Cornfield and the changes in sound pollution since Constable’s time. He will end with a performance of the piece he has written in response to this painting, also included in the Sounds of the Gallery tour.

Admission for both events is free.
www.chriswatson.net

Chris Watson at www.nationalgallery.org.uk
www.simonfisherturner.com
Simon Fisher Turner at www.nationalgallery.org.uk

Fever Ray has announced that Hildur Guðnadóttir will be opening shows on her 2009 “Finale Tour”. Fever Ray is the acclaimed solo project of Karin Dreijer Andersson, formerly singer with 90s pop hopes Honey Is Cool and now one half of The Knife.

Further details can be found on www.feverray.com

Hildur’s full live schedule can be read at www.hildurness.com

Biosphere, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Philip Jeck and Jana Winderen will be performing in the Lutherse Kerk, Den Haag, the Netherlands, as part of the TodaysArt 2009 festival this September.

The Lutherse Kerk will be one of the most exclusive locations of the festival. “Any performance here will be special; the acoustics of the Lutherse Kerk are outstanding and so is the ambience” say the festival organisers. “A very special church hall, inspiring artists and great acoustics; all the elements are in place to make the performances at this location legendary.”

Appearing at the Lutherse Kerk on Friday 25th are Jana Winderen and Philip Jeck. The 26th sees Hildur Guðnadóttir and Biosphere take to the stage, plus a performance of the “Eternal Chord”.

Due to the size of the Lutherse Kerk, it is advisable to show up in time to see your favorite artist.

In addition, on the afternoon of Saturday 26th Touch will be doing a Q&A in the Filmhuis. Led by Mike Harding, anybody who is interested will get the chance to talk with Touch, including the artists performing at TodaysArt 2009.

More info and tickets at www.todaysart.nl
Photos of the event can be found here

Pestival – 7:30 pm 6th September 2009

Chris Watson curates… Cross Pollination – An Evening of Experimental Insect Music, with performances by: Philip Jeck | Marcus Davidson & The Bee Choir – The Bee Symphony – as part of this piece Chris Watson multi-channel diffusion his own recordings of bees and also those made by Mike Harding in Kent in May 2009. A story of this recording trip can be found on the Touch Radio website | Maria Jardardottir introduced by Atau Tanaka.

There is a feature in The Guardian (4th September 2009) which can be read here and a blog here . You can hear an interview with Chris Watson on The Strand here.

Touch, Biosphere’s Geir Jenssen, his label Biophon Records and his publishers Touch Music would like to warn fans of a release by another artist who has decided to assume the name Biosphere, too…

Touch strongly advise fans of Biosphere to avoid buying this release. Any official Biosphere releases will be announced on Touch’s site or www.biosphere.no.

Biophon Records writes: ”We have noticed that there is some confusion on an album release called Solar Systems by an artist using the name Biosphere. Please be aware that this is NOT a Biosphere release. It’s a cheap Trance album (German style…) written by somebody we believe is Canadan. and released by the Canadian label Hopeful Tragedy Records.”

September sees Touch artists travel to Norway to take part in two festivals.

Ultima ’09, the Olso Contemporary Music Festival, includes performances by Hildur Guðnadóttir [13.09.09] and “Noise and the imagination”, a discussion between Jana Winderen, Ole Anton Engen (Health and Welfare department at Oslo City Council) and Touch’s Mike Harding [16.09.09]. Jana also gives a live performance, ‘Blind Field Recordings’.

Meanwhile, at Stavenger’s Numusic Festival, Philip Jeck is performing and in discussion with The Wire, Fennesz plays live [all 10.09.09], and Biosphere performs a “set of newly arranged club classics” [11.09.09].

www.numusic.no
www.ultima.no

Wildlife sound recordist Chris Watson investigates the man-made noise pollution which is becoming increasingly invasive in our lives and in our environment, affecting both humans and wildlife. He explores what noise is, the impact of man-made noise and the possible long-term consequences if we don’t turn the volume down.

In the oceans, increasing levels of background noise is disrupting long-distance communication among whales. On land, studies of Great Tits have revealed how birds near busy roads sing at higher frequencies than those in nearby quieter woodlands.
In 1996 the European Commission issued a Green Paper which stated that an estimated 20 per cent of all EU citizens were exposed to noise levels that scientists and health experts considered to be unacceptable, at which most people become annoyed, sleep is disturbed and health may be at risk. Noise is a health issue as well as a nuisance. Recent studies have demonstrated excessive risks of hypertension in people living near airports, even when asleep.

Following the Green Paper, the European Commission issued a directive for member states to map noise levels of major cities. Today, noise, like air and water pollution, is an environmental issue which governments and policy makers cannot ignore.

Chris discovers that education is the first step in taking personal responsibility when he explores the potential damage of exposure to loud music in public venues or on personal listening devices.

Presenter: Chris Watson
Producer: Sarah Blunt

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 9:00pm Thursday 20th August, this show is now available on the BBC iPlayer, for a week.

www.chriswatson.net
“A Problem With Noise” on the BBC iPlayer

From August 15th – 24th 2009, Touch was away on a residency at The Aldeburgh Music Festival [curated by Faster Than Sound]. We are working on a new project, The Suffolk Symphony.

Faster Than Sound presents The Suffolk Symphony by Touch, featuring Philip Jeck, BJNilsen, Jon Wozencroft, Mike Harding and Philip Marshall.

8pm – 11pm, Saturday 22 August
Hoffmann Building: Britten Studio and Jerwood Kiln Studio, Snape
Tickets: £10.00
Box Office: +44 (0)1728 687110
Book tickets online

Faster Than Sound bring more imaginative experiments with sound and image to the Snape Proms with The Suffolk Symphony, a specially commissioned residency and new work by leading sonic and visual production company Touch. Inspired by the historic coastline of Aldeburgh and its surrounding area including Aldeburgh Music’s Snape Proms and its history, Touch will create a new audio-visual symphony from scratch, using only locally sourced sounds and images. Beginning on 16 August, Philip Jeck, BJNilsen, Jon Wozencroft, Philip Marshall and Mike Harding will go on a week-long treasure hunt to unearth old records, field recordings, home-made sounds and images to create a new multimedia Suffolk Symphony, culminating in its first performance on the 22 August.

Following the offer of an Aldeburgh Residency by Faster Than Sound’s creative producer Joana Seguro, Mike Harding responded with the idea of creating a new multimedia work purely from locally sourced sound and image. Mike and BJNilsen went on an exploratory field trip in May to make initial field recordings which are being made into vinyl to be used in the performance.

The artists are already busy exchanging ideas in preparation for the residency in August, with Jeck drawing inspiration from the work of Benjamin Britten, especially his Simple Symphony, and Jon Wozencroft planning to describe the special place of Aldeburgh on film, shot in real time during the residency.

Directed by Mike Harding with sound by Philip Jeck and BJNilsen and images by Jon Wozencroft, the whole week was documented for an interactive website by Philip Marshall. The residency featured workshops and presentations by Philip Marshall and Mike Harding, including interviews with the other artists and a Touch showcase, culminating in the performance which will take place in the recently converted industrial space of the Hoffmann Building.

The interviews by Mike Harding during the residency included a discussion with his partner Jon Wozencroft about his vision for Touch, now nearly 30 years old, and an assessment of the changes which have occurred in that period. Philip Jeck discussed his work, particularly the method behind his live and recorded output, which eschews conventional instrumentation. BJNilsen assessed how field recordings have developed as source material for his work, and Philip Marshall described the way artists communicate their ideas online and how this affects the relationship between them and their audience. Each interview lasted for one hour, including a 15 minute Q & A session.

www.fasterthansound.com
www.aldeburgh.co.uk
Book tickets online