Hello You. It’s time for episode three of my new School Of Sound Art series produced in association with Nick Luscombe’s long-running MSCTY project and aimed at those just discovering the wonderful wonky world of noisemaking for the first time (and a kind of refresher for anyone else who might be interested). In keeping with the series’ ongoing themes of exotic and glamorous locations, today we’re moving on from a Hackney Artspace and a partially restored Georgian ruin to something a little closer to home – my own rather dark and cramped studio, nestled up an alley and inside a railway arch in deepest Loughborough Junction. And no, I’m afraid I can’t explain what these balloons are for:
I’m joined in this episode by musician and sound artist Robbie Judkins, better known as Left Hand Cuts Off The Right for an investigation into the thrilling and sonorous world of feedback. Together we’re going to create a new work generated entirely from the two most basic elements of the form – the joining together in unholy matrimony of a microphone and a loudspeaker:
We also take a very brief look into ‘the history of Howlround’ (the audio phenomenon, that is) as it has been shaped in the hands of a number of sound artists and musicians over the last few decades; plus video and multimedia artist James Alec Hardy pops up along the way to provide us with some visual feedback of his own. If you’d like to try some of these experiments for yourself all you’ll need is a microphone, a loudspeaker, something to plug them both into and a VERY careful grip on the volume control – this is one experiment that can get out of control very quickly!
Thanks as ever to Nick for agreeing to host my faltering and unpredictable noisemaking experiments and to Robbie and James for jumping in and being excellent and inspiring company as always. Left Hand Cuts Off The Right’s impressive discography can be explored on his bandcamp page, including his latest album Borrowed Time, made in collaboration with the equally awesome Tasos Stamou. James’ own extensive career has at various points included sound and music, video, multimedia art, sculpture and painting. Frankly the breakneck pace of his creativity can be quite hard to keep track of, but his website and Instagram page are both good places to start. So much talent in one cramped archway!
In other news, I’m playing at Holkus Folkus at Stoke Newington Old Church this weekend (Saturday 25th June) as part of a killer all day line-up. Further information and tickets are available here. Howlround are on early at 1pm and it’s a delight to be returning to such a lovely venue as part of such a fantastic roster of artists. Headliners are old friends The Band of Holy Joy and The Seer, so come early and make sure you stick around!
Robin The Fog 