Category: News

Location recordings by East Midlands tape recording clubs (1959-1978)

Sunday, 15th July, 11pm, on Resonance 104.4fm

A new programme produced by Mark Vernon for framework:afield

A selection of vintage amateur field recordings from three East Midlands tape clubs: The Derby Tape Recording Club, The Leicester Tape Recording Club and The Nottingham Co-operative Tape Recording Club.

Many of these recordings were made in the days when recording on location entailed lugging a heavy and cumbersome full-size reel to reel recorder out and about with you. Outdoor recordings were often impractical but sometimes being part of a club – pooling resources and sharing knowledge, made things a little bit easier. The appearance of affordable portable battery recorders in the early 60’s granted tape enthusiasts unprecedented freedom as to what and where they could record – a freedom which most tape club members exploited to the full. Some of these recordings were made on organised outings as part of the tape club’s programme of activities; others were made independently by individual members. This selection represents just a fraction of the recordings contained within the archives. The variety and imagination displayed here is a testament to the pioneering spirit of a dedicated group of amateurs; our forebears in the pursuit of recorded sound.

Thanks to all former tape club members, in particular; Bill and Marjory Howard, Ernie Flecknoe, Brian Hayhoe, John & Lorna Buckler, John Moule, Bruce Goodwin, Dennis Blackmore and Patrick Everest.

Listen here

Also of interest – a recent post from the London Sound Survey features an excellent programme documenting the activities of the London Tape Recording Club

A collaboration between Neil Rose , Mark Vernon and Shaun Lewin. Together they will create a  live sound and film performance in response to the theme of Chinoiserie in cinema, media and popular Western/Eastern culture.

Thursday 5 July, 5.30pm to 8.30pm
Live performance 7pm to 8pm
Plymouth College of Art
Free but please book in advance by calling 01752 203434

A live recording of the audio from this performance can be heard here

130 in 1, a new radio composition, will be premiered at a special event taking place on 2nd May 2012, from 7.30pm at the Sugarhouse, a soon to be demolished warehouse-come-temporary-cinema and the latest project from Assemble Studio. This is the launch of the second round of audio works to be created through In the Dark’s Sound Bank scheme.

The venue is walkable from Stratford or Bow Church stations

Address:

Sugarhouse Studios
Unit A2, 107 High Street
Stratford, E15 2QQ

If you would like to attend please email nina@inthedarkradio.org.

All of the commissions including 130 in 1 are now available to listen to online here

Mark Vernon will present a live radiophonic mix of voice, amplified objects and field recordings, supporting downtown New York Cellist, Okkyung Lee – also with Nackt Insecton and WFMU’s Brian Turner DJ’ing.

The Old Hairdressers, Opposite Stereo, Renfield Lane
Saturday, 28th April, 2012, 8pm.
Tickets available from www.brownpapertickets.com

There will also be a free lecture by WFMU founder, Brian Turner on ‘Free Form Concepts and Independent Radio’ at 6pm.

See here for more details

A synchronized sound composition to be played simultaneously on audio-cassette tape and compact disc. The Found Sound Bulletin is an archive of lost voices, audio letters, home sing-alongs and phone conversations created especially for the Art Lending Library as part of Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art 2012. Found Sound Bulletin is now available for loan from the Mitchell Library, Glasgow.

Friday 20 April – Monday 7 May

Opening Times
Monday – Sunday 11am – 5pm
Tuesday and Thursday 11am – 8pm

Location:
Glasgow Room
The Mitchell Library,
North Street
Glasgow
G3 7DN

For more details see here

Static Cinema – Mark Vernon’s debut release for UK label Entr’acte.

Static Cinema is the result of a series of musical improvisations using household objects combined with both treated and un-treated field recordings made in Scotland, Germany and Norway between 2008 and 2010. An audio drama missing its lead actors, Static Cinema explores several evocative spaces with the roaming ear of the microphone – capturing and interrogating them for meaning. Dramatic perspective shifts equate to different scenes or cuts with long shots, close-ups, pans and zooms. The different recording locations function as spontaneous mise-en-scène waiting in suspense for an event yet to occur, or an actor still to make their entrance.

Release date: 19th March, 2012.

The CD is available directly from Entr’acte at the cost of £9 incl. postage.

Buy Here.

To read reviews click here: 1, 2

A trio of radio programmes coming up on Resonance fm. Tune in to 104.4fm if you’re in London or listen to the live stream online here: http://resonancefm.com/listen

The Sound House – Monday,19^th December, 17:00

Christmas Rewind – Sunday, 25^th December, 17:00

A Trip Down the Clyde – Monday, 2^nd January, 12:00 noon.

7.30pm Friday 18 November 2011
Free

On Friday 18 November, Storey Gallery hosts an evening of live audio and installation. Barrow’s Sound Art and Music organisation, The Octopus Collective (with special guest Mark Vernon), will perform Poulpe, a live audio performance, drawing on found texts sourced from local charity shops.

In addition Mark Vernon will present the latest version of A Christmas Rewind. Originally commissioned by Octopus for Barrow Park Bandstand, this multi-channel audio installation piece draws on the archives of the Derby Tape Recording club and includes taped letters, party recordings, seasonal music and Mark’s own compositions.

The Octopus Collective comprises artists Glenn Boulter, Andrew Deakin. John Hall and Fern Oxley. Based in Barrow Park, Octopus delivers the acclaimed FON Festival of Sound Arts and Contemporary Music, along with a regular programme of residencies, commissions, performances and education projects involving artists from the UK, Europe and Japan.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/storeygallery/sets/72157628131189877/

A new sound work by Mark Vernon commissioned by Pixel Palace for BASIC.fm – a radio station hosting Broadcast Art, Sound & Independent Culture as a series of monthly audio streams. This piece kicks off the launch of a series of monthly commissions that will be hosted for a month on continuous play. Each piece responds to the brief of work that acts in a similar way to hold music or radio and television test signals. Test Signal  consists of microphone tests collated from Mark’s personal archive of found recordings and interviews and can be heard throughout the month of November.