Hans Zimmer used these amazing sound sculptures, created by Chas Smith, for the upcoming Superman film. I've bowed a few things (cymbals, bells, egg slicer) but nothing this elaborate. How prominent these sounds end up in the film itself I can't say, but it's inspiring to see and hear them in action behind the scenes.
Last year I helped Ian Helliwell record the EMS VCS3 (we actually used an EMS AKS) Synthesiser parts for Tristram Cary's 'chance' composition Trios. The piece, which involves 3 performers - one on synthesiser, the other 2 using dice to determine which tracks to play from 2 prerecorded vinyl records, was performed at the Hackney Picture House in March 2013. The dice in this performance were donated to Ian by Tristram Cary himself, and it is Cary's voice you hear at the start of the recording introducing Trios.
We chose to pre-record the synthesizer parts to reel to reel tape and substituted CD's for the original vinyl. Ian provided the projections and directed the video.
Here is a recording I made of a Typhoon Jet over Shoreham in Sussex. Whilst I don't agree with everything these machines are used for, you can't deny the sky splitting barrage of sound isn't mind blowing.
Technical note - I used the new Zoom H6 handheld recorder and X/Y microphone for this recording. No compression or treatment in post.
Using Monorail, Disneyworld and EPCOT archive material and some footage I shot whilst visiting Disney World in Florida last year, I have created a video for the Simonsound single 'The Beam'.
Here is a recording from a live space ritual performed in Dome B at Herstmonceux Observatory in Sussex. Combining Buchla Electric Music Box, Kaleidoloop and a Yapp 36 inch refracting telescope, the aim was to summon cosmic transmissions from deep space. Over the course of the evening we picked up voices of long lost astronauts, stars being born, distant undiscovered planets with strange atmospheres, creaking relics of the space race and many more things that defy description. The sounds of these space transmissions can now be heard.
Listen below or buy here. You name the price, starting at free!
The smog of London drove the Royal Greenwich Observatory to Sussex.
A few words on making ‘The Beam’ - a fantastical Monorail journey in sound.
As The Simonsound, we had released music that was inspired by early electronic recordings and even touched on some of the more experimental aspects of this pioneering movement. Being the ‘electronic’ half of The Simonsound, I wanted to go further and create something that was more electronic collage, or sound adventure; continuing my attempt to escape the everyday and to travel somewhere otherworldly.
Read More
