Welcome to the June 2008 Touch Newsletter. Below you will find information about new editions, a new TouchRadio, live events and more...
New Editions
SPIRE LIVE - Fundamentalis
Autofact FACT 12/Touch Tone 28
Double LP Vinyl only
Art Direction & Design by Jon Wozencroft
Spire Live - Fundamentalis is a collection of live tracks recorded at various Spire events held throughout 2005 and 2006. Released in association with US label, Autofact, Touch presents a selection of tracks performed by the main performers of Spire: Fennesz | Philip Jeck | BJNilsen | Charles Matthews | Marcus Davidson. Improvised pieces from Fennesz, BJNilsen and Philip Jeck contrast with a performance by Charles Matthews of a scored composition by Italian composer Giacinto Scelsi, 'In Nomine Lucis', and Marcus Davidson's self-penned 'Standing Wave', which ends side two with a locked groove. Cut to preserve and enhance the bottom end frequencies, Fundamentalis is not merely a document; the tension between and within the individual pieces is palpable. Fennesz's set "...evokes the rolling centuries in all their pain and beauty, leaving us at once becalmed and energised, but never oppressed under the weight of time." Electronics breathe new life not only into the organ, but also into the setting. But successor does not mean replacement. Ultimately, it's the majestic sound of the organ, so steeped in centuries of tradition, that one remembers above all else.
Spire is one of the most innovative projects around, drawing on the full canon of organ works, from the very first annotation in the Robertsbridge Codex from the 14th Century, to max msp patches and software sampling... With two CD releases and 9 performances in cathedrals and churches throughout Europe, Spire remains a potent live force in harnessing the sounds of the ages.
Track Listing:
Side One
Philip Jeck - Live in St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels
[as part of Les Nuits Botaniques] 7th May 2006
16:36
Side Two
1. Charles Matthews - Live in St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels
[as part of Les Nuits Botaniques] - plays Giacinto Scelsi: In Nomine Lucis 7th May 2006
11:29
2. Marcus Davidson - Live in Masthuggs Church, Göteborg
[as part of the GAS Festival] - Standing Wave 4th October 2005
9:11
locked groove
Side Three
BJNilsen - Live in Masthuggs Church, Göteborg
[as part of the GAS Festival] 4th October 2005
19:36
Side Four
Fennesz - Live in St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels
[as part of Les Nuits Botaniques] 7th May 2006
16:02
Compiled and edited by Mike Harding October/November 2006
Cut by Jason at Transition, London, on a Neumann VSM 70 March 2007
Spire in the TouchShop
Spire
Spire is proud to be part of the Hardingtonar Festival in Norway on 21st June 2008. This will be the ninth Spire live event. The festival marks the centenary of the birth of Norwegian composer Geirr Tveitt.
Artists appearing are:
Marcus Davidson - & Hardanger Fiddle Orchestra
Philip Jeck
Charles Matthews - Main Organ
BJNilsen
Jana Winderen
Tickets can be bought here
Touch Radio
01.06.08
Simon Fisher Turner - Lifesounds - 13:55 - 96 kbps
1. Lindsay Anderson recorded at the memorial service for Andrei Tarkovsky [1932-1986] at St. James's Church, Piccadilly, London
2. Filming The Garden [Derek Jarman, 1990] at Dungeness, Kent.
3. Mrs. Oyler in conversation with Derek Jarman
4. Brick Lane Man, 1988
The previous NewsLetter from May 2008 can be found here
Live
Forthcoming live dates for Touch artists can usually be found on their websites... but here are some we would like to bring to your attention:
Christian Fennesz will be part of 2 reunion shows of Yellow Magic Orchestra as their special guest:
16th June
@ Meltdown Festival, London (United Kingdom)
19th June
@ Teatro de la Laboral, Gijon (Spain)
Tuned City, Berlin
5th July
@ Radio House, Nalepastraße
Jacob Kirkegaard - Labyrinthitis
Chris Watson ¬ BJNilsen - Storm
Chris Watson is giving a workshop from 1-5 July. You can sign up here
Oren Ambarchi live in London
14th July
@ Luminaire
Touch Archive
We have been posting mp3s of some of the tracks from the early Touch cassettes... You can browse and find links in the Touch Archive section of the Touch website here. In the section 'Early Cassette Culture', you will find some of the titles listed for each edition will contain some audio links... more will be added in the coming months.
The previous NewsLetter from May 2008 can be found here