Thursday, May 19, 2016
Thursday, May 5, 2016
digital reissue of 'estonian strings'
(nb. headphones / conventional speakers advised)
review by Cheryl Tipp (British Library):
Estonian Strings. Jez riley French is well known for his work exploring sounds that are normally hidden from the general listener. His recordings bring forth new life into environments that are not actively forthcoming when it comes to sharing their acoustic qualities, thereby opening up new sound environments to explore. "Estonian Strings" is the latest offering from French and takes the form of a 42 minute composition based on recordings made during his first trip to Estonia in the spring of 2009. With his constant desire to investigate new sonic sources, French applied his contact microphones to a variety of "found strings". "I found transmitter cables, long chimney support cables, disused piano wires stretched across old farm utensils, rust covered fences -- each one a surprise, a discovery and a joy to listen to." The result of this foray into the unknown is a select series of field recordings that have been patiently worked together to create a pulsating, otherworldly piece that quietly beckons to the listener. Headphones are a definite must if you want to fully appreciate the multilayered intricacies of this work. With headphones, 'Estonian Strings' takes on an almost mesmeric quality; the piece is unhurried and minimal, yet it seems almost impossible to remove oneself from this strange world. The changing tone of the work is unquestionably subtle, but there is enough happening to retain more than a passing interest in the content. With his ear for the unusual and an unflinching curiosity, French once again opens up a portal to reveal a wealth of usually concealed sounds. Just the right balance has been struck between content and composition here, making 'Estonian Strings' an intriguing and enjoyable listening experience. ct
Thursday, March 24, 2016
we are very pleased to announce the first two photo / art books from Pheobe riley Law
pheobe riley law | dial
limited edition 28 page photo book w/ colour plates | uncoated cover
(50 numbered copies)
pheobe riley law | desire lines
limited edition 44 page photo-book w/ colour and b/w plates | uncoated cover
(50 numbered copies)
both are available from May 20th
priced at £6 uk inc postage | £8 rest of world inc postage
jez riley french | dissolves
limited edition ty cd + photo book + download code
(100 copies)
the eagerly awaited document of the first series of mineral explorations, capturing the sounds of shale, iron ore, limestone, dolomite and snail shells in flux.
(download code for full album + 48 minute bonus track)
‘again, French turns our ears towards captivating worlds of sound’
‘when he gets it right, which he very often does, French has an uncanny knack of producing work that grabs us firmly by the ear and the mind...stunning images that trigger the imagination as much as the intimate sound worlds presented here’
‘leaving things as they are is often misunderstood as ‘do nothing’. There are few artists in the world, especially working with sound, who get this and JrF is one who does. Not only that but he seems able to present work that forces us to re-evaluate everything we think we know about minimalism’
‘small sound worlds perhaps, but far richer and more varied than our immediate impression tells us’
jez riley french | beam | charcoal
limited edition ty cd + photo-book + download code
(100 copies)
released for a month as a digital download only this release soon attracted a fair bit of attention. Now re-released as a limited ty cd accompanied by a book of JrF’s brooding photographs of woods and forests at night.
‘a release of the natural sounds of trees in various states that allows you to re-tune your ears. Worth a purchase for the long bonfire track on its own. Remarkable. The images show another fascinating side to French’s visual work’
‘you might at first assume this release is one amongst many such surveys of these kinds of sounds but look hard and you’ll find very little to compare, either in terms of content or quality’
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