VARIOUS ARTISTS
Favourite Places
AB016
Audiobulb Records 2008
10Tracks. 54mins04secs

A foray into the psychological swamp of todays practitioners of experimental electronica, the simple though direct and ultimately telling quality of the question that underlies this compilation shines through the ensuing compositions like light through a stained glass window. “What is your favorite place in the world?” the label asks and Aaron Ximm, Taylor Deupree, Biosphere, and Leafcutter John, amongst others, are those who give voice to their private sentiments on the matter.

Apart from the aural evidence provided, each artist scrawls a brief gambit concerning their selection, where the sounds are protruding from and why it seems pertinent. It is pulled off with poise and a certain sense of importance, and this makes it something in which investments can be made, won, and lost, rather than something that asks for little and is content to be thumbed through casually. Continue Reading »

Norwegian label Beat Service have re-released the first three albums by Biosphere, Microgravity, originally released on Origo Sound in 1991, Patashnik (Apollo), from 1994, and the long out of print soundtrack Insomnia, published on Origo Sound in 1997. The albums do not feature any additional material, but have been repackaged. It is also the first time that Insomnia benefits of a full international release.

Biosphere | Beat Service

The Atmospheres festival will take place in London from Monday 22 to Friday 26 October 2007. Touch will be hosting the second, third and fourth day as part of their Touch 25 series of events, with live performances from Chris Watson and BJ Nilsen, and Biosphere.

23/10: Day 2: Touch 25 @ The Bedford Arms, Balham, London SW12
1930 - 0000
Chris Watson presents…
BJNilsen
…
Biosphere
People Like Us plays…

24/10: Day 3: The Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1
2000 - 2300
Storm: Chris Watson ¬ BJNilsen
Biosphere

25/10: Day 4: The Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1
1230 - 1400
Free lunchtime event:
Jon Wozencroft & Mike Harding interview and present the work of the Touch artists performing at Atmospheres
1930 - 2300
Concert by Biosphere, Chris Watson & BJNilsen [Chris Watson’s performance incorporates work submitted by those who attended the workshop on day one.

Touch 25 | Biosphere | Chris Watson | BJ Nilsen

GEIR JENSSEN
Cho Oyu 8201m: Field Recordings From Tibet
ASH7.1
Ash International 2006
12 Tracks. 48mins15secs

Best known for his ambient work as Biosphere, Norwegian musician Geir Jenssen is also an accomplished mountaineer. In 2001, he took part, with five other climbers and a Sherpa, in an expedition to climb Mount Cho Oyo, the sixth highest summit in the world. Culminating at 8201m, the mount is situated on the border between Tibet and Nepal, a stone throw away from Mount Everest. This album and its accompanying booklet document the month-long expedition and give an insight into Jenssen’s state of mind during the trip. It also gives an idea of what mountaineers attempting such a journey are faced with, from freezing cold temperatures to altitude sickness and physical and mental pain. Continue Reading »

VARIOUS ARTISTS
Touch 25
TONE25
Touch 2006
25 Tracks. 79mins43secs

With a solid twenty-five years at the forefront of contemporary music, releasing music by artists as diverse as The Hafler Trio, Sweet Exorcist, Sandoz, Oren Ambarchi, Chris Watson, Scala, Philip Jeck, Mika Vainio, Biosphere, Christian Fennesz, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Ryoji Ikeda or BJ Nilsen to name but a fraction, Touch have collected one of the most impressive and inspired catalogues around, encompassing a wide array of genres, from noise to post-modern classical, ambient and electronic.

To celebrate this massive slab of work, the label, founded in 1982 by Jon Wozencroft Mike Harding, Nevelle Brody and Andrew McKenzie, of Hafler Trio fame, have put together a collection of twenty-five exclusive tracks from the likes of Biosphere, Fennesz, Pan Sonic, Chris Watson, Mark Van Hoen, Rafael Toral, Mother Tongue, BJ Nilsen, Philip Jeck and many more. Touch 25 doesn’t intend to document the label’s history, and only seems to give a vague and short insight into the various musical grounds covered by these artists, yet it is true to the label’s ethic in every way, from the instantly recognisable cover artwork, by Wozencroft to the depth and reach of each one of the tracks featured. Continue Reading »