Janek SchaeferDouble Exposure

Double Exposure

CrĂłnica 062~2011 download

Release date: 30 October 2011


Tracklist

Side 1

  1. A1: Spark Rising Over the Lights of Scarlett Heights (02:34)
  2. A2: Broadstairs Childrens Piano Trio (04:56)
  3. A3: Requiem for West Wittering (07:59)

Side 2

  1. B1: City of Dreams - Theme Tune (14:00)
  2. B2: Coda for John Dankworth (05:00)
  3. B3: Fields of the Missed (06:59)

Side 3

  1. C1: Unfolding Honey (06:06)
  2. C2: Inner Space Memorial [for J.G.Ballard] (20:56)

Side 4

  1. D1: Asleep at the Wheel... in-car soundtrack 7 [featuring Richard Heinberg] (20:39)
  2. D2: Crossed Wires (05:22)
  3. D3: Tinkerbelles (00:51)
  4. D4: Exposure (07:49)

Double Exposure is a studio album, written over six years [2005-2011] in Janek’s career as a composer, sound artist, and musician. Each of the twelve tracks is a response to an invitation to write a piece of music for a compilation CD or installation etc. This then is the second time for them to have been exposed, but collected as a coherent series of album tracks. The source sounds are produced using location recordings and manipulated vinyl, which are simply processed through a collection of foot Loop/Reverb/Pitch/Eq pedals & mixing desk, and then assembled on screen. Anamnesis refers to the ability of sound to trigger mental images in our minds eye. Each new series of images will be specific to each of us - and they are all uniquely generated and framed by these evocative compositions.

Where there is a strong story or concept behind the piece, there are further hotlinks.

The album is a one hour and forty-three minute long audiofile album available as a download through selected online distributors.


A1: Spark Rising Over the Lights of Scarlett Heights, 2011. Composed for the site specific play “The Mill - City of Dreams” presented in a deserted weaving mill in Bradford. A photo of Bradford city night-lights was laid over the score paper for a music box to produce the central theme. Accompanied by Mark Haydn Robinson (piano) and Martin Couzin (cello).

A2: Broadstairs Childrens Piano Trio, 2008. A composition for the Crónica compilation “Mus*****c”.

A3: Requiem for West Wittering, 2010. A composition for the Panels sound symposium CD organised by Paul Devens, Holland.

B1: City of Dreams - Theme Tune, 2011. Composed as the entrance title music for the site specific 5* play “The Mill - City of Dreams”. Presented in a deserted weaving mill in Bradford by Freedom Studios to sell out audiences.

B2: Coda for John Dankworth, 2009. Composed for the Room40 compilation CD “10” for The Wire subscriber edition. Became the soundtrack of the installation version.

B3: Fields of the Missed, 2009. A composition for the Room40 compilation CD “Fabrique”.

C1: Unfolding Honey, 2010. A composition for the Room40 compilation “10” digital download edition. Album edit of the installation soundtrack for the exhibition “Future Beauty - 30 Years of Japanese fashion”, held at the Barbican Gallery, winter 2010.

C2: Inner Space Memorial [for J.G.Ballard], 2009. Installation soundtrack that I produced as a tribute while reading his autobiography at the same time as him passing away.

D1: Asleep at the Wheel... in-car soundtrack 7 [featuring Richard Heinberg], 2010. A key track from the installation soundtrack for a ghost road of cars in a deserted supermarket. Where is our culture heading.

D2: Crossed Wires, 2005. Commissioned by Canadian Radio for the 8 part series “The Wire” on the origins of music from electricity. This track is a remix of samples from episode 7.

D3: Tinkerbelles, 2011. Interlude composition for “The Mill - City of Dreams”.

D4: Exposure, 2008. A composition for the Arctic Circle CD compilation “Explorers Club”.


Janek Schaefer was born in England to Polish and Canadian parents in 1970. He studied architecture at the Royal College of Art [RCA annual prize], where he began working with sound by making ‘Recorded Delivery’ for Artangel and Brian Eno [Time Out critics choice]. Since then, each new context becomes the starting point for each new album or installation. He performs live ‘Foundsoundscapes’ composed from the evocative, emotive and dynamic layering of abstracted textures and tones culled from ancient vinyl on custom built record players and manipulated field recordings. In 2008 Janek won The British Composer of Year in Sonic Art, and the Paul Hamlyn award for Composers Prize for his installation Extended Play [Triptych for the child survivors of war and conflict]. He has collaborated on albums with Robert Hampson, Philip Jeck, and Stephan Mathieu and previously released records with Asphodel [USA], Fat Cat [UK], Sub Rosa [Belgium], Staalplaat [Holland], Sirr.ecords [Portugal], Bip_Hop [France], and audiOh! [UK]. Janek has performed, lectured and exhibited widely throughout Europe [Sonar, Tate Modern, ICA], USA/Canada, [The Walker, XI, Mutek, Princeton], Japan, and Australia [Sydney Opera House]. He lives in London.


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