Robert Curgenven typically deals with sound as a physical entity - shaped by air, surrounding weather and architecture - location-specific factors which contextualise sound. His work employs complex overtones, deft manipulations of sound pressure amid an unfolding time pressure, using a range of sources from field recordings to pipe organ, feedback and dubplates.
His first release in over four years, Ar Ais Arís (back again” in Irish) compiles tracks from limited releases, installations, reworkings and unreleased tracks spanning the last 15 years. The pieces combine live performance, environmental and studio recordings made in 7 countries he has spent significant time in over these past 15 years. The album as a whole traverses (in a non-linear fashion) lines of flight across his native Australia, across Europe, to Cork and his current home on an island in Connemara, Ireland.
credits
released December 4, 2020
Rare, remixed & unreleased works – 2005-2020
1. Recorded: Cork, 2016-19. Remixed: Connemara, Ireland,
2020, from works “Unbalanced Architecture” & “Babel”
exhibited at: Palace of Culture (Warsaw, 2016), Wandesford
Quay Gallery (Cork, 2017), Les Brasseurs (Liege, Belgium,
2019).
2. Recorded: live at Extrapool (Nijmegen, Netherlands, 2009)
using ‘Transparence’ dubplate, various guitar- & field-recordings.
Remixed: Berlin, 2009 & Connemara, 2020. [*Previously
released: Compost & Height 3” CDr series, 2009, 50 copies]
3. Recorded: live at Northern Territory Centre for Contemporary
Art / 24Hr Art (Darwin, NT, Australia, 2006). Restored from
DAT & remixed: Connemara, 2020. Piano (Sydney, 2006).
Field recordings: Wisła River (Poland, 2005) during 170km
canoe expedition (Krakow to Sandomierz), for “Roots/Culture”
project, exhibited Zero Gallery (Berlin, 2005).
4. DAT, Field recordings: Australia, 1999-2006. Mixed:
London, 2009. [*Compost & Height First Birthday comp., Café
Oto, London, 2009, 3CD, edition of 60]
5. Recorded: Milan, 2008. Remixed: Connemara, 2020.
Guitars: Melbourne, 2007 & Berlin, 2008. Field recordings:
Australia, 2004-8 & Poland, 2005. Piano: Berlin, 2004/5.
[*Previously released: German tour CDr, 2008, edition of 40]
Mastering &/or *remastering: Antti Sakari Saario, Cornwall.
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