Under the Radar: Sing the Gloaming

Rob St John, Tommy Perman and Simon Kirkby

Simon Kirkby, Rob St John and Tommy Perman are old hands when it comes to creating works of music-inspired art. These include the Cybraphon, a musical robot which combed the internet for reviews, then adapted its sounds accordingly, and a chocolate single which could be played on a turntable.

Their latest creative venture, Sing The Gloaming, is inspired by light, language and landscape and enlists Kenny Anderson (King Creosote), Nerea Bello, Aidan Moffat, Emily Scott (Modern Studies), Su Shaw (SHHE), Hanna Tuulikki and Andrew Wasylyk. Each singer was asked to record a short vocal piece around particular “light words” (eg glimmer, gloom, glow and gleam). These were then recomposed using sounds created from data on the use of words beginning with “gl” published in five million books. The beguiling result is a five-track 10” EP on the recently launched Blackford Hill label, www.blackford-hill.co.uk

Olaf Furniss and Derick Mackinnon run the Born To Be Wide music industry seminar and social events. www.borntobewide.co.uk

The Musicians’ Union represents over 30,000 musicians working in all sectors of the music business. As well as negotiating on behalf of its members with all the major employers in the industry, the MU offers a range of services for self-employed professional and student musicians of all ages. Visit the MU website to find out how the Union helps musicians in the live arena, the recording studio, in education and as writer/composers, www.theMU.org

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