Jed Speare
Sound Works 1982-1987
FV52 2xCD
Sound Works is the first collection of Jed Speare's long-form musique concrete compositions. Speare is a crossover artist who has been working in sound, video, and performance for over thirty years. The music here reflects his investigation and uniquely expressive practice of analogue sound/field recording, editing, combining and mixing during that era. These five pieces are vibrating, towering movements of complex sound strains that expand and grow with each listen.
He is the creator of the Folkways LP Cable Car Soundscapes (1982). In the early 80s he recorded with the San Francisco groups, Research Library (appearing with and solo on the legendary Red Spot compilation LP; Subterranean Records).
Twelve page booklet features introduction by video artist and writer George Quasha, Speare's detailed notes on each piece, rare photographs and score reproductions. Remastered by Bhob Rainey (nmperign).
"Speare's tape pieces are concrete in the most literal, tactile sense. He privileges dislocation from acoustic origin via analogue means and hand-cranked manipulation. This means his sounds carry the ghost presence of the familiar within their mutant genes. For 1982Ős At the Falls, an attempt to create 'an ambience like water' without using 'any water sounds,'this means the displaced source material goes through a sequence of abstractions only to be called to attention as an imitation, or approximation, of nature at its least abstract ... Collecting two hours of Speare's '80s sound works in the one place, this compilation acts as a near-perfect primer." -- Jon Dale, Dusted
Released January 22, 2008
