Preparation

Most of the interviews are now set up, some dates to be confirmed.
Curatorial Contexts essay completed. Re-reading and editing this weekend.
Powerpoint presentation begun.
Documentation almost complete. Revision and editing required.
Preparation of sonic and visual material to be completed.
Need to find a good physical presentation of material.

Sixto Diaz Rodriguez

Went to the Rich Mix to see the film Searching for Sugar Man this evening as it looked very close to my ideas for the project. As a documentary about an aspect of an overlooked musician it was perfect. I got some good ideas about the construction of a documentary and some editing ideas I had not thought about. It is an amazing story and a beautifully constructed film. I came away wanting to buy the LPs. What am I doing getting all wrapped up in 70s folk rock singer-songwriter music?

Spike Wilson's feedback experiments

Spike Wilson's feedback was the area that seemed to generate a lot of interest aroung 1970. Here is one of the first recordings I have cleaned up from his cassette collection. Feedback Experiments 1 by spikewilson

Lacey's Machines in action

I had permission this week to record audio and visuals at the Camden Arts Centre for this project. The sonic side of Lacey's work was not really to the fore in this show, however the sound is a really important part and I wanted to record it for my research.
Here is a quick sample...

Lacey Machimes by Russell Callow

Poetry Library

What a wonderful place this is. Spent a happy few hours there yesterday investigating Sound Poetry.
Really helpful staff and an amazing collection of books.

They had quite a number of Bob Cobbing books and texts there which were very useful as well as a number of pointers to other poets from the staff.

Interviews

So far, three interviewees have agreed to participate in the film.
The essence of the story board is coming together. I also have the skeleton of a script.

Replica Wind Guitar

I have begun reconstructing one of Gizelle Fortune's Wind Guitars in my workshop. Plans are pretty vague and I'm trying to be faithful to them as much as possible.

Spike Wilson Archive 2

This cleaned up cassette tape recording of Spike from about 1970 also has a vocal from Spike which is very unusual. Summerlove Pitched by spikewilson

Jennifer Walshe and Grupat

Following her lecture to us earlier this year, I realize now that the inspiration I took at the time from her Grupat project has manifested itself in the Albion Accord.

Brakewell Runnerby

Amongst the sound poetry, photographs and paintings of this reclusive man I found a photograph of his studio that he called The Hut.

Facebook.

Gave this idea up and cancelled the page.
I can't think how the project will be enhansed by this.

The Albion Accord

There were just too many bands, clubs, bars, hotels etc called The Albions, so, I think this new addendum adds a difference and confirms the notion of a group of equal participants. Promotes the notion in one's mind of a left-wing agenda, too.

Web site

It'll probably be a good idea to get an Albions web site up and running in time for the show.
Damn, more work.

Spike Wilson & The Albions on Facebook

Spike Wilson & The Albions on Facebook.
Set this one up over the weekend. may need to tweek it a bit.

The Albions on Flickr

A new Flickr account has been set up for presenting images from the archive and other visual material.
Click here to go to it.

Spike Wilson archive

One of the first parts of the archive I worked on was digitising some of the scores of cassette tapes of the work of Spike wilson. Here are a couple from the SoundCloud page I set up for his work.

Striped Air (Cleaned Up) by spikewilson

The Albions

A week of thinking about this whole project and I realized why it was a bit like walking through treacle... I have no real passion for what I have discovered so far. Certainly, it is interesting and would not bore me, but where will the passion come from?
Thinking about the way in which His Video was received, and the pleasure I got from constructing it, I must get back to that situation again.
Four or five days thinking about this, and an 11 hour drive to Germany gave me new ideas and perspectives.
The project now has arrived. It is The Albions.
A documentary-based environment that I will set up at the final show. The documentary will investigate the little-known artist group called The Albions.
With access to previously unknown archive material, I will report on this group and their work, and in the show, create an environment to contextualise their work and offer an insight into their ways of working.