Cold Storage by Janek Schaefer
Site specific composition for a cold storage vault in Rome.
"Cold Storage is an impressive resumé not only of Schaefer's own career as a sound artist, but of half a century of theory and practice of electronic music in all its diverse forms" [The Wire]
It began with an invitation to produce a site-specific work in the Ostiense area of Rome. During my first visit I was shown around the old General Market warehouse zone, on the banks of the river Tiber. I decided to work in a large brick vaulted cellar, previously used as a cold storage room. This context became the theme for my installation and concert.
Using a microphone and a contact microphone, I then collected sounds relating to ‘cold’ and ‘storage’ while travelling around Rome, Switzerland, Portugal and Australia. These were edited and simply modified using mini disc, pedals and Mackie mixing desk. During the opening concert I then improvised this material by touch in the blacked out vault. Dim shadows flickered around sound reactive insectocutor lights that I installed on a market trolley and in a refrigerated display case at each end of the room. It proved to be a very cathartic, intense and enjoyable experience. The sounds that emerged seemed to exist in a ‘white music’ spectrum emotionally. This is my first release that I recommend is best played louder, for a more detailed and immersive experience.
Awarded a 'Jury Selection' at the Bourges 2005 International Competition of Electroacoustic Music & Sonic Art
Originally commissioned by moorroom for the Sonìcity Festival - architects of sound : composers of space, Rome, Oct 03, alongside Justin Bennett, Achim Wollscheid, Mark Bain, Merzbow.
Tracklist
| 1. | Cold Storage: Room 1 | 5:11 |
| 2. | Cold Storage: Room 2 | 8:18 |
| 3. | Cold Storage: Room 3 | 12:37 |
| 4. | Cold Storage: Room 4 | 2:40 |
| 5. | Cold Storage: Room 5 | 12:12 |
Credits
DSP Records, Naples.
License
All rights reserved.
Sound Artist, Entertainer, Professor, Janek Schaefer trained as an Architect at the Royal College of Art, where he developed his focus on the relationship between sound, space and place. He has exhibited & performed in 30 countries worldwide, from The Tate Modern to The Sydney Opera House. The Bluecoat gallery exhibited a Retrospective of his career in 2009, & has released 39 album projects.