Katie Gerardine O'Neill // Message Green LP

アイルランド・ダブリンの音響作家Katie Gerardine O'Neillが2021年2月に100部限定で自主リリースしたレコードを本邦初入荷しました。

環境音のコラージュや物音ドローンなど15曲を収録。ポスター、ポエトリー、DLコード付属。

A new multilayered work from artist Katie Gerardine O’Neill. Developed with Covid restrictions in mind, the “audience” will be is invited to watch the film (17 minutes) on whatever device they have to hand and to listen to the soundtrack in whatever space they find themselves in during this time. The 15-track album is available for purchase on limited edition 12” vinyl, digital, and is available to stream in a limited capacity. There is a limited edition of 100 fold-out posters containing ‘visualisations’, a selection of meditations developed by the artist, inspired by the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, Yoko Ono and Brian Eno, available to the first 100 people to order one.

'Message Green’ is an audio-visual poem, exploring the profundity of nature, the necessity of solitude, and the importance of being in touch with one’s inner voice. As the hazy, lush visuals shot on 8mm analogue film, digital, polaroid, and 35mm begin, we watch as an unnamed protagonist receives a strange message and begins having visions and hearing music from a mysterious outer-zone. The music playing is strangely familiar, dotted with blurry vocalisations and whispered musings. We join this character on a journey that blurs linear time, reality, and fiction, and bear witness to the delivery of a message that is trying to reach us all.

Throughout the film, we are enveloped by the eerie and abstract sounds of O’Neill’s music, composed using field recordings, tape loops, and organ. The sounds were made over a 6-month period of isolation using only items from the artist’s home, her surroundings within her travel restrictions, and the equipment at hand.

The compositions are influenced by William Basinski, Grouper, Brian Eno, and nature itself, ‘Talking with Leaves’ was made by crunching leaves in the artist’s hand and recording with a contact mic. The track ‘Seaside Nightdream’ opens like a flower with swirling, shoegaze guitar, tape echo, and windy reverb. The closing track ‘Evening Blue’ is reminiscent of the heady emotion of Nico and closes the project with a strong message - we must listen to our own voice, and the voice of nature.

Beautifully mastered to retain its analogue textures, by John Hannon of Southend’s No recording studio, this immersive piece is best experienced alone, if possible, and listened to with headphones. The artist suggests listening to the soundtrack whilst on a walk, lying down on the floor, and if possible, combining with the ‘visualisations’ on the fold-out poster.

O’Neill hopes to offer a brief alternative reality for anyone who may need it, during this unique and strange time. This project was made possible with support from The Irish Arts Council and Fingal County
Council Arts Office. 

artist : Katie Gerardine O'Neill

label : self-released