(09.26.05) LAMPSE AUDIOVISUAL RECORDINGS is a fledgling label based in Surrey in
the UK, founded by Type collaborator Monika Heradotou. With a
philosophy that encompasses releasing not only as diverse an array of
avant-garde and experimental music as possible, but also creating
visual accompaniments to these pieces, it would seem we can look
forward to a bracing and rewarding stream of eclectic releases from
the label. I talked to Monika earlier this year to find out a little
about her, Lampse, and what it has been like setting up the label.
“Growing up on a small island in the Mediterranean wasn’t ideal for a
music-thirsty teenager but, through imported magazines, the BFBS
(British Forces Broadcast Station) and early forms of the internet I
found my way towards bands/artists such as Radiohead, Björk,
Portishead, Mogwai etc. I was taking classical guitar lessons at the
time, which I quit to buy an electric guitar hoping to start a band.
Finding people with the same musical taste was hard, so I soon gave
up. School ended and I found myself in Europe for studies: Germany
first and then the UK, where I still live. I joined an art college to
study film and video and was finally able to surround myself with the
music I was always into, go to gigs, discover new things as well as
meet other people with the same interests. One of them was John Twells
(a.k.a. Xela) who was generous enough to let me go through his vast music
collection.”
It was from this meeting that Monika became involved with the already
extant Type label, contributing her talents as graphic designer to the
distinctive and thematically linked cover artwork of the label’s more
recent releases. This experience inspired Monika to set up her own
record label dedicated to the music she felt needed to be heard.
“I never knew much about the internal mechanisms of a label, but I was
always fascinated by releases: how they looked, how they sounded.
Being involved with Type Records gave me the chance to see things from
the inside and realize that the process combined many things I
enjoyed: designing sleeves, listening to new music, meeting
interesting people, being part of a creative circle. Other labels I
admire and was inspired by were Rune Grammofon, Häpna, Kranky, Alien8,
12k and Raster-Noton.” The influences of these labels and, of course,
Type’s are evident in the manner in which the label presents itself; a
broad spectrum of experimental musical styles accompanied by a
considered and eye catching approach to design, artwork and packaging.
While the meaning of the Audiovisual Recordings part of the label’s
title is self-evident (even though the visual aspect has yet to fully
assert itself) the name Lampse is intriguing. “The word originated as
an anagram of the word sample. It was chosen, though, for its
meaning in Greek, which is glow. I tried to avoid a name that
references music and sound specifically and chose, instead, something
with an encrypted meaning that just rings nicely in your ears! It is
pronounced lamp-seh by the way and has nothing to do with lamps.”
Keen to emphasize the label’s spirit of diversity, experimentation and
originality the first two releases on Lampse deliberately offer two
very different, challenging musical experiences. Nacht Plank’s Septs
Vents is a collection – almost a collage – of heavily processed,
abstract ambient life forms, whilst Marcus Fjellström’s Exercises In
Estrangement is an unapologetic and fierily avant-garde piece of John
Cage like modern classical music. “I had the Lampse sound in mind
quite early on. Hearing those two albums, however, made it obvious
that I wasn’t after a specific genre but rather original and exciting
music from a variety of different styles. This is what I have been in
search of since.”
I ask Monika exactly what kind of releases we can expect to see from
the label in the future. The response is typically idealistic and
enthusiastic. “Everybody says this but it’s true: I’d like to release
stuff I’m really into myself. After consuming vast amounts of indie
and electronica I slowly started building an eclectic taste for
experimental music. Jazz, modern classical, electronic,
improvisational, ambient etc, these are just some of the influences
among the Lampse releases which are then explored, combined and
redefined by each of the artists. What you can expect from Lampse is
avant-garde music that is original, interesting and of a high
standard.”
A quick review of Lampse’s current and forthcoming releases confirms
that Monika’s intentions will be borne out in just the next few
releases. Nacht Plank’s murky ambience and Marcus Fjellström’s neo
classical Exercises In Estrangement have already brought the ambient
and classical elements to the table, whilst forthcoming releases are
set to feature the avant-jazz stylings of Office-R(6), the willfully
strange and improvisational EP by Enavomi and a contemplative album
featuring numerous folk elements and an almost nautical flavor from
Jasper TX, all of which comprise a roster of such diversity that its
impossible to pigeonhole a sound for Lampse. There is something for
everyone in this slew of releases, but only the most eclectic of
listeners are likely to be able to embrace every one of these genres,
a facet that’s not especially common in such a young label. Such an
uncompromising approach is both daring and wonderfully refreshing.
“Some of the artists came to my attention through Type, others through
the Internet and some I contacted myself after hearing examples of
their music. The idea behind Lampse is that it would not just be a
label, but a collective of artists as well; a base for collaborations
and experiments to take place, a way to document these and make them
available for others to experience. Coming from a fine art orientated
education/practice, I don’t necessarily see it as just entertainment
but as a form of art. The main concern then is to offer high quality
material that crosses boundaries and questions our perceptions.”
When asked how Monika has found the experience of setting up Lampse:
“It’s fascinating! I’ve created bonds with great people from all over
the world with whom I have been working closely together into bringing
the first set of releases to life. Unfortunately our communication has
been mostly virtual so far as most of them are based outside the UK,
it has nevertheless been a very fruitful and inspiring collaboration.
I’m sure the future will be even more exciting with tours and
participation in events, as well as the build up of an audience for
the music and a reputation for the label itself. All in all the first
part of turning the label from an idea into reality is completed,
which makes me really pleased.”
Monika has also set up a graphic design arm, known as Kabegami, as a
further outlet for her artistic work, so far contributing sleeve
designs to Type, Neo Ouija, Modern Love and Vertical Form, as well as
the artwork and/or layout for all the Lampse releases to date. “First
of all, the name means wallpaper in Japanese, and the original idea
was to build a website where people could submit and download good
quality desktop wallpapers for free. Being obsessed with wallpapers I
started doing a lot of research, collecting old specimens and
borrowing books from the library. Around the same time I was doing my
first covers, and when it came to crediting myself, I didn’t feel very
comfortable using my name, so I put Kabegami instead. This is how it
was born. I never got around to making the desktop website anyway, so
I slowly turned Kabegami into my designer’s alter ego if you like, and
enjoyed seeing people spelling it wrong every time (it took me a few
days to memorize it myself). I wasn’t new to preparing work for print
so getting started was easy. My dad owns his own printing office, and
ever since I was little I would do my own designs and be involved in
the process.”
“For as long as I can remember, I had a passion not only for music,
but also for the way it was presented; its packaging. I would very
often stroll down the record shops and pick stuff up, examine them,
and imagine how I would do a cover if I ever got the chance to. A few
dozens of covers later and I still have the same excitement before
starting any project. I have been lucky enough to work closely with
the artists, and to get creative freedom, so each cover reflects my
own vision in a way. As for Kabegami in the future, hopefully you will
see it credited not only at the back of records, but also in
catalogues, posters, books and magazines. Designing is something I
enjoy very much and a big part of who I am. I feel there’s so much to
explore with it and not enough time. I could never stop!”
It’s quite clear both from Lampse’s first two releases and from the
Kabegami designed artwork for other labels that a great deal of
thought goes into Kabegami’s sleeve artwork, both from an artistic and
printing perspective. The Nacht Plank album, Septs Vents features
murky brown, swirling tendrils and is printed on matte, wood-free
stock all of which serve as a perfect visual representation of the
rusty, earthen and muddy digital life forms of Lee Norris’ musical
compositions. “As for the Marcus Fjellstrom album, it was printed on
arte gloss, with an extra layer of varnish on top, so that the ink
wouldn’t bleed. I have put a lot of time and effort into them. With
Marcus’s one especially we worked closely together; his images are
great I think. The booklets themselves were made at my dad’s printing
office in Cyprus where I spent a week trying to get them to look
right… so a lot of love and care has gone into each one of the
releases.”
The Lampse website and promotional material talks about visual
material as well as audio releases. “Apart from graphic designer I am
a practicing video artist, an element I’m very eager to add to the
label’s activities. There hasn’t been time to do so yet, but I intend
to have a moving image accompanying piece for the releases that lend
themselves to it. This is where the notion of the art collective will
be applied the most, by inviting visual artists to work together with
musicians in ways other than just to produce a music video. Sometimes
the music might even be the reaction to some visual material.
Eventually, in the far future I would like to organize (site specific)
events were artists can explore sound and visuals in an interactive
and creative way.” Is it likely, then, that we may see DVD releases
from Lampse in the future? “Definitely, this is something I will try
to achieve, by collecting (and hopefully producing) some interesting
material.”
Just released on Lampse is the Vinden Blåser Bakåt EP by Enavomi, to
be followed in October by Jasper TX’s I’ll Be Long Gone Before My
Light Reaches You in October and Office-R(6)’s Mundane Occurences
and Presentations in late 2005.
And finally, what does 2006 have in store for Lampse? “A new release
from Gultskra Artikler, a Russian duo producing almost atonal,
sample-based music, with a jazzy and music-concrete edge, as well as
albums by recent signings machinefabriek (The Netherlands) and day
lineal (UK). Also some live shows, and free download material (videos
and mp3s) by our collaborators.”
