Sophia Space Agency - The Turning Blue Sophia Space Agency
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Today, Sophia Space Agency shares her debut album The Turning Blue -- an ethereal, sci-fi sound collage mixed in immersive 3D spatial audio by electronic pioneer Martyn Ware (Heaven 17, The Human League)
Alongside, she unveils the haunting music video for the track 'Driven To Ruin'.
On The Turning Blue , otherworldly vocals cascade around pulsing synthesisers as poetic lyrics contemplate ecological disaster caused by climate change. The record's sonic architecture is built on project leader Kermanidou's singing: utilising hundreds of vocal takes, her voice is contorted through sound synthesis into the grand synths and alien textures that mix with her natural vocal lines. The resulting tracks are challenging, minimalist soundscapes that unite the avant- garde vocal experimentalism of Meredith Monk with the synthetic grandiosity of Tim Hecker and Jon Hopkins.
Kermanidou and co-producer Cygnus Rift's sonic experimentation realises the album's cosmic concepts, with Kermanidou explaining, "This album is about seeing ourselves within the universe. There is life and sound out there, and this is an imagining of what that sounds like." Opener 'Star Cycle' -- one of the last tracks recorded at Britannia Row (Pink Floyd's former studio) -- is a musical villanelle poem told from an alien perspective. Incorporating direct samples of the Mars Curiosity Rover on pulsing 'We Are Not Alone', Kermanidou offers a direct response to David Bowie's glam-rock epic 'Life On Mars?' Upon reaching closer 'The Turning Blue', the album's most direct and emotional moment sparked by a conversation with Ware, there is a sense of clarity.
The Lynchian video for 'Driven To Ruin' is a visual expression of Kermanidou's vision. Rather than traditional singing notes, 'Driven To Ruin's soundscape is created from deconstructed vocal fragments - blending this fragmentation with the work of video-maker Delaney Schenker (Osees, Evil Island) to evoke the feeling that the world is falling apart.
Martyn Ware mixed and mastered in 3D spatial audio at Tileyard Studios, creating an immersive auditory experience exclusively for its digital version. Ware shares his thoughts on the record: " The Turning Blue is sonically lush and expansive, with a mesmerising blend of moods and compelling, inventive vocals. It's emotionally powerful and ethereal with elegant, deeply considered songwriting; driven by a bold and unmistakable vision. All of this, while you're deeply immersed in the possibilities of space and 3D sound. I'm very proud of what we've achieved on this album."
Reflecting on The Turning Blue, Kermanidou adds: In modern life, we are so far removed from nature that it has affected our relationship to planet Earth, so I imagined getting lost in space and seeing things from there - giving the lyrics a detached, otherworldly perspective. Vocals and piano are my main musical instruments, so I wanted to take the performance, and the technical production of these instruments, as far as I could. As a species, we are strong communicators-- our voices are power, and collectively, we can do so much with them"
The numbered vinyl edition, mastered in stereo by Rafael Anton Irisarri (Ryuichi Sakamoto, William Basinski, Grouper), will be released on 9th October.
Debut album from London- based experimental dark ambient sound project of Melpomeni Kermanidou
About Sophia Space Agency:
Sophia Space Agency is the experimental recording project of Melpomeni Kermanidou, a London- based experimental sound artist and vocalist. Kermanidou served as Chair of the Ivors Academy Future Sound Experience Council, created with Martyn Ware - dedicated to spatial sound, AI, ambient music, electronic music, and the latest in music creation. Melpomeni studied modern music composition at university in Melbourne, Australia before heading over to the UK. A long- serving member of Mediaeval Baebes, and releasing her own solo album 8 Tragedies, 2
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