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Compression

by Tristan Louth-Robins

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1.
2.
Waterform 08:21
3.
Residue 16:36
4.
Warping 14:29
5.
6.
Airform 07:54
7.
Post-Wire 06:32
8.

about

Compression is an album created in conjunction with an artist residency at Sauerbier House Culture Exchange - October to December 2018. The resulting outcome of this residency was an exhibition of new sound and sculpture work entitled, Compression.

This album consolidates a selection of the sound compositions developed for the exhibition as well as the composition developed for a joint intervention with fellow artist in residence, Andrew Smith.

It is recommended that this album is played on speakers.

ARTIST STATEMENT FOR THE EXHIBITION, COMPRESSION:

Working as a sound artist, my practice has been concerned with exploring the relationship between the natural world and human activity. Prior to commencing the AIR at Sauerbier House, I committed my weekends to follow and document the Onkaparinga/Ngangkiparri River, from its source in the Adelaide Hills to its meeting with the sea in Port Noarlunga.

At almost every stop along my river journey the presence of human activity was evident. In spite of the remoteness of a given locality, the environment where the river passed through seemed constantly impinged upon. A relative quiet would be interrupted by a mechanical din; the riverbank polluted by the accumulation of plastic detritus. With my sound equipment, camera and notebook on hand I would observe and document these dynamics.

Upon arriving at Sauerbier House to commence the AIR, the impact of this dynamic that I had previously observed intensified significantly. Wandering across tracts of open space, the presence of urban development and road traffic were inescapable.

The detritus and residues of human activity quietly and loudly punctuated the landscape.

Within audio theory compression is a term used to describe the technical process of attenuating loud sounds, whilst increasing quieter sounds. In essence, establishing a state of dynamic consistency and reducing the space between the loudest and quietest sounds. Considering the environment of the Onkaparinga in these terms; with a pressing together of natural and human environs and a reduction of natural space, the notion of ‘compression’ found its way into my thinking as a poetic reflection of the tenuous nature of the Port Noarlunga environment.

This idea of ‘compression’ informed my working methodology for the AIR studio practice, utilising sound recordings and found raw materials (both natural and synthetic) in sound compositions and sculptural forms that suggest states of solidity and fragility. The exhibition, Compression is presented as a consolidation of these impressions, a blurring of the distinction between the natural and synthetic.

Tristan Louth-Robins, December 2018

credits

released December 14, 2018

Tracks 1, 5 and 8 are field recordings made at Goyder’s Reserve (Mylor) (Track 1), Port Noarlunga sand dunes (Track 5) and Onkaparinga Gorge (Track 8.) Sections of these recordings were incorporated into Compression, exhibited in Sauerbier House’s Hallway Gallery.

Track 7 is a recording of the fenceline that runs adjacent to the Onkaparinga/Ngangkiparri river in Port Noarlunga.

Track 3 is a composition produced for a ‘joint intervention’ artwork in conjunction with fellow Artist In Residence, Andrew Smith. This took the form of a sound installation alongside Andrew’s drawings that was installed in the ‘washroom’ space adjacent to Sauerbier House.

Tracks 2, 4 and 6 are compositions developed using Max software, with additional composition done in Logic Pro X. These were incorporated into Compression, exhibited in Sauerbier House’s Hallway Gallery.

All field recordings made between August and December 2018 with a combination of Olympus and Sound Devices recording equipment; JrF, Aquarian Scientific, Line Audio, Rode and DIY microphones; and Rycote accessories.

Cover image and design by TLR.

All tracks developed and produced on Kaurna and Peramangk lands.

The artist thanks and acknowledges: The Kaurna and Peramangk people and Elders past and present; Sauerbier House Culture Exchange, The City Of Onkaparinga, Jaynie Langford, Lesa Farrant, Suzanne Mustan, Andrew Smith, Dr. Julie Reed Henderson and Lauren Playfair.

Dedicated to: The Kaurna and Peramangk people and Elders past and present, Tom Dyster, John Davis and Rolf Julius.

© Tristan Louth-Robins 2018

www.tristanlouthrobins.com

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Tristan Louth-Robins Adelaide, Australia

Adelaide/SA, Kaurna-Yerta based artist.

Header and background images are details from the Compression installation (2018)

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