L E T M E T A K E Y O U T H E R E

L E T M E T A K E Y O U T H E R E – An Audio-Guide for a Field in Calderdale

by Alain Chamois

Stereo sound work (re-recorded in 2018) for headphones, with small, wall-based video, 19 mins, 2003.

A ‘guide’ to a snowy field near Hebden Bridge by composer and former music writer Alain Chamois (Paul Rooney). A version of the piece was first released in an edition of three CDs in 2003. The 2018 version includes sound recordings from the field itself and from Heptonstall graveyard, along with a swirling snowstorm of ambient drones and chopped and screwed 80s Vaporwave style pop loops. The spoken word monologue is structured around the moment in 1979 when photographer Charlie Meecham takes a photograph of the snowy field in question (a moment which was filmed for a TV documentary). The photograph was later chosen by Joy Division and Peter Saville to adorn the cover of the 12″ single Atmosphere. The monologue touches on coincidences and correspondences related to the field and its immediate local area, involving Leon Trotsky, Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath, Ian Curtis, comedian Russ Abbot, and Paul Rooney’s 1990s band Rooney. Certain themes emerge, such as the nature of photography, or death and rebirth, yet the story’s coincidences and connections, whether real or unreliable, do not provide a comfortable resolution and an overall ‘meaning’ remains beyond reach. Thanks to Daniel Meadows, Charlie Meecham and Steve Fortune.

L E T M E T A K E Y O U T H E R E by Alain Chamois is released as a single on Owd Scrat Records.

 

The work is also a geolocated audio walk on the Echoes app.

“We’re all more universally connected than we realise.” William Sheridan (The Last Great Record blog), 29/11/2019 essay about the work.

“…this distillation of time/place …will convey its engaging storyline, at any given moment, to the very grid reference of ‘There’.” Steve Pescott (The Sound Projector blog). 05/07/2019 review of the work.

“…interesting music… L E T M E T A K E Y O U T H E R E is an homage to a snowy field near Hebden Bridge… combining field-recordings and song and screwed eighties pop loops…” Stuart Maconie, Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone (BBC 6 Music). 19/8/2018 radio broadcast of the work.

“While death, particularly by suicide, casts an obvious shadow, the most interesting questions are around the reproducibility of something as ephemeral as ‘atmosphere’ – from winter air inhaled in a field, to photograph, to record sleeve…” Abi Bliss (The Wire magazine). Sept. 2018 review of the work.

“I’ve been broadcasting on this station for a little over ten years now, and I genuinely think that might be one of the most amazing things I’ve ever played on this radio programme. So that was this month’s session, by Alain Chamois.” Pete Jackson (Dandelion Radio). February 2018 radio broadcast of the work.

“It’s at once quite a sad work, where we are repeatedly reminded of death by war and by suicide, and an optimistic one that describes creative ventures – a band, songs, poems, photographs – that can come from small beginnings to give substance and meaning to many people’s lives.” Amelia Crouch (Other Matters blog). 19/2/2015.