Concrete Antenna
Originally released via the Random Spectacular imprint, Tommy Perman, Simon Kirby and Rob St. John’s Concrete Antenna is a deluxe 12” vinyl album package of new music (including a digital download), a set of art prints, a series of short essays and a specially created tide table, inspired by their sound installation in the landmark tower at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop which ran from March 2015 until June 2016, loosely based on the urban history, architecture and ecology of Newhaven in North Edinburgh.
AS HEARD ON: Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service (BBC 6 Music), Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone (BBC 6 Music), Gideon Coe (BBC 6 Music), Late Junction with Max Reinhardt (BBC Radio 3), Steve Barker's On The Wire (BBC Radio Lancashire) and The Janice Forsyth Show (BBC Radio Scotland). Listen to what they had to say
Using sparse piano, site-specific field recordings and archive sound samples, alongside a number of production techniques derived from the architecture of the tower itself, the trio have produced an album which skirts modern classical composition, warm organic drones and flickering minimal electronica.
The trio explain...
"The triangular tower, constructed from poured concrete and brown brick, rises 28 metres high over the north Edinburgh skyline. It’s rare for a modern structure like this to be built, given that at first glance it has no obvious purpose – you can walk inside but cannot climb up to see what must be an incredible view of Edinburgh from the top." Read in full
This deluxe package includes: a 12” vinyl album (and digital download); art prints by Tommy; a series of short essays and a specially designed tide table.
The album’s packaging has been crafted from exquisite materials with as much attention to detail as the music. The outer sleeve has a triangular die-cut aperture allowing you to choose your own cover by selecting and rotating the enclosed artworks. A digital download of the full album is included with all vinyl package purchases.
Available Spring 2022
Blackford Hill will be re-releasing Concrete Antenna in Spring 2022, accompanied by a series of new remixes. Subscribe to our newsletter to hear more
Reviews
"Crystalline piano, clocks, voices, birdsong, water and resonating electronics create a spring warm sense of place and wonder" MOJO Magazine
“Blending dreamily ambient keyboard melodies with environmental evocations… it offers an attractive distillation of the installation experience. A marker too of rising levels of engagement with auditory histiography in public art” WIRE Magazine
“Alongside sounds derived from the structure itself the trio seamlessly blend in piano, brass, children at play, birdsong and a bouncing pingpong ball in a quietly affecting sculpture in sound." THE QUIETUS
"Without a shadow of a doubt, Concrete Antenna is one of our records of the year" CAUGHT BY THE RIVER
"This combination of artistic packaging, informative essay and evocative recording is a credit to all of the people involved, from musicians to designers. Even without the visuals, the music impresses; ‘Church Bells’ is especially lovely." A CLOSER LISTEN