#peter kember

''We have also sound-houses, where we practice and demonstrate all sounds and their generation.  We have harmonies, which you have not, of quarter-sounds and lesser slides of sounds.  Divers instruments of music likewise to you unknown, some sweeter than any you have, together with bells and rings that are dainty and sweet.  We represent small sounds as great and deep, likewise great sounds extenuate and sharp; we make divers tremblings and warblings of sounds, which in their original are entire.  We represent and imitate all articulate sounds and letters, and the voices and notes of beasts and birds.  We have certain helps which set to the ear do further the hearing greatly.  We also have divers strange and artificial echoes, reflecting the voice many times, and as it were tossing it, and some that give back the voice louder than it came, some shriller and some deeper; yea, some rendering the voice differing in the letters or articulate sound from that they receive.  We have also means to convey sounds in trunks and pipes, in strange lines and distances.'' Francis Bacon 1627

Remix version of Tawkin Tekno by Sonic Boom from the album Almost Nothing Is Nearly Enough

This is one of my favorite songs from the past couple years. I listen to it when I sense the weight of an impending, consequential decision that needs making and want to space out while deeply feeling that weight and casting it off simultaneously. When I here it, I imagine the coils of a huge multi-colored serpent embracing me and slowly, almost imperceptibly, winding its knot around me--basically finding power in abandoning myself to a threat. Spacemen 3 are one of my top bands ever; and although I never really connected to Spiritualized (not yet anyway), I love most of what Peter Kember has done as Sonic Boom and Spectrum and also his production work. (I’m not a major fan of Beach House or Panda Bear but their records that he worked on are amazing.) This song reminds of Coil in the combination of psychedelic synths and low-spoken vocals but it is ultimately totally Kember’s work; there’s so much whimsy in the darkness. I think this record is way underrated and this is definitely the best, weirdest song on it. 

Just Imagine (Remix) by Sonic Boom from the album Almost Nothing Is Nearly Enough, live at Theatro Culturgest, Lisboa