I met Katharine Norman around the time of the release of this CD, though I didn't get it from her. I got it from the Sonic Arts Network, who helped with its release, and of which I was a member. Katharine was at University of Sheffield's music department, and I think Eric Clarke suggested we meet her in connection with the National Centre for Popular Music. However, it was one of those meetings where both sides express an interest in what the other is doing, but cannot see an immediate opportunity for collaboration, so agree just to keep communications open.
As you might expect from her research role, and as shown on this album, Katharine's concerns were quite academic. She does some digital processing of sounds that I think was very much leading edge at the time (the leading edge changes, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if that capability were soon built into Apple's Garageband).
The CD booklet notes say, "Inhabiting a world midway between abstract music and radiophonic documentary, these pieces are, to some extent, my personal attempt to create a sonic equivalent to montage film. These are not random sound collages: it is what the sounds are about — where they are from, who made them and what they represent — that is of importance." I'm interested by the pieces, and like the one that uses sounds from the Victorian foot tunnels under the Thames. It is nevertheless the kind of listening where you have to read the notes to get what's going on and to get the most enjoyment out of it.
I found some more notes about the album, and short samples of the tracks.
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