pic taken at freenoise launch, jan19, the grapes, sheffield
Martin Archer
pic taken at freenoise launch, jan19,
the grapes, sheffield
June
'06: PROMO FILM WITH GATED COMMUNITY (inc. Beck, Jasnoch, Collins et al)
Click here
Sopranino and alto saxophones, bass clarinet, bass recorder, violectronics, keyboards, software instruments
Since his move in the early 1990s from free jazz saxophonist to studio based electronics composer, Archer has produced a series of highly acclaimed CDs which combine electronics-based structures with written and improvised parts for brass, woodwind, strings and voices. Elements from jazz, free improvisation, contemporary classical music, electronica, and cutting edge rock music are all present within his work.
As well as making solo releases, Archer regularly collaborates in the studio with guitarist John Jasnoch (as ASK), with Chris Bywater (as Transient v Resident) and with poet Geraldine Monk. Since 2000, when he developed a live set up known as "violectronics", which combines played-flat prepared violin with electronics and vintage synthesizers, Archer's concerts, usually of improvised music, have become more frequent.
As a live performer, Archer seeks to avoid the inert and inexpressive performance style inherent in much live electronic music. Current live performances include solo laptop concerts, improvised music as part of the Notes and Sounds project, and as part of Gated Community, Mick Beck's 14 piece improv and compositions band.
Archer acknowledges groups such as Faust, Henry Cow, Soft Machine and Magma as being highly influential in his work alongside Cage, Stockhausen, Feldman, and of course the school of European free improvisation. This combination of sources makes Archer a unique inhabitant of the school of English maverick composers.
"With these discs and his other work, Archer has managed to document his unique take on EuroImprov, which involves the studio more than other performers. Still it would be interesting to see him, sampler in hand, plus a cross section of top-flight improvisers present this music in real time to a live audience." - Jazz Weekly
"English
but in no way common, Archer's complex, gorgeous music demands a wider audience."
- Peter Marsh (BBC music website)
"Bright eyed and cleverer than 1000 contemporary musicians" - Ben
Watson
"Archer
was fascinated at all the different musics that were coming into view in the
early 1970s, from the directions of Miles Davis to the various dark electronic
escapades of certain collectives in deepest germany. He would also be captivated
by the sound of witch-season acoustic guitars in the various twilight folk circles.
So many different ingredients, you could make anything happen.
All these influences served as the inspiration for many of his Discus releases.."
Julian Cope's Head
Heritage
"He set up an electronic wash of sound before picking up his sopranino sax and playing a spiralling, intricate blast over various booms and disembodied voices. He followed that with the medieval woodiness of the bass recorder....Archer is possibly the only laptop user who gets out of breath by the end of his set, such is his enthusiasm. He finished with a piece of esoteric dance music, climaxing with Archer on his feet, blasting out an amazing squall of gabbling sax to a Chris Cutler drum loop." - Martin Lilleker in Wire (March 2006)
Martin Archer appears on
the new 'Freenoise: Fusion' CD with a taste of a forthcoming album.
You can book a Martin Archer concert / live set though Freenoise.
Contact for promo DVD
Download promo sheet.
Links
