The Squid's Ear Magazine


Casserley, Lawrence / Emil Karlsen: Aspects Of Memory (Bead)

"Aspects of Memory is the first meeting between Lawrence Casserley (signal-processing instrument) and Emil Karlsen (percussion).

Casserley has devoted his professional career to the creation and performance of real-time electr...
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Lawrence Casserley-signal processing instrument

Emil Karlsen-drums, percussion


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UPC: 5904224874605

Label: Bead
Catalog ID: 52
Squidco Product Code: 36547

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2025
Country: UK
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at Huddersfield University, in Huddersfield, UK, on October 13th, 2025, by Joe Christman.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Aspects of Memory is the first meeting between Lawrence Casserley (signal-processing instrument) and Emil Karlsen (percussion).

Casserley has devoted his professional career to the creation and performance of real-time electroacoustic music, culminating in the development of his own unique device-The Signal Processing Instrument. This instrument allows him to use physical gestures to control the processing and to direct the morphology of the sounds.

Casserley writes: "A key element of the Signal Processing Instrument is the manipulation of musical time, and the Signal Processing Instrument might be likened to a kind of musical time machine. Time is at the core of our understanding of the world; and memory is at the core of our understanding of time. Both are fundamental to our perception of music. What happens to this understanding when "artificial memory" interferes with our perceptions?"

Casserley and Karlsen both have a history with Bead. Casserley released Garuda with Philipp Wachsmann in 2012, while Karlsen has been involved in a range of collaborations with Wachsmann, John Butcher, and Mark Sanders since joining the label's administration more than five years ago."-Bead


Artist Biographies

"Lawrence Casserley (born UK, 1941) has devoted his professional career, as composer, conductor and performer, to real time electroacoustic music. In 1967 he became one of the first students of Electronic Music at the Royal College of Music, London, UK, on the new course taught by Tristram Cary. Later he became Professor-in-Charge of Studios and Adviser for Electroacoustic Music at the RCM, before taking early retirement in 1995.

He is best known for his work in free improvised music, particularly real-time processing of other musicians' sound, and he has devised a special computer processing instrument for this work (picture above). He has worked with many of the finest improvisers, particularly Evan Parker, with whom he works frequently as a duo partner, in various larger groupings and in the Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble. He also works as a soloist, processing sounds from voice, percussion and home-made instruments. CDs have been released by ECM, Konnex, Leo Records, Psi, Sargasso and Touch.

Much of Casserley's work has involved collaboration with other art forms, including poets, eg Bob Cobbing, and visual artists, including Colourscape artist Peter Jones. He is a Director of the Colourscape Music Festivals, presenting contemporary music in the unique environment of the Colourscape walk-in sculpture. He also collaborates with Peter Jones on sound/light installations.

Casserley's "instrumental" approach to live computer sound processing is the hallmark of his work; the Signal Processing Instrument allows him to use physical gestures to control the processing and to direct the morphology of the sounds. This is the culmination of forty years of experience in the performance of live electronic work; his earliest live electronic pieces were performed in 1969, and he has performed many of the live electronic "classics" of the 20th century; he has also collaborated with other composers to realise their electronic performance ideas. He is noted for the breadth and variety of his collaborations, which cross styles and generations."

-Lawrence Casserley Website (http://www.lcasserley.co.uk/biography.shtml)
7/15/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Emil Karlsen is a Norwegian improvising drummer currently based in the UK. Described as a "significant addition to the UK free jazz scene" and an "exceptional improv drummer", he's establishing himself on the improvised music circuit working the span from free improvisation to free jazz. Occupied with the exploring timbral possibilities of the drum kit, he performs with Philipp Wachsmann, Matthew Bourne, Phil Durrant, Maggie Nicols, Ed Jones, and the London Improvisers Orchestra to mention some."

-Emil Karlsen Website (https://emilkarlsen.com/)
7/15/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Imagining 06:10

2. Discerning 10:49

3. Embodying 18:53

4. Evoking 05:23

5. Experiencing 12:48

Related Categories of Interest:

In Stock, Not Yet Cataloged

Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Electro-Acoustic
Electro-Acoustic Improv
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
Duo Recordings

Search for other titles on the label:
Bead.


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