説明
1990年代初頭のロンドン。レイヴの狂乱が続く裏側で、静かな革命が起きていた。伝説的なアンビエント・パーティー「Telepathic Fish」の全貌を記録した、歴史的価値の高い図録的コンピレーションが遂に登場した。
プロデュースを手がけたのは、後にNinja TuneやWarp、Rising Highといった重要レーベルの視覚・音響表現の中核を担うこととなるクリエイティブ集団「Openmind」。メンバーには、DJ Foodとして知られるKevin Foakesや、惜しくもこの世を去った才能あふれるMira Calix（Chantal Passamonte）らが名を連ねている。彼らはロンドンのスクワットやハウス・パーティーを舞台に、独創的なインスタレーションと先鋭的なサウンドを融合させ、Aphex TwinやAutechre、Global Communicationといったアーティストたちと共にチルアウト・カルチャーの黄金期を築き上げた。
本作は、1992年から1995年にかけての熱狂と静寂を凝縮した3枚組の重量盤セットだ。単なる楽曲集にとどまらず、当時の貴重な写真、独創的なアートワーク、メンバーの冒険譚を収めた20ページにおよぶヒストリー・ブックが付属する豪華仕様。ゲートフォールド・スリーブには、かつてロンドンのレコード店「Ambient Soho」で売られていたTシャツのデザインが再現されている。
かつて100曲以上の候補から11時間におよぶ選考を経て厳選されたという楽曲たちは、当時のロンドンの地下室で鳴り響いていた空気そのものをパッケージしている。デジタルでは決して再現できない、物理的な振動としての低周波と、空間を浮遊する高音域のコントラストが、聴き手を深い思索へと誘う。
A1. Barbarella - Barbarella (The Irresistible Force Remix)
A2. Spacetime Continuum - Fluresence
A3. Nightmares On Wax - Nights Interlude
B1. Insides - Skinned Clean
B2. Global Communication - Incidental Harmony
C1. Caustic Window - Cordialatron
C2. Keiichi Suzuki - Satellite Serenade (Trans Asian Express Mix)
D1. Tranquility Bass - Cantamilla (Bomb Pop)
D2. Golden Girls - Kinetic (Morley’s Apollo Remix)
D3. No-Man - Days In The Trees - Reich
The first-ever illustrated compendium recounting the seminal underground South London ambient party that surfaced at the axis through which the likes of Ninja Tune, Warp and Rising High flowed. Telepathic Fish shared fertile waters with Megatripolis and The Big Chill, moving the early 90s London back room chill-out space into the kaleidoscopic spotlight.
Documenting the sights and sounds of South London’s seminal Telepathic Fish ambient parties. Hosted by Chantal Passamonte (aka Mira Calix - RIP), David Vallade, Mario Aguera and Kevin Foakes (aka DJ Food) - collectively named Openmind. With the help of Mixmaster Morris (The Irresistible Force) and Matt Black (Coldcut), they put on some of the earliest chill out events in London.
Rooted deep in the heart of the electronic underground they started DJing and decorating house parties or squats with mind-blowing installations and wholly idiosyncratic design, hosting the likes of Aphex Twin, Andrea Parker and Tony Morley (The Leaf Label). Within a year they were playing VIP after shows for the likes of Orbital and illegal New Year’s gatherings at the disused Roundhouse whilst guesting on Coldcut’s Solid Steel radio show on London’s KISS FM.
Whilst collaborations with legendary club nights such as Megatripolis saw them share bills with Autechre, Higher Intelligence Agency, Scanner and Global Communication, they also created their own ambient fanzine - Mindfood – to document the scene evolving around them. A 20-page history of their parties is included in the release, richly illustrated with personal photos, artwork and memorabilia from their adventures between 1992-95. The gatefold sleeve also features their Telepathic Fish logo, mirroring an original T-shirt design they sold in Ambient Soho, a record shop three of the four worked in at different times.
The selections featured here are all personal favourites that were played at the Telepathic Fish parties during the 90s. Picked and arranged by Mario, David and Kevin who combed their collections for key pieces they associate with the time and Chantal’s music tastes. Over a hundred tracks were selected, totalling nearly 11 hours of playing time, before being whittled down to the essentials by the trio, forming a snapshot of their world back in the day.
