simonsound

Using tone generators, tape machines, found sound, synthesizers and a host of other instruments, the Welcome to Mars music was composed over a 12 week period for the live 12 part radio series of the same name written and presented by Ken Hollings. The radio series (which is now also a book from Strange Attractor Press) explored the 50’s; a strange decade which saw the world exposed to UFO’s, mind altering drugs, Cold War fear and the beginning of mans conquest of space.

The music reflected this period of inner and outer space exploration with suitably spaced out textures both electronic and concrete. The CD is filled with over an hour of music of which The Wire recently said “….not only evokes the mood of the era, it also stands on its own as inventively conceptual electronic music”.

Strange Attractor Press made the CD available in limited numbers with the first 250 copies of the Welcome to Mars book, and I have a limited number for sale here.

Go and have a listen to the radio series to hear some of the music.

Some feedback on the music and radio series

“I’m blown away of sound design and music that you
have created for the show” Toni Ahvenainen
Finland

“I really wanted to congratulate you both on a fantastic show - Ken’s stories sent shivers down my spine, and the interaction between music and speech worked fantastically well. The whole think reminded me of the best Adam Curtis documentaries”  Tom (Music Thing)

“Great work Simon -looking forward to the rest”  Graham Massey (808 State/Biting Tongues/Sisters of Transistors)

“The music, evocative of Sci Fi films of the period adds so, so much to the experience. As well as playing as background to Hollings’ monologue, there are interludes that are amazing to listen to in their own right”  A Mayfield