The Simonsound

space ↘↖

I recently visited Florida again and had more time to explore Kennedy Space Center and the missile and rocket launch sites of the early space missions. I also spent a lot of time riding the Monorail at Disney as inspiration and to collect footage and material for an upcoming Simonsound release in the new year. More on that soon.

16 December 2012 • NASA kennedy Space Center Disney World Monorail Space Rocket Missile EPCOT Astronaut Futuristic Robot Dials controls Cape Canaveral

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Next gig coming up in May in Brighton at The Playgroup Popup (formerly Hectors House, which has/or is having a makeover).

The Simonsound present a 40-minute audiovisual performance that offers a window to the future as seen from the past.
Performing songs from their debut album ‘Reverse Engineering’, alongside new material, The Simonsound use analogue synthesisers, vintage FX and tape machines to channel the sounds of pioneering electronics and mood music of the ‘50s and ‘60s.

They are joined on stage by the dynamic and captivating Laura J Martin (vocals & flute) with whom they are releasing a single on Battered Ornament Records. Plus EXCLUSIVE new Simonsound/DJ Format collaboration and a Simonsound remix of new Tru Thoughts artist Beta Hector which is like a very strange dream. To my personal taste Beta Hector is possibly the best thing to come out on the Brighton label, so make sure you check his album out in August.

Back to the gig - Laura J Martin will be performing a solo set, and the half of the simonsound that has the best record collection will be playing some obscure pysche/library/electronics into the early hours.

In addition to the sound, a pre-recorded synchronized video projects moving and still images from the period. Mans conquest of space, new advances in technology and early computers are all represented alongside clips that show the fascination with ‘inner space’, or ‘the mind’, prevalent during this period.

29 April 2011 • may brighton space playgroup gig live laura j martin simonsound dj format beta hector

Fantastic video featuring Raquel Welch dancing in a sparse futuristic landscape littered with modern architecture. Wonder where this was filmed. The music and editing of the dancing make for some pretty intense stuff!

14 October 2010 • dance raquel welch future space

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So excited about this show. Thank you to Emily for the amazing poster design.

An evening of spaced out sound, 60’s sci-fi TV, short 16mm space films and multi projector light show in the stunning setting of Brighton’s 100 year old cinema.

Music and sound will be provided by The Simonsound (featuring Debbie Clare and Laura J Martin), the Intergalactic synthesiser duo whose debut album, ‘Reverse Engineering’ channels the pioneering electronics and mood music of the 60’s using vintage synthesisers, FX and ta…pe machines, and Laura J Martin who, armed with flute, mandolin and loop station, sings over her loops and beats, drawing inspiration from dramatic tales of Japanese folkore. DJ Format will be delving into his vaults and playing a selection of rare psych rock and library records.

Film screenings on the night will include Timelash - a trippy episode of 60’s sci-fi TV series UFO; Space Place – a 60’s psychedelic trip into space with electronic sound; and Kosmodron R. 1999, a wry comic Eastern European animation on the vicissitudes of space flight.

Ian Helliwell will be doing a full on multi-projector light show to accompany the live music.

Friday 10th December - 10PM till late - Tickets £10.

Ticket hotline - 0871 9025728

www.picturehouses.co.uk


11 October 2010 • the simonsound duke of york's music live Laura J Martin Ian Helliwell UFO Sci-fi short films space DJ Format

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A feature over at Work Ethic goes into great detail about how the Reverse Engineering LP came together, Library music, the collaborative process and much more…..

23 August 2010 • simonsound work ethic library music space synths

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Space Project, a collection of photographs taken by Vincent Fournier at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center of the Russian Federation, the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, and the Atacama Desert Observatories in Chile.

7 July 2010 • art photography space cosmonauts astronauts

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The Simonsound LP design notebook. Emily Macaulay’s bits and bobs from the sleeve design process.

16 May 2010 • emily macaulay design album the simonsound reverse engineering music electronic space sci-fi

The Simonsound EMS Synthi VCS 3 Ringtones have landed!

Get the sound of cosmic 60’s electronic music on
your modern telecommunications device! Every time your phone rings
you’ll be transported into space aboard a rocket ship of the future.

The Simonsound EMS Synthi VCS3 Ringtones by thesimonsound

10 May 2010 • Music, EMS VCS3 Synthi Electronic Space Sci-fi Future Ringtones Oscillations Modulation

We were very excited to get the finished vinyl copies of the album last week. Emily’s design perfectly represents the space age, sci-fi 60’s vision of the future that we have tried to create with the music. Go and check out her work.

18 April 2010 • Reverse Reverse Engineering The Simonsound Album Artwork sci-fi space electronic music music