I'm an award-winning composer, engineer and historian of technology. I present talks, make radio shows and perform live with Spacedog - my band of humans, theremins and uncanny robots.
Spacedog are thrilled to be participating in Sonus, an homage to the analogue age and incandescent light for the Rushes Soho Shorts Festival. Filmed in a secret location in Chelsea, this short film was devised by Arthertz and filmed by Ridley Scott Associates. It explores many of our shared obsessions with early analogue technology.
Here is a preliminary still from the film shoot, showing Spacedog vocalist Jenny Angliss as the medium, channelling ‘the other side’ through radio static, aided by her incandescent light. I’ll be providing some incidental music, composed of theremin, radio static and bells (bells performed by percussionist Stephen Hiscock).
As I explained in my recent salon talk Ghost Radio, gramophones and radios are transmitters of disembodied voices – a feat that seemed so remarkable in the early 20th century, it lead many people to think these new machines could explain telepathy and ghosts.
Film geeks please note: Sonus was recorded on RED cameras, fresh from the latest Alien shoot. It’s going to look gorgeous! You’ll be able to see it for yourself at the Rushes Soho Short Film Makers’ Market, BAFTA, London on Sunday 24 July.
AWARDED BEST MUSIC EVENT OF BRIGHTON FESTIVAL AND FRINGE 2011
“It felt like an audio version of The Shining, played on instruments thrown together in sheds somewhere near Bletchley Park
…mediaeval electronica meets Trip Hop meets Tomorrow’s World. Superb.” Read a review from Tirimasu, Fringe Review
Eerie musicians Spacedog summon the spirit of John Logie Baird as they perform with flickering projections, created live on their working reconstruction of Baird’s original 1920s televisor.
There will be a crackle of static as Fringe regulars the Angliss sisters evoke the earliest days of television in their new evening of deliciously unsettling music. Televisor is the latest retro-futuristic treat from their band Spacedog, mixing theremin, saw, vocals, waterphone and live action from the group’s famous, uncanny musical robots. And this year, their music is given an extra kick from tip-top percussionist Stephen Hiscock (Ensemble Bash).
Technically cranky, faltering, and even a little dangerous, Baird’s televisor was a world away from the bland plasma screens we see today; a perfect match, in fact, for Spacedog’s trademark, homespun electronica, haunted by an analogue past.
Highlights include a new torch song for variety star Tommy Cooper and a high-energy anthem to the awe-inspiring Soviet Ekranoplan (aka The Caspian Sea Monster).
“A word of mouth wonder”, the Londonist.
“Like a classic surrealist object from a dream”, FAD magazine
“Spacedog…generate the kind of gore-free spinechilling terror that mainstream cinema seems to have forgotten”, the Londonist.
Our Televisor shows at the Brunswick are now over – thanks to everyone who came along – but we’ll be reprising the Spacedog set at Bom-Bane’s Tuesday 24 May. Please note: The Bom-Bane’s show will not include a guest spot from our dear friend Professor Elemental as he will be strutting his stuff at the Steampunk World Fair, New Jersey, USA.
Eerie musicians Spacedog summon the spirit of John Logie Baird as they perform with flickering projections, created live on their working reconstruction of Baird’s original 1920s televisor.
There will be a crackle of static as Fringe regulars the Angliss sisters evoke the earliest days of television in their new evening of deliciously unsettling music. Televisor is the latest retro-futuristic treat from their band Spacedog, mixing theremin, saw, vocals, waterphone and live action from the group’s famous, uncanny musical robots. And this year, their music is given an extra kick from tip-top percussionist Stephen Hiscock (Ensemble Bash).
Technically cranky, faltering, and even a little dangerous, Baird’s televisor was a world away from the bland plasma screens we see today; a perfect match, in fact, for Spacedog’s trademark, homespun electronica, haunted by an analogue past.
Steampunk favourite, gentleman wordsmith Professor Elemental, will be guesting – he’ll perform a brand new number with Spacedog as well as a couple of his classics. Other highlights include a new torch song for variety star Tommy Cooper and a high-energy anthem to the awe-inspiring Soviet Ekranoplan (aka The Caspian Sea Monster).
“A word of mouth wonder”, the Londonist.
“Like a classic surrealist object from a dream”, FAD magazine
“Spacedog…generate the kind of gore-free spinechilling terror that mainstream cinema seems to have forgotten”, the Londonist.
Spacedog will be reprising some of the Televisor set as we squeeze our theremin and musical robots into Bom-Bane’s, Brighton’s most beautiful and diminutive music venue. Limited space – booking advisable!
For Laika (a song from Spacedog featuring theremin and robotic bells)
Extra event!
Spirit Broadcasts and Ghost Trains
Ocean Rooms, Brighton 11 May
Ticket details tbc Two talks for a special Fringe edition of Catalyst Club, hosted by Playgroup and Dr David Bramwell
In the early 20th century, radio and gramophones seemed so remarkable, some tried to use these inventions to explain the spirit world and telepathy. Engineer and theremin player Sarah Angliss reminds us of a strange time when a handful of leading physicists flirted freely with the paranormal. Sarah’s talk includes live aether music mixed with genuine voices from beyond the grave – recordings of soldiers who were lost on the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars.
Starting with the ghost train on the Palace Pier, Colin Uttley examines how the 18th-century phantasmagoria became this classic fairground ‘dark ride’. He also examines a Victorian railway disaster, deep in a tunnel just outside Brighton, which inspired Charles Dickens to write his haunting tale The Signalman. Includes classic ghost train special effects – hold onto your seats!
Radio listening in the former USSR, c1954. Photo: Sergei Polishchuk.
I’ll be performing some uptempo numbers on theremin and saw, accompanied by percussionist Stephen Hiscock and some of my robot pals in this underwater jamboree. We’ll be joined by the incomparable Professor Elemental for a one-off performance of a neo-Victorian submarine fantasy. From 9pm-4am, Saturday 16 April 2011.
For White Mischief – an extravaganza of live music and jaw-dropping vaudeville, in The Scala, London’s famous art nouveau cinema, just outside King’s Cross Station. Inspired by Jules Verne’s sci-fi classic “20,000 Leagues Under The Seas”, White Mischief will invite guests to explore the mysteries of the deep, dressing up in their favourite nautical regalia for an evening of undersea excursions.
Tickets £17.50
Limited VIP tickets £28.50 Book online
Maestro and mechanical hat maker Jane Bom-Bane will be hosting this evening in the delightful Bom-Bane’s, Brighton.
An evening of words and music, mechanical hats, theremin and robots from Jane, Prof. Elemental (Brighton’s finest hip hop raconteur) and Spacedog. With songs of tea, submariners, love, death, milliners and assorted cryptozoological marvels.
Venue
Bom-Bane’s
24 George Street, Brighton, East Sussex
BN2 1RH MAP
This lovely cafe and music venue is owned and run by Jane and multi-instrumentalist Nick Pynn. Check out their other events between now and Christmas. Includes performances by Nick Pynn and Mike Heron, Colin Uttley, Rosi Lalor and Dr David Bramwell (who will be talking about his bus ride to Utopia).
I’ll be performing live on theremin, accompanied by a few robot pals, in this evening of wormwood infused entertainment. HP Lovebox, Professor Elemental, Mental Floss Sideshow and an edible lady are among the many fine acts on the bill.
Doors 7.30pm
Cabaret 8.30pm then dancing ‘til late.
Tickets £10 in advance, £12 on the door
Book at Lewes Town Hall, Reception, High Street, BN7 2QS
or via Miss Tann:
snakeoilcharlotte [ AT ] gmail [ DOT ] com
Sarah Angliss (Spacedog) on theremin with hip hop raconteur Professor Elemental - photo: Gavin Mecaniques.
I’ll be teaming up with the incomparable Professor Elemental, tea drinking, hip hop raconteur, for an aquatic set with some robot pals. Drop into the Sea Life Centre any time between 7:30pm and 2:00am (BST) to hear us playing among the fishes and night owls. We’ll be performing new songs of submariners and voyages under the sea, along with some old favourites, in this beautiful Victorian aquarium. With vocals, theremin, waterphone, saw and other musical and robotic oddities.
We have fish!
Admission is free!
An event for White Night 2010 – Brighton & Hove’s all night festival to mark the end of British Summer Time, the night the clocks go back. Make the most of the extra hour of darkness as you promenade the city and enjoy a selection of free music and visual arts.
I'm performing live at the Lovebytes Festival, Sheffield, QEDCon, Manchester, and the Catalyst Club, Brighton, and composing music for CE3K-inspired Electronic Encounters and some other forthcoming collaborations (stay tuned for news). I'm also hard at work, re-engineering some Spacedog robots, and selecting films for Rocket Lolly, Spacedog's two-hander with Project Moonbase at the Edinburgh Science Festival in April.
News: January 2012
Juice for the Baby, Spacedog's debut album, is here! I'm ducking out of the Kinetica Art Faire this year but am huddled indoors, writing, sleuthing (investigating a recording in the archives) and devising a new biologically-inspired musical instrument - all will be revealed soon.
News: December 2011
Juice for the Baby, Spacedog's debut album, launches in mid-December. Join us for the launch gigs at the Marlborough, Brighton, on 9 December and the Horse Hospital, London, on 14 December.
News: November 2011
A busy month writing and editing the forthcoming Spacedog album - stay tuned for news.
News: October 2011
I'm focusing on my writing this month (so am quite the hermit) but I'm squeezing in the occasional live performance here and there.
I'm looking forward to working with Helen Keen in her Spacetacular on 20th. I'm writing a code-based work for the new label Chordpunch and some owlish music for that fine wordsmith Professor Elemental.
Spacedog are booked into the studio at the end of the month to complete work on our album.
News: September 2011
A busy month writing, preparing a get-together of maker musicians for the Brighton Maker Faire After-show party. I've also been electrifying a teapot for the Chi-Tek - an exhibition by MzTek of female tech artists at the V&A. And with my fellow Spacedog Stephen Hisock, I made an appearance on the 10th Anniversary edition of BBC Click.
News: August 2011
The Spacedog song For Laika is now available on iTunes (and the album is on its way). Meanwhile, we've been busy preparing our set for Green Man, including the first outing of our torch song for Tommy Cooper.
I'm procrastinating over a teapot which I'm going to electrify for a MzTek event at the Victoria and Albert Museum in September.
I took a short trip to a very rainy Edinburgh Fringe where I played at an event for Edinburgh Skeptics in the Royal Observatory and made some plans for a Spacedog show next summer.
Apart from that, I've been busy writing. More news on that shortly, I hope...
News: July 2011
I'm interviewed by Leila Johnston in this month's Wired UK magazine and will be appearing with my fellow Spacedogs at a Wired: The Future of Music on 20 July.
I've rounded up a bumper crop of links and soundclips for my BBC Radio 4 doc The Bird Fancyer's Delight, which is broadcast on 5 and 9 July and is also available on Listen Again. Thanks for all your cheery emails about the doc, to ProjectMoonbase for mentioning it in their podcast PMB038 and for the many national papers who gave the documentary such lovely reviews - I'm glad people enjoyed it! On Sunday 10 July, the doc was featured on Graham Seed's Pick of the Week (Radio 4). A good week!
My latest collaboration with Richard Wiseman is a free and fun magic trick for your iPhone. It's called Paranormality and it's been put together for the launch of his book by the same name in the US. Thanks to Phillis on Derrren Brown's blog for giving the app a mention - thousands of people have now downloaded it and are busy bamboozling their friends.
News: June 2011
Playing theremin for Louise Colborne's homage to Loie Fuller (pioneering cybernetic dancer c1900) and composing sounds for Sonus, an homage to the analogue age with Spacedog, ArtHertz, Rushes Soho Shorts Festival and Ridley Scott Associates. Discovering how easy (or difficult) it is to publicise events in 2011 without Twitter - will report back!
Getting ready for BEAM - a brand new festival of electronics and music at Brunel University (24-26 June). I'll be speaking, running a workshop on optical flow and performing live with my fellow Spacedogs. I'll also be playing a short theremin set at the Speaky Spokey, a new arts salon in Brighton (Wed 22 June).
Putting the finishing touches to a sonic-themed BBC Radio 4 documentary, with producer Neil McCarthy, due for transmission on 5 July 2011.
Presenting a workshop for Hack Circus at Interesting, in the Conway Hall, London, 18 June, and performing theremin at a family day at the Science Museum, 19 June.
