The first time I encountered The Hafler Trio was in 1985 on the L.A.Y.L.A.H. Records compilation album, The Fight Is On, a record which deserves its own acknowledgement for its influence. The track, "Blanket" Level Approach, was really no more than the sounds of waves on the shore with some strange electronic tones mixed in, but there was something so compelling and enigmatic about it. The credits on the inner sleeve included Chris Watson, whom I knew from his involvement with Cabaret Voltaire. The other two in the "trio", Andrew M. McKenzie & Dr. Edward Moolenbeek, were unfamiliar to me. As it was, the track was interesting enough that I started to look for H3O releases to pick up, the first being Seven Hours Sleep.
The double disc LP consists of various field recordings, edited, processed and augmented with unidentifiable electronic sounds and drones. Bits of conversation, nature sounds, people playing sports in reverberating auditoriums, all mixed together into something which purported to be "scientifically" motivated research. You see, there was an unusual dimension to all these works as was indicated from the compilation appearance, through this release and their previous LP release, Bang! An Open Letter, which my roommate had picked up.
During these inaugural years of the project, it was all framed in the context of having been inspired by the work of the late, mysterious scientist, Robert Spridgeon, as preserved and documented via the Robol Sound Laboratories facility. Releases included booklets and texts regarding these experiments, which involved looking at practical applications for sound, some of which could be considered of military value. There were reports of government interference and secrecy and a whole mythology around Spridgeon's career and fate. Dr. Moolenbeek, an older gentleman, was purported to be a former associate of Spridgeon, thus providing the link to the present with the past. One of my friends even wrote to their PO box and received additional printed materials detailing the history of Robol and its theories and the controversies surrounding them and the people involved.
Of course, we all ate these conspiracy theories up as they were a fascinating conception and lent all these products an air of the "forbidden" and "dangerous". It wasn't until much later that the whole angle was revealed to be a complete fabrication. Dr. Moolenbeek never existed, neither did Spridgeon or Robol. It was all ingeniously crafted and concocted by McKenzie and Watson as an experiment in misinformation and misdirection. Once I got over the initial indignation of having bought into this ruse, I had to admit that the completeness and attention to detail in manufacturing it all was remarkable and it was an object lesson in the power of persuasion and plausible distraction. It illustrated the ability of artists to conjure their own realities.
In 1988, Chris Watson left H3O for a lauded career as a natural sound recordist for the BBC and, later, released many acclaimed solo albums of his field recordings. McKenzie continued on with H3O until 2006, releasing dozens of challenging and thought provoking products until he changed tactics and withdrew from the mass media arena.
The double disc LP consists of various field recordings, edited, processed and augmented with unidentifiable electronic sounds and drones. Bits of conversation, nature sounds, people playing sports in reverberating auditoriums, all mixed together into something which purported to be "scientifically" motivated research. You see, there was an unusual dimension to all these works as was indicated from the compilation appearance, through this release and their previous LP release, Bang! An Open Letter, which my roommate had picked up.
During these inaugural years of the project, it was all framed in the context of having been inspired by the work of the late, mysterious scientist, Robert Spridgeon, as preserved and documented via the Robol Sound Laboratories facility. Releases included booklets and texts regarding these experiments, which involved looking at practical applications for sound, some of which could be considered of military value. There were reports of government interference and secrecy and a whole mythology around Spridgeon's career and fate. Dr. Moolenbeek, an older gentleman, was purported to be a former associate of Spridgeon, thus providing the link to the present with the past. One of my friends even wrote to their PO box and received additional printed materials detailing the history of Robol and its theories and the controversies surrounding them and the people involved.
Of course, we all ate these conspiracy theories up as they were a fascinating conception and lent all these products an air of the "forbidden" and "dangerous". It wasn't until much later that the whole angle was revealed to be a complete fabrication. Dr. Moolenbeek never existed, neither did Spridgeon or Robol. It was all ingeniously crafted and concocted by McKenzie and Watson as an experiment in misinformation and misdirection. Once I got over the initial indignation of having bought into this ruse, I had to admit that the completeness and attention to detail in manufacturing it all was remarkable and it was an object lesson in the power of persuasion and plausible distraction. It illustrated the ability of artists to conjure their own realities.
In 1988, Chris Watson left H3O for a lauded career as a natural sound recordist for the BBC and, later, released many acclaimed solo albums of his field recordings. McKenzie continued on with H3O until 2006, releasing dozens of challenging and thought provoking products until he changed tactics and withdrew from the mass media arena.
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