Output details

Mermaids

Mermaids, a conceptual album, was a commissioned vinyl release by the company Holidays Records. Through field recordings throughout London the work aims to capture the sounds of people within different environments. The metaphor of the mermaid was selected as a symbol of alternative culture and choice. Thomas addresses two research questions, ‘[h]ow does music reflect social circumstances and work as an unconsummated symbol?’ The work also addresses ideas of trans-humanism, the disabled body and diversity. In particular, Thomas asks the question if the words ‘integration and difference’ are relevant in today’s disability culture. Within Earth Moon and the Stars an environment of fusion towards new Morpheus structures offer answers to questions posed in Scales.

The questions are addressed through the mixing, spatialisation and structure of select human phrases, and source recordings of Thomas’s own voice. Building on previous work by Trevor Whishart. Thomas practices composition that integrates social circumstances into a sonic symbol as evidenced by her approach to the use of glitch and metaphor as sound material in her composition. The album is mastered by the Italian producer Giuseppe Lelasi. It is designed for private listening headphone listening and written with the intension of live performance that captures an acousmatic vain. Four performance videos were made to support the work. These are noted below and were presented in the Digital Soundscape Conference in Oxford in July 2013 and in Café Oto, Sept 2013.

Track Listing

1. Mermaids 8.04

2. Bream Choir 12.02

3. Scales 8.07

4. Earth Moon and the Stars 12.15

Released April 2013 Holidays Records Milan

Performances:

Museum of Modern Art Oxford 12.07.13

http://www.modernartoxford.org.uk/whats-on/digital-soundscapes/about/

Café Oto London 03.09.13

http://www.cafeoto.co.uk/maria-chavez-jo-thomas.shtm

Review Abi Bliss ‘The Wire Music Magazine

http://www.jothomas.me/en/news/view/360/JT

Video footage and supporting performance material:

Mermaids

https://vimeo.com/70282093

Bream Choir

https://vimeo.com/71347401

Scales

https://vimeo.com/71357818

Earth Moon and Stars

https://vimeo.com/71331054