At the Langham
layer 12
Album
REACH OUT
At the Langham is a project, that I have with a good friend of mine who shares the same love for electroacoustic music as me.
All of pieces are made with recordings that we collacted from surrounding instrumental sounds such as piano , guitar and drums. Field recordings, from recording a chair of our creation room to coffeemachine. see, water, air, rock etc. deriving from this sound palette, projects idea is manipulating and combining these sound layers.
At the Langham and this debut album is created because I wanted to gather my “out of box” compositions in one place and release a work just for this music’s spesific audience. I see “Layer 12" as a sound experience for listeners and also for me. It puts the audience in a state of a mood that shows difference for each individual by believing the lingering moments between points of pieces are a music of its own. For me, ”Layer 12" is an album taht lingers specifically between A and B points and creates never ending in the air cycle of ambient sound experience for the listener.
Album
REACH OUT
"At the Langham" is a collaborative project between myself and a close friend who shares a deep passion for electroacoustic music. Our debut album, titled "Layer 12," is the culmination of our efforts, featuring compositions that exclusively utilize recordings gathered from various instrumental sources such as piano, guitar, and drums. Additionally, we have incorporated field recordings capturing the ambient sounds of our creative space, from the creaking of a chair to the humming of a coffee machine, and elements from nature like water, air, and rocks.
The concept behind the project revolves around manipulating and combining these diverse sound layers, creating a unique sonic palette. "Layer 12" serves as a collection of my unconventional compositions, a manifestation of my desire to bring together these out-of-the-box musical creations for a specific audience that appreciates the intricacies of electroacoustic music.
This album is not just a series of tracks; it is a profound sound experience designed for the listener and, equally, for myself. I envision "Layer 12" as a journey that transports the audience into a distinct mood, with each individual experiencing the lingering moments between pieces as a unique musical entity. For me, this album resides in the space between points A and B, generating an endless cycle of ambient sound that envelops the listener in a continuous and immersive experience.
In essence, "Layer 12" is a sonic exploration that blurs the boundaries between music and ambient sound, creating a fluid and everlasting atmosphere that resonates uniquely with each listener.
#1
Brine Pools
serves AS A TESTAMENT TO MY EXPERTISE IN ELECTROACOUSTIC EXPLORATION, DELVINGINTRICATELY INTO A MYRIAD OF SONIC LANDSCAPES THROUGH METICULOUS SOUND MANIPULATIONS. AS A COMPOSER, I INTERLACE TIME INTO THE MUSICAL FABRIC, SEEKING THE DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN DYNAMISM AND EMOTION IN THE UNFOLDING OF MOMENTS AND MOODS, MOMENTUMS.THE COMPOSITION, SPANNING A DIVERSE MUSICAL SPECTRUM, SEAMLESSLY WEAVES MANIPULATED SOUNDS TO CREATE A TAPESTRY OF RICH AUDITORY EXPERIENCES.
Brine Pools
not only reflects my musings on the universal language of music but also aims to convey a distinct musical idea while intriguing the curiosity of the listener. Each sound within the composition narrates a unique story, collectively shaping a distinctive musical narrative. The title itself, "Brine Pools," subtly alludes to the underlying concept within the sonic palette.
Furthermore, the piece delves into a musical dialogue, exploring the transient existence and evanescence of these sonic "droplets." The composition captures the nuanced interplay of moments, allowing them to emerge and dissipate seamlessly within the musical narrative.
#2
My Ruins
is A PIECE THAT I DELIGHTFULLY LISTEN TO WHEN WAKING UP AND GOING TO BED, MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST SPECIAL, SINCERE, AND EMOTIONALLY RESONANT TRACKS FOR ME. THIS MUSIC, CHARACTERIZED BY DEEP TONES, OFTEN LEAVES THE LISTENER WITH AN OPEN CANVAS, READY TO BE FILLED WITH PERSONAL EMOTIONS. THE COMPOSITION, WITH ITS DARK UNDERTONES, INVITES THE LISTENER TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN A SPACE WHERE PERSONAL FEELINGS CAN UNFOLD FREELY.
THE PECULIAR PIANO RECORDINGS IN THIS PIECE, COUPLED WITH THE PRECEDING PIANO REMINISCENCE/REFERENCE, CREATE A THOUGHT COMBINATION THAT I HONESTLY FIND MYSELF ENJOYING REPEATEDLY WITHOUT GETTING TIRED.
#3
Water Ending
is A MANIFESTATION OF MY DEEP ADMIRATION FOR SILENT HILL 2. IN ADDITION TO INCORPORATING EXTERNAL SOUND RECORDINGS, I ENDEAVORED TO EMULATE AKIRA YAMAOKA'S DISTINCTIVE SOUND FOR THIS PIECE, INCORPORATING VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS. ESSENTIALLY, IT IS A COMPLEX INDUSTRIAL SOUND COLLAGE SEAMLESSLY FUSED TOGETHER, RESULTING IN A CACOPHONY OF SOUND REMINISCENT OF THE ATMOSPHERIC MADNESS FOUND IN SILENT HILL.
#4
Shoganai
is A JAPANESE WORD THAT CAN BE TRANSLATED AS "CAN'T BE HELPED." I COMPOSED IT DURING A PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING PERIOD IN MY LIFE. THERE ISN'T MUCH MORE TO SAY ABOUT IT, REALLY.
THIS PIECE IS ALSO PERFORMED LIVE AT OUR FIRST CONCERT "I THINK WE HAVE AN ARRANGEMENT" WHERE WE PERFORMED THE DEMOS "LAYER 12" AND "SHOGANAI" FEATURED WITH SPECIAL MUSICIANS AND FRIENDS. THE CONCEPT WAS TO COMBINE OUR TAPE PIECES WITH SELF-PLANNING IMPROVISED SOUND WORLDS OF THESE MUSICIANS.
“i think we have an arrangement“
Layer 12
is AN ELECTROACOUSTIC COMPOSITION CRAFTED FROM SOUNDS RECORDED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS USING ZOOM, A METHOD CONSISTENT WITH ALL MY ELECTROACOUSTIC WORKS. THE TITLE PAYS HOMAGE TO THE TWELFTH EPISODE OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TV SERIES "SERIAL EXPERIMENTS LAIN," CHOSEN FOR ITS ATMOSPHERIC RESONANCE WITH THE MOOD OF THE COMPOSITION.
#5
THIS PIECE FOUND ITS WAY INTO THE 2022 MOVIE "SKINAMARINK," ADDING ANOTHER DIMENSİON TO ITS JOURNEY. NOTABLY, LAYER 12 FEATURES A LIVE RECORDING PERFORMED BY ME AND A FEW OF MY EXCEPTIONALLY TALENTED FRIENDS, ENHANCING THE COLLABORATIVE AND DYNAMIC NATURE OF THE WORK.
#6
My Ensemble
is RATHER SELF-EXPLANATORY. IT COMPRISES A COLLECTION OF SOUND RECORDINGS OBTAINED FROM VARIOUS NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE CLASSES IN WHICH I PARTICIPATED. I HAVE REARRANGED THESE RECORDINGS INTO SOMETHING ENTIRELY NEW.
#7
You’ll Be My Backup
At the Langham is a project, that I have with a good friend of mine who shares the same love for electroacoustic music as me.
All of pieces are made with recordings that we collacted from surrounding instrumental sounds such as piano , guitar and drums. Field recordings, from recording a chair of our creation room to coffeemachine. see, water, air, rock etc. deriving from this sound palette, projects idea is manipulating and combining these sound layers.
Other Projects
“İ THİNK WE HAVE AN ARRANGEMENT”
AT OUR FIRST CONCERT "I THINK WE HAVE AN ARRANGEMENT," WHERE WE PERFORMED THE DEMOS "LAYER 12" AND "SHOGANAI" FEATURING SPECIAL MUSICIANS AND FRIENDS. THE CONCEPT WAS TO COMBINE OUR TAPE PIECES WITH SELF-PLANNED IMPROVISED SOUND WORLDS OF THESE MUSICIANS. MUSIC ELEMENTS FROM DIFFERENT GENRES, THE COLLABORATION OF OUR MINDS, MUSICAL HISTORY, AND OUR KNOWLEDGE WERE INTEGRATED INTO THE PERFORMANCE, ADDING AN EXTRA LAYER OF DYNAMICITY TO THE EXPERIENCE.
new concert “at the langham’s” beıng planned after the 2nd album release
CONTACT
Toykan Efe Kahraman
toykanefekahraman@gmail.com
Ozan Erdek
ozan.erdek@gmail.com
