Nocturnal Emissions
Nigel Ayers’ sound art work is rooted in assemblage and collage. Years before digital sampling became commonplace, his recordings used many thousands of carefully edited “found” and specially recorded sound samples. His interest in the psychological effects of sound, and in particular the recombination of sound to affect perception of time and space is reflected in CD titles such as “Practical Time Travel” where sound functions as snapshots of memory forming new associations as it passes into a simulated dream world. His work reflects the fluid nature of post-modern experience dipping into elements of fringe science, outer space and ethnic music traditions; forming radical mutations of the popular song form and pitting “outsider” viewpoints against more orthodox media constructions of reality.
“Since 1981 Nocturnal Emissions has been releasing a steady stream of deconstructed music. The broad range of styles he has delved into can be bewildering. There are those made from abrasive noise, to an album made up of entirely remixed bagpipes, to another utilizing recordings made with vocal sounds from children under the age of 18 months, to another that samples cell phone conversations picked up on a police scanner, and a whole slew of titles which could be considered drone music before that kind of thing was as popular. He has also delved into electro and teeth-gnashing techno, and recently a dub album. And those are just the musical expressions of his curiosity. Nigel is a writer, poet, creator of viral art and digital ritual.”
(Justin Patrick at brainwashed.com)
“Nigel Ayers has carved out a unique reputation on the experimental music scene. His name has been dropped by everyone from Bjork to Tricky. Ripped off by many but equalled by none, the fact that it is virtually impossible to obtain Nocturnal Emissions releases in record shops only adds to the cult status enjoyed by Ayers.”
(Stewart Home at D-Tour magazine)
