Following the success of the launch of his new project Land Observations former member of Appliance, James Brooks, is embarking on a tour of unique performances across the country.
Since Appliance disbanded in 2003 Brooks has pursued his interest in visual arts. His recent work has been heavily influenced by cartography and the concept of boundaries and his latest album is an amalgamation of his work in mixed media and drawing with his time as guitarists in the band.
The tracks document the monumental highways stamped into the world by those who made Britain “Great” and in doing so create a mesmerising strain of minimal dream pop.
Brooks’ debut solo album, Roman Roads IV-XI, arose from a fascination with the Roman roads that lie a short distance from his flat in Hackney, where the album was recorded. The album is an intriguing musical exploration of the psychogeography of roads and the opportunities for discovery, escape and conquest enfolded into the potent symbols.
The album’s sound is characterised by methodical and meticulous guitar work which Brooks layers and interweaves to form expansive melodies. The tracks document the monumental highways stamped into the world by those who made Britain “Great” and in doing so create a mesmerising strain of minimal dream pop.
James Brooks: off the road.
Brooks arrives in Manchester on the 29th of September to play a gig as Land Observations alongside one of his sound installations in Islington Mill. The installation is part of an exhibition entitled Brittle Crazie Glasse and features Brooks‘ work alongside pieces by eight other artists.
The collection of work is an attempt to evaluate the spiritual properties of materials and expose their transformative nature when exposed to stimulus such as light and sound.
The artists’ pieces form a dialogue which analyse the intersection of various diverse disciplines. Video is examined as a sculptural form, the history of photography is explored as an artistic medium and the fields of science and religion are combined through the prism of art.
Land Observations performing at Rough Trade
Brooks installation at Brittle Crazie Glasse works in conjunction with his Land Observations project in that they both concern the interplay of the physical and the emotional and address the possibility of spaces being expressed through sound.
Brittle Crazie Glasse is open until the 4th of November at Islington Mill. Roman Roads IV - XI, the first release by Brooks as Land Observations, is out now on Mute records. The physical release will feature original art by Brooks.
