Special silentrecords.net interview with
Chris Meloche

How did you meet Kim Cascone and get involved with Silent Records?

I was receiving music from Silent to feature on my radio programme (Wired for Sound, CHRW-FM) at the time.  Kim was familiar with my music on the German FAX label and contacted me about the possibility of releasing material on his label.  We worked out a deal and "Distant Ritual" eventually saw release on Silent.

Briefly describe the "ambient" scene during the times you were putting out material for Silent.

Hmmm... I've never been particularly interested in "scenes', myself.  There did seem to be quite a lot of people who emerged doing "ambient" music around that time, though.  My particular interest was probaby sparked by Brian Eno's original ambient recordings - "Discreet Music" etc...


How has it changed?

Many of the labels seem to have gone by the wayside after a lot of the major record chains decided to cut back on their stock (especially small independent releases).  There are still some people committed to the genre like Mike Griffin of Hypnos who consistently issues interesting material.


Is there any unreleased material from the Silent period?

I'm sure there is but I can't think of anything in particular at the moment.  I've been working on music more of less on a constant basis since 1980.  While going through my archives in search of material for an upcoming retrospective of my work, I was able to actually come up with 4 CDs worth of material (mostly unreleased) which I eventually shaved down to a logical hour-long collection.  The CD covers the period from 1982 to 2002.  ("Impossible Shapes" will be released on the English Electric label out of Sheffield, England in late 2003.)


Do you have a favorite Silent release?

I like Kim Cascone's PGR material as well as Rod Modell's Waveform Transmission recording and Gio's Makyo stuff.

Any plans on re-releasing the Silent material?

My priority would be to get the FAX material reissued first.  I'm especially keen on getting a reissue of "Recurring Dreams of the Urban Myth" out again.  It is the recording that I am most frequently asked about.

What are you up to now?

I've done a lot of stuff since the Silent release.  I recently co-founded the Outward Sound Ensemble with fellow Londoner Herb Bayley in 2002.  We have been working together on a composer / performer basis with him playing specific things on my compositions for over 10 years.  Now, we are working on a 50/50 basis and creating some very unique music.  We hope to have some material out in the future and also plan to do live performances.
I basically retired from public performance about 10 years ago.  Much of my work has been for broadcast, installations and Web diffusion.  I did a commissioned work for BBC Radio in 2001 for a series that also featured Holger Czukay.  My environmental soundscapes recorded at the sites of various Stone Circles across Scotland were featured in a multi-media exhibition (with photographer Mark Johnston) at the Royal Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh in 1998.  In 1999, I created the Millennium Urban Soundscape web site which includes Sonic contributions from people around the world.
I've currently been contributing to Chris Cutler's radio programme "Out of the blue Radio" heard on the station Resonance FM in London, England.  I have also been involved with doing recordings and sound design for Governor General Award winning Canadian artist Jamelie Hassan.
I've collaborated on a couple of albums with Sheffield-based musician Martin Archer which have included contributions by people like Julie Tippetts and Chris Cutler.  As far as recordings... an excerpt from "Recurring Dreams of the Urban Myth" was recently issued on a compilation out of Holland called "X-Rated: The Electronic Files" which also includes Chris & Cosey, Holger Czukay and many others.  I also released a CD in collaboration with Canadian sound-poet Bill Bissett called "Rainbow Mewsik."

Is there anything you would like to add?

If anybody would like to find out more information about my past or future works, they can check out my comprehensive web site at www.chrismeloche.com.

Do you view the material you released for Silent differently from the material released on FAX andother labels?

Both "Recurring Dreams of the Urban Myth" and "Distant Rituals" were condensed versions of 6-hour radiophonic works which were designed to be played on the radio as an overnight installation work.  In that respect, those two works started with a similar purpose.  "Wireless" was created as a stand-alone CD length work.  It's concept and diffusion was completely different.

Silent really pushed the term "ambient' - do you consider yourself an "ambient" artist?

I have never really referred to my own music as "ambient."  I call it electroacoustic music.  It just happens that a lot of it is on the quieter side.

 Please include links to any sites you would like included on the site.

www.chrismeloche.com