SleepResearch Facility explained

SleepResearch_Facility
Landscape:yes
Background:group_or_band
Birth Name:Kevin Doherty
Origin:Glasgow, Scotland
Genre:Ambient, dark ambient
Years Active:2000[1] to present
Label:Cold Spring, Manifold
Website:http://www.resonance-net.com/

SleepResearch_Facility (sometimes abbreviated to SR_F or SRF) is a dark ambient artist from Glasgow, Scotland, specializing in sleep-conducive beatless ambient music which is both artistic as well as functional.

Overview

SleepResearch_Facility consists of the single band member Kevin Doherty. His music usually contains no rhythmic elements (one exception is "2.5" on Dead Weather Machine), but instead relies on spacious, extended, richly-textured sounds. Occasionally, true 'musical' elements appear in his work, such as sustained chords (in "c-deck" on Nostromo for example), but the majority of his compositions consist of evolving layers of manipulated noise and mechanical drones. He deliberately attempts to avoid any sonic elements which would be likely to disturb a sleepy or sleeping listener, such as sudden loud noises.[2]

The music of SR_F is also intended to create an aural environment which allows listeners to let their thoughts drift, being gently guided (instead of forced) by the music.[3] The following advice is provided for listeners: "recommended playback level: just above quiet". A more detailed overview of SR_F can be found online.[3]

The works of SR_F are inspired by power stations, distant motorways, certain sci-fi movies (e.g. Alien) and various aspects of nature, including thunderstorms, empty frozen tundra, deserts, jungles and rushing water.[2] [4] Two complete albums (Dead Weather Machine and ) were based entirely on the manipulation of a three-minute recording of a malfunctioning Dimplex electric fan heater.

So far, all albums by SR_F have been produced or engineered at Somnambu-Lab (also spelled Somnambulab) in Glasgow.[5] The correct spelling of the artist's name is SleepResearch_Facility, but Sleep Research Facility is a commonly seen variation.

In April 2012, a new album called Stealth was released on Cold Spring.[6]

Discography and merchandise

Albums

Appearance on compilations

Merchandise

Critical response and public exposure

The majority of feedback on SR_F's work is extremely positive. Steve Roach has written a complimentary review[8] of SR_F's albums Dead Weather Machine and on his website, and even sold the albums from his online store while stocks lasted.

SR_F's work has also been highly praised by ambient websites such as AmbiEntrance[9] and Aural Pressure,[10] and the artist's official guestbook contains many positive comments which have been submitted since 2004.

In 2005, some of SR_F's music was broadcast[11] on Dutch Radio 4FM (now known as NPS Studio 6). Radio 6 program FOLIO broadcast a full SR_F radio special on 2 October 2007.[12]

SR_F has performed live at several venues:

The January 2008 edition of Terrorizer included a feature on SR_F in the "Breaking Faces" section.[18]

Interviews

There are three known SR_F interviews available on the Internet, which provide a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the albums, as well as background information on SR_F in general.

Ortus Obscurum

Sometime between 2001 and 2003, SR_F was interviewed by Ectonaut at Ortus Obscurum, "a webzine devoted to writing about the various types of music referred to as Neo-Classical, Dark Ambient, Ritual, Fantasy, Neo-Pagan, Industrial, Electronic, Experimental and so on".[19] [20] [21]

Cold Spring Supplement

In January 2007, SR_F was interviewed for the January/February 2007 edition of the Cold Spring Supplement, prior to the release of Deep_Frieze on the Cold Spring label.[22]

Hidden information on the official website

The official SR_F website used to contain some pages which appeared to be hidden from the general public, since there were no known links to them from anywhere else on the site. These pages have now been deleted, but some of the MP3s which they linked to are still available.

Audio Project Archive

The Audio Project Archive page contained additional information about released albums, details about upcoming albums and unreleased works, as well as free tracks in MP3 format.[23] The Sargasso (edit) MP3 from the Electronarcosis Series is still available.[24]

Assembler

This little-known project is related to SR_F, and produces mechanically rhythmic dance music. An overview of Assembler was available in the Audio Project Archive. Currently, no tracks have been released on CD.

Assembler had its own website, which consisted of a home page, a main page and a collection of free tracks in RealAudio format: "Two Towers", "Hack1 quick edit", "Hack3 Final mix", "Whole in 1" and "one tower". MP3s of the tracks Sentinals, Union Station, Jack-2-Jack and Kernals are still available.[25] [26] [27] [28]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. CD booklet of the first album, Nostromo (work began on the album in 2000)
  2. Foreshadow Magazine interview
  3. Web site: learn. Resonance-net.com.
  4. General Info section on http://www.myspace.com/sleepresearchfacility
  5. CD booklets of Nostromo and Dead Weather Machine
  6. Web site: Cold Spring Records: Sleep Research Facility: Stealth (CSR159CD) . 2012-03-14 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120419165352/http://www.coldspring.co.uk/discography/csr159cd.php . 19 April 2012 .
  7. Web site: Cold Spring Records: Calendar 2007 (CSR76CA) . 2007-03-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070825202413/http://www.coldspring.co.uk/discography/csr76ca.php . 25 August 2007 . dmy-all .
  8. Web site: Sleep Research Facility: Dead Weather Machine / Re:Heat. Steveroach.com.
  9. Web site: Sleep Research Facility: Nostromo . www.spiderbytes.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20020506235349/http://www.spiderbytes.com/ambientrance/slerf-n.htm . 6 May 2002 . dead.
  10. Web site: Aural Pressure Building Inspections — Adelaide SA Inspection Specialists. Aural Pressure Building Inspections.
  11. Web site: 6th Collage:"The Hum in the Room"("We hebben een Zoem"). https://web.archive.org/web/20060717071025/http://www.vancooten.com/radiobroadcasts/6th_broadcast.htm. dead. 17 July 2006.
  12. Web site: Archived copy . folio.radio6.nl . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080128191344/http://folio.radio6.nl/2007/09/26/sleep-research-facility/ . 28 January 2008 . dead.
  13. http://www.theambientping.com/eventsall.html#2008 The Ambient Ping 2008 events
  14. http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.showDetails&Band_Show_ID=28123690&friendid=114380863 MySpace music event
  15. http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.showDetails&Band_Show_ID=28698482&friendid=139627884 MySpace music event
  16. http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.showDetails&Band_Show_ID=30073517&friendid=139627884 MySpace music event
  17. https://www.fredperry.com/subculture/articles/otto-hashmi Fred Perry Subculture: Otto Hashmi
  18. http://terrorizer.com/issuedetail.php?issue_no=167&regulars
  19. The interview mentions the release of Nostromo in 2001, and was first archived by the Internet Archive in 2003
  20. Web site: Archived copy . 26 November 2006 . 25 February 2002 . https://web.archive.org/web/20020225194103/http://www.dj-media.com/ortus/ . dead .
  21. Web site: 2003-04-18. Ortus Obscurum - Sleep Research Facility. https://web.archive.org/web/20030418062840/http://www.dj-media.com/ortus/doc/sleep_research_facility.asp. dead. 2003-04-18. 2020-07-19.
  22. Web site: Into The Void . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721171508/http://www.michaelhogg.btinternet.co.uk/slowspace/sr_f/interview3.txt . Kevin . Doherty . Cold Spring Supplement . 21 July 2011. January 2007 . 2023-06-29.
  23. Web site: 2007-02-10. apa. https://web.archive.org/web/20070210071914/http://www.resonance-net.com/apa/. dead. 2007-02-10. 2020-07-19.
  24. Sargasso (edit) . https://web.archive.org/web/20060310084745/http://www.resonance-net.com/apa/tracks/electronarcosis.sargasso-edit.128kmp3.mp3 . 2006-03-10 . 2023-06-29 . MP3.
  25. Sentinals . https://web.archive.org/web/20071021173405/http://www.resonance-net.com/apa/tracks/assembler.sentinals.128kmp3.mp3 . 2007-10-21 . 2023-06-29 . MP3.
  26. Union Station . https://web.archive.org/web/20071021173409/http://www.resonance-net.com/apa/tracks/assembler.unionstation.128kmp3.mp3 . 2007-10-21 . 2023-06-29 . MP3.
  27. Jack-2-Jack . https://web.archive.org/web/20071021173416/http://www.resonance-net.com/apa/tracks/assembler.jack2jack.128kmp3.mp3 . 2007-10-21 . 2023-06-29 . MP3.
  28. Kernals . https://web.archive.org/web/20071021172634/http://www.resonance-net.com/apa/tracks/assembler.kernals.128kmp3.mp3 . 2007-10-21 . 2023-06-29 . MP3.

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