Philip Jeck, who lives and works in Liverpool, studied visual art at the Dartington College of Arts in Devon, England. During the early 1980s, he drifted from painting and sculpture to music, and began working with old and discarded turntables. Though he's roughly a contemporary of Christian Marclay, recognition for Jeck came much later, beginning in 1993 with his massive installation 'Vinyl Requiem', which incorporated 180 record players and multiple film projections.
This is Philip Jeck's 7th solo album, and 4th for Touch, after 'Loopholes' (1996), 'Surf' (1998) and 'Stoke' (2002). He has also released a collaboration with Jacob Kirkegaard, 'Soaked' (2002), and a recording of a live concert he gave in Japan, 'Live at ICC' (2001). He is currently touring with Jah Wobble & Deep Space, and is heavily featured on their latest album 'Five Beat' (30hertzrecords, 2003).
['Surf' will be reissued shortly. See below for more info]
Philip Jeck writes: 'All seven are edits of home and concert recordings (UK Germany & Belgium) using Bush, Ferguson, Fidelity & Philips record-players, Sony portable mini-disc and Casio keyboards. 'Bush Hum' was made from the amplified hum of a Bush record-player and delay-pedal. 'Wipe' was originally made for a video by Marisa Zanotti.'
What the critics said about his previous work:
'The effect is just beautiful.
Philip Jeck has always been good, but Stoke makes him great..'...The Wire
'Definitely one for those who are a little afraid to dip their toes into experimental waters.'...The Empty Quarter (UK):
Stylus (USA): 'Stoke is a monumental work in an already great career. He manipulates pure sound, the discarded remnants of past musics, into a compelling work of art that is alive with the ghosts of the past while being firmly entrenched in the moment.'
XLR8R (USA): '...mesmerising and profoundly unsettling. Very highly recommended.'
Aquarius (USA): '... beautiful. Highly recommended!!''