Cymbient
Name: Layers, Degradation and Underlaying Paintings
Artist: Cymbient
Length: 9:34
Preview:
» Download the full track [21.9mb, MP3]
About Cymbient
Following the ease down of Derrero, Andy Fung continued to write and record music alongside his art practice. It led to the formation of Cymbient, fusing more traditional songs with experimental musical performances done at art shows.
Stuff Brian Wilson into a split screen camper van with some retro valve amps, a first edition stylophone, Beefheart's 'clear spot' on the stereo, and head for the Welsh surf breaks with Cymbient. Being all practising artists, the band aren't that bothered about fuelling the relentless unit shifting machine and seeing music as an extension of art, but just want to release regular albums.
Now, two albums in - 'The Drive Home' (2005) and 'Out on the Waves' (2008) - Cymbient have begun work on their third album in 2009. A few instrumentals have already been recorded at 'Ty Drwg' studios.
For this project, Andy Fung visited the conservation department at National Museum Cardiff and the track was written with some of the discoveries of that visit in mind.
Reflected both lyrically and in the intertwining loops of the piece, there is a sense of layers simultaneously co-existing but grounded in melody and harmony - a characteristic of the band.
Andy Fung - Drums, Guitar and vocals
Andy Taylor - Guitars
Ann Summerhayes - Keys and Vocals
James Charlton - Stylophone and Guitar
John Pulman - Bass
Inspiration
South Wales band Cymbient’s track, ‘Layers, Degradation and Underlaying Paintings’, is a response to art conservation.
Paintings are made up of many layers - the support, the ground, the paint layers and varnish. Although they are not easily distinguishable, when you look at a painting on the wall, each affects the texture and colour of the succeeding layers and forms part of the final image.
The conservator examines paintings using different diagnostic techniques to establish the nature of the different layers. This affects the choice of treatment for it, as well as its handling, display and storage.
The viewer’s enjoyment of the painting is affected by the combination of all these circumstances, without actually being aware of them as individual influences.
Previously art students, the band members were drawn to the Museum’s collection and the process of conserving works.
Andy Fung from Cymbient:
“Our track is based on three songs – it’s like a medley. We were trying to portray the different layers of an art work and bring to the forefront the layers under paintings you can’t see to begin with.
“The band was really interested and keen to take part in this project, so I presented the initial idea to them and everyone added to it – it’s the way it usually works.”
Leave a comment