Back catalogue: Library/Archive

Review: A long awaited, bumper six album pack of music and voice assembled by Delia Derbyshire of Radiophonic Workshop fame, and broadcast on four shows between January 1964 and September 1965, collectively known as Inventions for Radio. These experimental, longform shows were conceived by playwright Barry Bermange and were made up of the voices of callers-in, speaking on four themes: dreams, the existence of God, life after death and ageing. The participatory nature of these shows deviated massively from the radio status quo of the time, and the participants were selected to eschew the standard received drawl of most 60s radio presenters.
The music and editing was done by Derbyshire, whose avant garde sonic settings lend the audio an enigmatic, spectral quality. Although she was not credited for her contribution, nor were the broadcasts available commercially, they still developed a cult following. Silva Screen now presents the four broadcasts in their entirety, each on a separate LP, with two LPs of bonus material, and a booklet of detailed notes by producer Mark Ayres and David Butler of the Delia Derbyshire Archive. An elusive and essential landmark of 20th century sound collage.
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Review: Delia Derbyshire has rightly been getting the props she deserves in recent times, albeit many years after they were due. Best known for the pioneering work she did with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, she is in no uncertain terms one of the most innovative electronic musicians of the last century. Her album The Dream was written in the 19060s and is the result of being asked by British playwright Barry Bermange to create music for four of his radio plays. Fantome Phonographique reissue it now in all its rather desolate and eerie glory with subtle drones, spoken words and mystic motifs making it an intriguing listen.

Review: An LP which features music by originally recorded in 1969 by BBC Radiophonic Workshop members such as the late Delia Derbyshire, Brian Hodgson and the American born composer David Vorhaus: who later formed as the experimental electronic band White Noise. It was released by the Standard Music Library label, set up in 1968 by Bucks Music and London Weekend Television who also supplied production music for use in TV, commercials, radio and film. Many of these tracks were also used in the 1960's cult TV show 'The Tomorrow People' and each one has a short description of the music after the track title. Derbyshire and Hodgson assumed pseudonyms in the credits: Li de la Russe & Nikki St. George respectively. Two of the tracks are co-written by the pair, who also worked together on Unit Delta Plus: an organisation and studio project which was extensively involved in the promotion and exploration of electronic music at the time. Legendary stuff!