Formerly a musician, cinematographer and lighting designer with The Residents and a student of 'Blue' Gene Tyranny, Philip Perkins issued this astounding release on his own Fun Music label in 1983.
Perkins often worked in topographical realms, crafting environment-enriching soundscapes, albeit on a micro level. Taking cues from minimalism, environmental field recordings and home-baked ceremonial mantras, "King Of The World" is a meditation on the lives of three ancient kings who believed themselves to be the ruler of all mankind.
The post-Hassell currents of Fourth World music unavoidably come to mind. "King Of The World" sits comfortably amongst the backwards-referencing style of more recent producers - but Perkins was a contemporary of the famed trumpeter and he alchemises a DIY spirit and sound art aesthetic into his own unique province of Magic Realism. Off-centre loops of African hand percussion are overlaid with a palette of water trickles, bird calls and mutant Casio synthesizer forming deceptively simple rhythmic and textural collages, always at a level just above subliminal.
Remastered in Brooklyn by Josh Bonati and with new sleeve artwork by the internationally acclaimed book designer Luke Bird.
Perkins often worked in topographical realms, crafting environment-enriching soundscapes, albeit on a micro level. Taking cues from minimalism, environmental field recordings and home-baked ceremonial mantras, "King Of The World" is a meditation on the lives of three ancient kings who believed themselves to be the ruler of all mankind.
The post-Hassell currents of Fourth World music unavoidably come to mind. "King Of The World" sits comfortably amongst the backwards-referencing style of more recent producers - but Perkins was a contemporary of the famed trumpeter and he alchemises a DIY spirit and sound art aesthetic into his own unique province of Magic Realism. Off-centre loops of African hand percussion are overlaid with a palette of water trickles, bird calls and mutant Casio synthesizer forming deceptively simple rhythmic and textural collages, always at a level just above subliminal.
Remastered in Brooklyn by Josh Bonati and with new sleeve artwork by the internationally acclaimed book designer Luke Bird.
TRACK LISTING
PACAL
(THE SHIELD)
A1. Opening
A2. Childhood
A3. Hunting
A4. Coronation And Wedding
A5. War
A6. Funeral
A7. Conclusion
SIDE TWO:
KING OF THE WORLD
(ASSURNASPIRAL II)
B1. Morning (The Plains)
B2. Afternoon (The Village)
B3. Evening (The Courtyard)
MARCUS AURELIUS
(THE STOIC)
B4. Coronation March
B5. Duty
B6. Trying
B7. Horizon
B8. A Walk Outside