Land Observations

Rough Trade East Exhibition – September 2012

Land Observations announce details of an exhibition at Rough Trade East, London on 17 September, following the release of Roman Roads IV – XI, out on 3 September and a show at Café Oto on 13 September.

Land Observations is the solo project of James Brooks, and Brooks’ exhibition at Rough Trade East, which follows the release of the debut album Roman Roads IV – XI, out on 3 September, is a series of meticulous pencil drawings looking at ‘roads’ as an abstract symbol.

‘Road Drawings’ is a continuation of the land observations music and visual art project – addressing instrumental electric guitar compositions in relation to responses to specific geographical features.

Brooks’ previous band, Appliance, released four critically acclaimed albums on Mute before disbanding. Since then, Brooks has developed his visual and audio art with various shows across the UK, North America and Europe. Throughout, music has remained a constant, with Brooks now connecting his conceptual approaches to instrumental musical compositions.

Attempts to develop a new project alongside the visual art meant that Brooks did a lot of home recording at his flat in Hackney, East London. Land Observations, developed out of an interest in the former Roman roads that lay just a short walk from his front door – roads of communication and conquest that stretch from the old City of London and out across parts of Britain, Europe and beyond.

Land Observations sees Brooks exploring the power of minimalism via layered, repetitive electric VI string guitar to create warm, evocative instrumentals. Although Brooks spent considerable time researching Roman Roads – with each of the compositions responding to the psychogeography of an individual road – this isn’t just an historical project, or an attempt to look only into the past. There is an obvious fascination with Roman Roads as man made structures, with their bold lines carving through the landscape, creating an album that’s a reflection on the broader ideas of travel, momentum and progress.

Land Observations play a very special show at Café Oto on 13 September. ‘Out Of Place’ is a specially conceived music event featuring acts whose reactions to specific geographical places are central to their music. Joining Land Observations are Way Through and Jo Thomas performing Nature Of Habit. For full details please visit http://qujunktions.com/event/out-of-place

Roman Roads IV – XI is released on Mute on CD, vinyl and download, with packaging featuring original drawings by Brooks. The album was recorded at the Bridge and Tunnel Mobile, Berlin and engineered and mixed by Mark Bihler and James Brooks.

FORTHCOMING
13 SEPTEMBER, LONDON, Cafe Oto – live – http://qujunktions.com/event/out-of-place
17 SEPTEMBER, LONDON, Rough Trade East – http://bit.ly/MGkN8w
Road Drawings exhibition

ROMAN ROADS IV-XI – TRACKLISTING
Before the Kingsland Road
Aurelian Way
From Nero’s Palace
Via Flaminia
Appian Way
The Chester Road
Portway
Battle Of Watling Street

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