Art As Catharsis proudly presents The Risk Of Hyperbole – Vol.2 – Object, a tonally rich soundscape of chamber orchestrations and lush electronics, composed and produced by interdisciplinary artist Jack Prest.
The second instalment in The Risk Of Hyperbole trilogy, Vol.2 – Object showcases Prest’s penchant for sub bass drones, tape delay atmospheres and shimmering verbed out electronics. These immaculately produced sonics are elevated through improvisations by a chamber ensemble of top Australian classical and jazz musicians. Fans of the electro-acoustic work of; Nils Frahm, Floating Points, Jon Hopkins, Belle Orchestre, Bjork, will appreciate the attention Prest places on feeling and stylistic experimentation, shifting elegantly over the course of the record.
This album emerged while Prest was composing the score for his debut interdisciplinary performance work. Also titled The Risk Of Hyperbole, it premiered in a sold out season at the trend-setting Phoenix Central Park in late 2021. To create the score Prest spent a week working in a top flight recording studio with musicians; Claire Edwardes, Jason Noble and Freya Schack-Arnott (Ensemble Offspring), Dave Rodriguez (Godtet/Sampa The Great), Benjamin Freeman (Jonti, Dieyoungs), Nicholas Meredith (KCIN) and Jerrol Renaud (The Goods, Tones and I).
Prest used guided improvisations and graphic scores to conduct this amazing troupe of musicians, capturing them in full flight over the top of his electronic compositions. Prest then took these recordings and crafted them into the final form presented here.
“It was one of the most special recording sessions I’ve ever been a part of… we ended up with around 30-40 compositions that were all amazing. And I knew I had way too much material now for an hour long performance… But I wanted it all to have a life and didn’t want to put something in the show just because I loved it as a piece of music. So I ended up with 3 albums!”
“It’s like the extended version of the story, going further with all the ideas and moods that are in the show. Vol.1 was for all the sound art vibes, Vol.2 dives deep on ambient and contemporary classical and Vol.3 is all the experimental club music… Along with the performance work, I see it all as one interdisciplinary artwork, one conceptual whole.” – Jack Prest
As the first single and closing track for Vol.2 – Object, Residue merges a simple melody with complex textures. Vocal layering and improvisation from the chamber ensemble fosters compositional growth as the song progresses – the piano and woodwinds interjecting and climbing to create a sense of weightlessness akin to Brian Eno’s ambient soundscapes.
“This track is built around the simple vocal melody which was the first thing I put down for the piece,” begins Prest. “I then layered this with electronic and synth elements. The base of the track was then taken into the studio where I recorded the ensemble improvising around a graphic score. These improvisations were then edited into the final form of the single. This track was also the closing piece of the interdisciplinary performance; it represents everything that was left after a long and meditative cathartic journey, like that moment of fuzziness as you come out of a deep meditation.. hence Residue.”
Over the last decade, Prest has explored electronic dance music and DJ culture, sound design, experimental composition, avant-garde theatre and dance choreography. In the process, he has composed original scores for works shown at Sydney Opera House, Artshouse, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Carriageworks, Sadlers Wells, Tanz Im August, Sziget Festival. His interdisciplinary practice has been supported by the Australia Council, New Weird Australia, Foxy Digitalis, Dublab, Create NSW, Bundanon Trust and the Art Gallery of NSW. Alongside his art practices, Prest works as a senior recording engineer at Studios 301, Australia’s largest studio facility. There, he has recorded for a who’s who of contemporary labels including Stones Throw, Wondercore Island, Future Classic and Kitsune for artists such as Godtet, JK Group, e4444e, Sampa The Great, Jonti, Nardean, Tasman Keith, Donatachi, Ijale, Santpoort and many more.
“This my first real foray into working as the lead artist in a project after many years working as a facilitator for other artists as either composer, engineer, producer or collaborator.” Says Prest.
Given Prest’s extensive career behind the boards and the wealth of talent in his collaborative team, the craftsmanship on Vol.2 – Object is second to none. Prest has created recordings at the highest levels translated into perfectly crafted finished works. Be assured of Prest’s production, compositional and ambient mastery as The Risk of Hyperbole – Vol.2 – Object guides you past a surface level listening experience towards a deeper journey into yourself.
Jack Prest’s The Risk Of Hyperbole – Vol.2 – Object is out now on Art As Catharsis.
