kinjarling studies: soundtracks (five years on) by Amby Downs

 

A new release from invaluable Room40 - this time - someone very special.

Amby Downs is an alias of Tahlia Palmer, an artist of interesting heritage - on her dad's side - a Yuwaalaraay, survivors of dispossession and forced assimilation. Matrilineal side she is of Dutch heritage, survivors of 2nd WW. 

Her work combines a deep historical, anthropological study of identity and place. It is a deep plunge with not a linear way of navigating through the narrative of life. There is something deeply touching in her soundscapes that combine manipulated field recordings, guitar and toy piano. 

In many ways - it's a modern approach to creating song lines - but the song lines  of a survivor, a human being that descends from the academical point of view who has the cultural awareness of her own roots and uses different techniques as well as intuitive knowledge to make this pursuit possible. 

The depth of this study and analysis can be equalised with the verticality of it and how much different worlds of understanding exist in the same timeline or beyond it.

It's a special kind of experience which is both interesting and makes it impossible to look at those pieces with the same kind of eyes and approach when you re-listen. Something extraordinary on many levels. 

 

This album is a collection of soundtracks for films created by Tahlia Palmer for "Kinjarling Studies" exhibition, held at Vancouver Arts Centre from Oct 18 - Nov 21 2019.

Manipulated field recordings, improvised guitar + antique toy piano.

Mastered by Lawrence English at Negative Space

Bandcamp