Paul Cousins’ latest release, Artefact 12, is an intriguing sonic journey through looping synths, arpeggios, and experimental voice elements. Accompanied by a visually captivating video, this track is part of his new album Oxide Manifesto, which serves as an audio sketchbook, focusing on the creative potential of obsolete machines and experimental composition techniques.
Oxide Manifesto embraces the idiosyncrasies of magnetic tape recording, including tape hiss, wonky pitch, and abrupt edits. Cousins intentionally leaned into the imperfections that come with using analog tape, adding an organic quality to the music that might otherwise be smoothed out by modern digital tools. The album documents a process where Cousins would compose an idea, record it quickly, and then break it down into tape loops or spools. These fragments were performed live with reel-to-reel machines, and the original compositions were discarded, allowing the experimentation to take center stage.
Recorded at his old studio on Hornsey Road, London, Oxide Manifesto captures the physical limitations and quirks of his working environment, adding another layer of uniqueness to the project. From tape flutter to phantom radio interference, these real-world constraints became part of the creative process.
Paul Cousins, a London-based sound artist and composer, is known for his focus on repetition and imperfection. His work has been featured in major art installations, and his compositions have garnered recognition from venues like the Barbican and Whitechapel Gallery. With releases on Decca Records and collaborations with Grammy-winning artists, Cousins continues to push the boundaries of analog sound experimentation, as Artefact 12 so clearly demonstrates.
