Isao Yamada directs a full-length film for Simon Fisher Turner’s new release

The British composer and musician Simon Fisher Turner has shared a full-length film to accompany his latest album, Instability of the Signal, released on 2 August 2024 through Mute Records. Directed by Japanese filmmaker Isao Yamada, the film was primarily shot on 8mm film, a format Yamada refers to as Yamavicascope. The film reflects their long-standing creative partnership, and the album’s cover art features a photograph of Yamada listening to the album for the first time, highlighting the personal connection between the two.

Instability of the Signal marks Turner’s return to vocal performance after many years. The album combines a range of sound elements, including field recordings, piano, classical strings, and audio snippets provided by David Padbury (Salford Electronics). Turner’s vocals are central to the compositions, supported by intricate layers of sound developed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turner’s career spans multiple disciplines, particularly his work in film soundtracks. He is well known for his collaborations with the late director Derek Jarman, composing scores for films such as Caravaggio (1986) and Blue (1993). His music frequently draws from literature, cinema, and visual art. In our interview, Turner discussed how figures like William Burroughs and David Bowie influenced his approach to music, particularly through improvisation and the use of cut-up techniques.

On 23 October 2024, Turner will perform at Café OTO in London, celebrating his 70th birthday. He will be joined by The Elysian Collective, with whom he has collaborated for over two decades, and Flamenco guitarist Tito Heredia from Algeciras, Spain. The performance will include music from Instability of the Signal and other projects, with Turner reworking the tracks for live performance, as he often prefers not to replicate studio recordings in concert.

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